Wildfire area burned by land cover type in Rwanda
Rwanda: Wildfire area burned by land cover type was 901.57 hectares in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Wildfire area burned by land cover type in Rwanda, 2002–2025
Source: Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
Rwanda recorded 901.57 hectares for wildfire area burned by land cover type in 2025.
The figure is up 162.5% on the previous year and down 77.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, wildfire area burned by land cover type in Rwanda peaked at 3,971 hectares in 2003 and was at its lowest, 21.47 hectares, in 2018.
That places Rwanda 39th 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 Rwanda, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 85.86 hectares | — |
| 2003 | 3,971 hectares | +4525.0% |
| 2004 | 2,533 hectares | -36.2% |
| 2005 | 3,864 hectares | +52.5% |
| 2006 | 1,739 hectares | -55.0% |
| 2007 | 257.59 hectares | -85.2% |
| 2008 | 3,327 hectares | +1191.7% |
| 2009 | 1,374 hectares | -58.7% |
| 2010 | 729.84 hectares | -46.9% |
| 2011 | 1,073 hectares | +47.1% |
| 2012 | 450.78 hectares | -58.0% |
| 2013 | 1,910 hectares | +323.8% |
| 2014 | 407.85 hectares | -78.7% |
| 2015 | 3,971 hectares | +873.7% |
| 2016 | 3,499 hectares | -11.9% |
| 2017 | 2,512 hectares | -28.2% |
| 2018 | 21.47 hectares | -99.1% |
| 2019 | 3,456 hectares | +15999.9% |
| 2020 | 107.33 hectares | -96.9% |
| 2021 | 686.91 hectares | +540.0% |
| 2022 | 987.43 hectares | +43.8% |
| 2023 | 321.99 hectares | -67.4% |
| 2024 | 343.45 hectares | +6.7% |
| 2025 | 901.57 hectares | +162.5% |
Rwanda compared with similar countries
- Rwanda's 901.57 hectares is above the median for low income countries, which is 558.11 hectares, 1.6× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Rwanda's 901.57 hectares is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 246.86 hectares, 3.7× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Wildfire area burned by land cover type in Rwanda 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +15999.9% | 21.47 hectares | 3,456 hectares |
| 2003 | +4525.0% | 85.86 hectares | 3,971 hectares |
| 2008 | +1191.7% | 257.59 hectares | 3,327 hectares |
| 2015 | +873.7% | 407.85 hectares | 3,971 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 2,144 hectares | 85.86 hectares | 3,971 hectares | 8 |
| 2010s | 1,803 hectares | 21.47 hectares | 3,971 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 558.11 hectares | 107.33 hectares | 987.43 hectares | 6 |
Countries ranked near Rwanda
More reference data data for Rwanda
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.2282 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.9517 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.38 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1223 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.38 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.7651 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.9517 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 4.27 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 6.98 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.666 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is wildfire area burned by land cover type in Rwanda?
- Wildfire area burned by land cover type in Rwanda was 901.57 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 Rwanda?
- The highest recorded value was 3,971 hectares in 2003.
- What is the lowest wildfire area burned by land cover type recorded in Rwanda?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.47 hectares in 2018.
- How does Rwanda rank for wildfire area burned by land cover type?
- Rwanda ranks 39th out of 225 countries with data for 2025.
- Is wildfire area burned by land cover type rising or falling in Rwanda?
- Over the last ten years it is down 77.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Rwanda 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
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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.