Wildfire area burned by land cover type in Congo
Congo: Wildfire area burned by land cover type was 13,008 hectares in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Wildfire area burned by land cover type in Congo, 2002–2025
Source: Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
In 2025, wildfire area burned by land cover type in Congo stood at 13,008 hectares.
That represents a change of down 71.1% on the previous year and down 51.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, wildfire area burned by land cover type in Congo peaked at 44,950 hectares in 2024 and was at its lowest, 5,925 hectares, in 2023.
That places Congo 7th out of 225 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Wildfire area burned by land cover type in Congo, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 6,118 hectares | — |
| 2003 | 9,016 hectares | +47.4% |
| 2004 | 21,917 hectares | +143.1% |
| 2005 | 16,400 hectares | -25.2% |
| 2006 | 10,346 hectares | -36.9% |
| 2007 | 8,543 hectares | -17.4% |
| 2008 | 16,464 hectares | +92.7% |
| 2009 | 10,282 hectares | -37.5% |
| 2010 | 15,863 hectares | +54.3% |
| 2011 | 24,514 hectares | +54.5% |
| 2012 | 11,656 hectares | -52.5% |
| 2013 | 20,650 hectares | +77.2% |
| 2014 | 6,161 hectares | -70.2% |
| 2015 | 26,918 hectares | +336.9% |
| 2016 | 14,597 hectares | -45.8% |
| 2017 | 8,801 hectares | -39.7% |
| 2018 | 14,361 hectares | +63.2% |
| 2019 | 14,339 hectares | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 13,588 hectares | -5.2% |
| 2021 | 24,814 hectares | +82.6% |
| 2022 | 21,981 hectares | -11.4% |
| 2023 | 5,925 hectares | -73.0% |
| 2024 | 44,950 hectares | +658.7% |
| 2025 | 13,008 hectares | -71.1% |
Congo compared with similar countries
- Congo's 13,008 hectares is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 42.93 hectares, 303.0× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Congo's 13,008 hectares is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 246.86 hectares, 52.7× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Wildfire area burned by land cover type in Congo changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | +658.7% | 5,925 hectares | 44,950 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 12,386 hectares | 6,118 hectares | 21,917 hectares | 8 |
| 2010s | 15,786 hectares | 6,161 hectares | 26,918 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 20,711 hectares | 5,925 hectares | 44,950 hectares | 6 |
Countries ranked near Congo
More reference data data for Congo
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0199 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.1866 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.2108 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0031 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.2108 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0668 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.0724 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.9126 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.08 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.017 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is wildfire area burned by land cover type in Congo?
- Wildfire area burned by land cover type in Congo was 13,008 hectares in 2025, according to Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest wildfire area burned by land cover type recorded in Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 44,950 hectares in 2024.
- What is the lowest wildfire area burned by land cover type recorded in Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 5,925 hectares in 2023.
- How does Congo rank for wildfire area burned by land cover type?
- Congo ranks 7th out of 225 countries with data for 2025.
- Is wildfire area burned by land cover type rising or falling in Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is down 51.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Congo data come from?
- The figures come from Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Wildfire area burned by land cover type. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Area of other land types burnt by wildfires each year, in hectares. Includes wetlands, urban areas, snow and ice, bare ground, and water bodies.