Wildfire area burned by land cover type in United States
United States: Wildfire area burned by land cover type was 12,300 hectares in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Wildfire area burned by land cover type in United States, 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 United States is 12,300 hectares, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 37.7% on the previous year and up 16.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, wildfire area burned by land cover type in United States peaked at 37,200 hectares in 2011 and was at its lowest, 5,388 hectares, in 2013.
That places United States 8th 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 United States, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 9,746 hectares | — |
| 2003 | 8,093 hectares | -17.0% |
| 2004 | 10,626 hectares | +31.3% |
| 2005 | 12,794 hectares | +20.4% |
| 2006 | 9,831 hectares | -23.2% |
| 2007 | 17,752 hectares | +80.6% |
| 2008 | 13,073 hectares | -26.4% |
| 2009 | 9,960 hectares | -23.8% |
| 2010 | 6,332 hectares | -36.4% |
| 2011 | 37,200 hectares | +487.5% |
| 2012 | 8,930 hectares | -76.0% |
| 2013 | 5,388 hectares | -39.7% |
| 2014 | 11,484 hectares | +113.1% |
| 2015 | 10,518 hectares | -8.4% |
| 2016 | 7,277 hectares | -30.8% |
| 2017 | 15,348 hectares | +110.9% |
| 2018 | 13,223 hectares | -13.8% |
| 2019 | 7,127 hectares | -46.1% |
| 2020 | 13,910 hectares | +95.2% |
| 2021 | 11,656 hectares | -16.2% |
| 2022 | 9,831 hectares | -15.7% |
| 2023 | 11,334 hectares | +15.3% |
| 2024 | 8,930 hectares | -21.2% |
| 2025 | 12,300 hectares | +37.7% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Wildfire area burned by land cover type in United States 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | +487.5% | 6,332 hectares | 37,200 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 11,484 hectares | 8,093 hectares | 17,752 hectares | 8 |
| 2010s | 12,283 hectares | 5,388 hectares | 37,200 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 11,327 hectares | 8,930 hectares | 13,910 hectares | 6 |
Countries ranked near United States
More reference data data for United States
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 19.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 24.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 119.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 20.7 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 119.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 64.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 52.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 133.45 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 589.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 112.69 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is wildfire area burned by land cover type in United States?
- Wildfire area burned by land cover type in United States was 12,300 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 United States?
- The highest recorded value was 37,200 hectares in 2011.
- What is the lowest wildfire area burned by land cover type recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 5,388 hectares in 2013.
- How does United States rank for wildfire area burned by land cover type?
- United States ranks 8th out of 225 countries with data for 2025.
- Is wildfire area burned by land cover type rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States 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.