Wildfire area burned by land cover type in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Wildfire area burned by land cover type was 7,792 hectares in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Wildfire area burned by land cover type in Ethiopia, 2002–2025
Source: Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
The most recent figure for wildfire area burned by land cover type in Ethiopia is 7,792 hectares, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 54.5% on the previous year and up 536.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, wildfire area burned by land cover type in Ethiopia peaked at 7,792 hectares in 2025 and was at its lowest, 85.86 hectares, in 2006.
Ethiopia ranks 13th of 225 countries on this measure, 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 Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 880.1 hectares | — |
| 2003 | 1,266 hectares | +43.9% |
| 2004 | 815.7 hectares | -35.6% |
| 2005 | 364.92 hectares | -55.3% |
| 2006 | 85.86 hectares | -76.5% |
| 2007 | 407.85 hectares | +375.0% |
| 2008 | 343.45 hectares | -15.8% |
| 2009 | 837.17 hectares | +143.8% |
| 2010 | 171.73 hectares | -79.5% |
| 2011 | 300.52 hectares | +75.0% |
| 2012 | 343.45 hectares | +14.3% |
| 2013 | 923.03 hectares | +168.7% |
| 2014 | 1,030 hectares | +11.6% |
| 2015 | 1,224 hectares | +18.8% |
| 2016 | 2,104 hectares | +71.9% |
| 2017 | 729.84 hectares | -65.3% |
| 2018 | 923.03 hectares | +26.5% |
| 2019 | 622.51 hectares | -32.6% |
| 2020 | 3,349 hectares | +437.9% |
| 2021 | 1,696 hectares | -49.4% |
| 2022 | 3,928 hectares | +131.6% |
| 2023 | 4,443 hectares | +13.1% |
| 2024 | 5,044 hectares | +13.5% |
| 2025 | 7,792 hectares | +54.5% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 7,792 hectares is above the median for low income countries, which is 558.11 hectares, 14.0× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 7,792 hectares is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 246.86 hectares, 31.6× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 625.19 hectares | 85.86 hectares | 1,266 hectares | 8 |
| 2010s | 837.17 hectares | 171.73 hectares | 2,104 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 4,375 hectares | 1,696 hectares | 7,792 hectares | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
More reference data data for Ethiopia
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.6564 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 20.69 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 25.11 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 25.11 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 2.2 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 100.94 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 121.79 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 7.47 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is wildfire area burned by land cover type in Ethiopia?
- Wildfire area burned by land cover type in Ethiopia was 7,792 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 Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 7,792 hectares in 2025.
- What is the lowest wildfire area burned by land cover type recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 85.86 hectares in 2006.
- How does Ethiopia rank for wildfire area burned by land cover type?
- Ethiopia ranks 13th out of 225 countries with data for 2025.
- Is wildfire area burned by land cover type rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 536.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ethiopia 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.