Wildfire area burned by land cover type in South Korea

South Korea: Wildfire area burned by land cover type was 150.26 hectares in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)
150.26 hectares
World rank
69th
of 225 countries
All-time high
150.26 hectares
in 2025
All-time low
0 hectares
in 2002
Years of data
24
2002–2025

Wildfire area burned by land cover type in South Korea, 2002–2025

0501001502002201320252002: 0 hectares2003: 0 hectares2004: 0 hectares2005: 0 hectares2006: 0 hectares2007: 21.5 hectares2008: 0 hectares2009: 0 hectares2010: 0 hectares2011: 0 hectares2012: 0 hectares2013: 0 hectares2014: 0 hectares2015: 0 hectares2016: 42.9 hectares2017: 64.4 hectares2018: 0 hectares2019: 64.4 hectares2020: 0 hectares2021: 0 hectares2022: 85.9 hectares2023: 64.4 hectares2024: 0 hectares2025: 150.3 hectares

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 South Korea stood at 150.26 hectares. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.

Over the whole period, wildfire area burned by land cover type in South Korea peaked at 150.26 hectares in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0 hectares, in 2002.

South Korea ranks 69th of 225 countries on this measure, 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 South Korea, year by year

Annual values for Wildfire area burned by land cover type in South Korea, 2002 to 2025.
Year hectares Change
2002 0 hectares
2003 0 hectares
2004 0 hectares
2005 0 hectares
2006 0 hectares
2007 21.47 hectares
2008 0 hectares -100.0%
2009 0 hectares
2010 0 hectares
2011 0 hectares
2012 0 hectares
2013 0 hectares
2014 0 hectares
2015 0 hectares
2016 42.93 hectares
2017 64.4 hectares +50.0%
2018 0 hectares -100.0%
2019 64.4 hectares
2020 0 hectares -100.0%
2021 0 hectares
2022 85.86 hectares
2023 64.4 hectares -25.0%
2024 0 hectares -100.0%
2025 150.26 hectares

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 2.68 hectares 0 hectares 21.47 hectares 8
2010s 17.17 hectares 0 hectares 64.4 hectares 10
2020s 50.09 hectares 0 hectares 150.26 hectares 6

Countries ranked near South Korea

  1. 66 North Macedonia 171.73 hectares compare
  2. 67 Philippines 150.26 hectares compare
  3. 67 Zimbabwe 150.26 hectares compare
  4. 70 Pakistan 128.8 hectares compare
  5. 71 Botswana 128.79 hectares compare
  6. 71 Bulgaria 128.79 hectares compare
  7. 71 Malaysia 128.79 hectares compare

See the full ranking of 225 places →

More reference data data for South Korea

All data for South Korea →

Frequently asked questions

What is wildfire area burned by land cover type in South Korea?
Wildfire area burned by land cover type in South Korea was 150.26 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 South Korea?
The highest recorded value was 150.26 hectares in 2025.
What is the lowest wildfire area burned by land cover type recorded in South Korea?
The lowest recorded value was 0 hectares in 2002.
How does South Korea rank for wildfire area burned by land cover type?
South Korea ranks 69th out of 225 countries with data for 2025.
Where does this South Korea 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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Wildfire area burned by land cover type in South Korea. Statizoid, drawing on Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 23 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/annual-burned-area-by-landcover/korea-rep/

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About this data

Indicator
Wildfire area burned by land cover type
Unit
hectares
Source
Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
225 places, 5,400 data points, 2002–2025
Last refreshed

Area of other land types burnt by wildfires each year, in hectares. Includes wetlands, urban areas, snow and ice, bare ground, and water bodies.