Wildfire area burned by land cover type in Kenya
Kenya: Wildfire area burned by land cover type was 772.77 hectares in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Wildfire area burned by land cover type in Kenya, 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 Kenya stood at 772.77 hectares.
That represents a change of up 140.0% on the previous year and down 66.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, wildfire area burned by land cover type in Kenya peaked at 2,275 hectares in 2015 and was at its lowest, 85.86 hectares, in 2012.
That places Kenya 40th out of 225 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Wildfire area burned by land cover type in Kenya, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 944.5 hectares | — |
| 2003 | 236.12 hectares | -75.0% |
| 2004 | 407.85 hectares | +72.7% |
| 2005 | 944.5 hectares | +131.6% |
| 2006 | 150.26 hectares | -84.1% |
| 2007 | 558.11 hectares | +271.4% |
| 2008 | 321.99 hectares | -42.3% |
| 2009 | 386.39 hectares | +20.0% |
| 2010 | 214.66 hectares | -44.4% |
| 2011 | 901.57 hectares | +320.0% |
| 2012 | 85.86 hectares | -90.5% |
| 2013 | 236.13 hectares | +175.0% |
| 2014 | 257.59 hectares | +9.1% |
| 2015 | 2,275 hectares | +783.3% |
| 2016 | 536.65 hectares | -76.4% |
| 2017 | 429.32 hectares | -20.0% |
| 2018 | 386.39 hectares | -10.0% |
| 2019 | 128.79 hectares | -66.7% |
| 2020 | 107.33 hectares | -16.7% |
| 2021 | 236.12 hectares | +120.0% |
| 2022 | 515.18 hectares | +118.2% |
| 2023 | 386.38 hectares | -25.0% |
| 2024 | 321.99 hectares | -16.7% |
| 2025 | 772.77 hectares | +140.0% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 772.77 hectares is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 42.93 hectares, 18.0× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 772.77 hectares is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 246.86 hectares, 3.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Wildfire area burned by land cover type in Kenya 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 | +783.3% | 257.59 hectares | 2,275 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 493.72 hectares | 150.26 hectares | 944.5 hectares | 8 |
| 2010s | 545.23 hectares | 85.86 hectares | 2,275 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 389.96 hectares | 107.33 hectares | 772.77 hectares | 6 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More reference data data for Kenya
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5379 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 12.22 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 14.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.377 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 14.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.8 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 58.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 68.95 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.05 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is wildfire area burned by land cover type in Kenya?
- Wildfire area burned by land cover type in Kenya was 772.77 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 Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 2,275 hectares in 2015.
- What is the lowest wildfire area burned by land cover type recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 85.86 hectares in 2012.
- How does Kenya rank for wildfire area burned by land cover type?
- Kenya ranks 40th out of 225 countries with data for 2025.
- Is wildfire area burned by land cover type rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 66.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya 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.