Wildfire area burned by land cover type in Ghana
Ghana: Wildfire area burned by land cover type was 2,919 hectares in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Wildfire area burned by land cover type in Ghana, 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 Ghana is 2,919 hectares, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 67.2% on the previous year and up 13.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, wildfire area burned by land cover type in Ghana peaked at 8,908 hectares in 2024 and was at its lowest, 622.51 hectares, in 2008.
That places Ghana 22nd 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 Ghana, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 923.03 hectares | — |
| 2003 | 1,030 hectares | +11.6% |
| 2004 | 1,159 hectares | +12.5% |
| 2005 | 2,962 hectares | +155.6% |
| 2006 | 1,266 hectares | -57.2% |
| 2007 | 837.17 hectares | -33.9% |
| 2008 | 622.51 hectares | -25.6% |
| 2009 | 1,631 hectares | +162.1% |
| 2010 | 2,941 hectares | +80.3% |
| 2011 | 6,290 hectares | +113.9% |
| 2012 | 6,268 hectares | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 8,801 hectares | +40.4% |
| 2014 | 2,619 hectares | -70.2% |
| 2015 | 2,576 hectares | -1.6% |
| 2016 | 1,910 hectares | -25.8% |
| 2017 | 1,481 hectares | -22.5% |
| 2018 | 837.17 hectares | -43.5% |
| 2019 | 1,052 hectares | +25.6% |
| 2020 | 3,499 hectares | +232.7% |
| 2021 | 2,748 hectares | -21.5% |
| 2022 | 3,928 hectares | +43.0% |
| 2023 | 3,628 hectares | -7.7% |
| 2024 | 8,908 hectares | +145.6% |
| 2025 | 2,919 hectares | -67.2% |
Ghana compared with similar countries
- Ghana's 2,919 hectares is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 42.93 hectares, 68.0× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Ghana's 2,919 hectares is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 246.86 hectares, 11.8× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1,304 hectares | 622.51 hectares | 2,962 hectares | 8 |
| 2010s | 3,477 hectares | 837.17 hectares | 8,801 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 4,272 hectares | 2,748 hectares | 8,908 hectares | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ghana
More reference data data for Ghana
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.2805 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.89 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.69 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1989 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 2.69 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.9405 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.9478 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 8.22 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 12.64 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.08 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is wildfire area burned by land cover type in Ghana?
- Wildfire area burned by land cover type in Ghana was 2,919 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 Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 8,908 hectares in 2024.
- What is the lowest wildfire area burned by land cover type recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 622.51 hectares in 2008.
- How does Ghana rank for wildfire area burned by land cover type?
- Ghana ranks 22nd out of 225 countries with data for 2025.
- Is wildfire area burned by land cover type rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ghana 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.
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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.