Wildfire area burned by land cover type in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Wildfire area burned by land cover type was 2,533 hectares in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Wildfire area burned by land cover type in Sierra Leone, 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 Sierra Leone stood at 2,533 hectares.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.7% on the previous year and down 90.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, wildfire area burned by land cover type in Sierra Leone peaked at 26,811 hectares in 2015 and was at its lowest, 0 hectares, in 2002.
That places Sierra Leone 25th 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 Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 0 hectares | — |
| 2003 | 5,066 hectares | — |
| 2004 | 6,225 hectares | +22.9% |
| 2005 | 1,352 hectares | -78.3% |
| 2006 | 4,894 hectares | +261.9% |
| 2007 | 1,610 hectares | -67.1% |
| 2008 | 2,576 hectares | +60.0% |
| 2009 | 6,010 hectares | +133.3% |
| 2010 | 751.31 hectares | -87.5% |
| 2011 | 1,138 hectares | +51.4% |
| 2012 | 3,327 hectares | +192.5% |
| 2013 | 2,683 hectares | -19.4% |
| 2014 | 7,663 hectares | +185.6% |
| 2015 | 26,811 hectares | +249.9% |
| 2016 | 3,198 hectares | -88.1% |
| 2017 | 4,207 hectares | +31.5% |
| 2018 | 5,882 hectares | +39.8% |
| 2019 | 4,121 hectares | -29.9% |
| 2020 | 386.39 hectares | -90.6% |
| 2021 | 1,975 hectares | +411.1% |
| 2022 | 6,848 hectares | +246.7% |
| 2023 | 6,053 hectares | -11.6% |
| 2024 | 2,490 hectares | -58.9% |
| 2025 | 2,533 hectares | +1.7% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 2,533 hectares is above the median for low income countries, which is 558.11 hectares, 4.5× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 2,533 hectares is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 246.86 hectares, 10.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3,467 hectares | 0 hectares | 6,225 hectares | 8 |
| 2010s | 5,978 hectares | 751.31 hectares | 26,811 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 3,381 hectares | 386.39 hectares | 6,848 hectares | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More reference data data for Sierra Leone
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0238 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.4498 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.5935 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.12 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.5935 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0797 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.044 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.91 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.72 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.6534 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is wildfire area burned by land cover type in Sierra Leone?
- Wildfire area burned by land cover type in Sierra Leone was 2,533 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 Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 26,811 hectares in 2015.
- What is the lowest wildfire area burned by land cover type recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 hectares in 2002.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for wildfire area burned by land cover type?
- Sierra Leone ranks 25th out of 225 countries with data for 2025.
- Is wildfire area burned by land cover type rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is down 90.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone 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.