Wildfire area burned by land cover type in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Wildfire area burned by land cover type was 21.47 hectares in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Wildfire area burned by land cover type in Costa Rica, 2002–2025
Source: Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
Costa Rica recorded 21.47 hectares for wildfire area burned by land cover type in 2025.
That represents a change of down 85.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, wildfire area burned by land cover type in Costa Rica peaked at 150.26 hectares in 2015 and was at its lowest, 0 hectares, in 2006.
That places Costa Rica 89th out of 225 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Wildfire area burned by land cover type in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 64.4 hectares | — |
| 2003 | 42.93 hectares | -33.3% |
| 2004 | 64.4 hectares | +50.0% |
| 2005 | 85.86 hectares | +33.3% |
| 2006 | 0 hectares | -100.0% |
| 2007 | 85.86 hectares | — |
| 2008 | 0 hectares | -100.0% |
| 2009 | 0 hectares | — |
| 2010 | 0 hectares | — |
| 2011 | 0 hectares | — |
| 2012 | 85.86 hectares | — |
| 2013 | 64.4 hectares | -25.0% |
| 2014 | 21.47 hectares | -66.7% |
| 2015 | 150.26 hectares | +600.0% |
| 2016 | 42.93 hectares | -71.4% |
| 2017 | 42.93 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 107.33 hectares | +150.0% |
| 2019 | 0 hectares | -100.0% |
| 2020 | 64.4 hectares | — |
| 2021 | 0 hectares | -100.0% |
| 2022 | 42.93 hectares | — |
| 2023 | 64.4 hectares | +50.0% |
| 2024 | 0 hectares | -100.0% |
| 2025 | 21.47 hectares | — |
Costa Rica compared with similar countries
- Costa Rica's 21.47 hectares is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 42.93 hectares, 50% of the median. (38 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Wildfire area burned by land cover type in Costa Rica 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | +600.0% | 21.47 hectares | 150.26 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 42.93 hectares | 0 hectares | 85.86 hectares | 8 |
| 2010s | 51.52 hectares | 0 hectares | 150.26 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 32.2 hectares | 0 hectares | 64.4 hectares | 6 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
- 89 Bangladesh 21.47 hectares compare
- 89 Belarus 21.47 hectares compare
- 89 France 21.47 hectares compare
- 89 French Guiana 21.47 hectares compare
- 89 Gabon 21.47 hectares compare
- 89 Liberia 21.47 hectares compare
- 89 Montenegro 21.47 hectares compare
- 89 Taiwan 21.47 hectares compare
- 89 United Kingdom 21.47 hectares compare
More reference data data for Costa Rica
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.2987 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.406 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.27 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0167 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.27 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.3161 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 2.24 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 5.91 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0907 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is wildfire area burned by land cover type in Costa Rica?
- Wildfire area burned by land cover type in Costa Rica was 21.47 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 Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 150.26 hectares in 2015.
- What is the lowest wildfire area burned by land cover type recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 hectares in 2006.
- How does Costa Rica rank for wildfire area burned by land cover type?
- Costa Rica ranks 89th out of 225 countries with data for 2025.
- Is wildfire area burned by land cover type rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 85.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Costa Rica 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
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
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.