Annual number of wildfires in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Annual number of wildfires was 10 wildfires in 2026. ◆ Volatile
Annual number of wildfires in Afghanistan, 2012–2026
Source: Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in wildfires.
Analysis
Afghanistan recorded 10 wildfires for annual number of wildfires in 2026.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 33.3% on the previous year and down 80.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual number of wildfires in Afghanistan peaked at 77 wildfires in 2020 and was at its lowest, 7 wildfires, in 2024.
That places Afghanistan 134th out of 248 countries with data for 2026, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual number of wildfires in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | wildfires | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 49 wildfires | — |
| 2013 | 34 wildfires | -30.6% |
| 2014 | 29 wildfires | -14.7% |
| 2015 | 22 wildfires | -24.1% |
| 2016 | 52 wildfires | +136.4% |
| 2017 | 75 wildfires | +44.2% |
| 2018 | 41 wildfires | -45.3% |
| 2019 | 23 wildfires | -43.9% |
| 2020 | 77 wildfires | +234.8% |
| 2021 | 68 wildfires | -11.7% |
| 2022 | 11 wildfires | -83.8% |
| 2023 | 16 wildfires | +45.5% |
| 2024 | 7 wildfires | -56.2% |
| 2025 | 15 wildfires | +114.3% |
| 2026 | 10 wildfires | -33.3% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 10 wildfires is below the median for low income countries, which is 754 wildfires, 1% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 10 wildfires is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 5 wildfires, 2.0× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 40.62 wildfires | 22 wildfires | 75 wildfires | 8 |
| 2020s | 29.14 wildfires | 7 wildfires | 77 wildfires | 7 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
- 132 New Caledonia 11 wildfires compare
- 132 Somalia 11 wildfires compare
- 134 Austria 10 wildfires compare
- 134 Netherlands 10 wildfires compare
- 137 Denmark 9 wildfires compare
- 137 French Guiana 9 wildfires compare
More reference data data for Afghanistan
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.8991 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 4.89 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 6.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.4362 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 6.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.01 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.847 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 18.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 26.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.38 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual number of wildfires in Afghanistan?
- Annual number of wildfires in Afghanistan was 10 wildfires in 2026, according to Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual number of wildfires recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 77 wildfires in 2020.
- What is the lowest annual number of wildfires recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 7 wildfires in 2024.
- How does Afghanistan rank for annual number of wildfires?
- Afghanistan ranks 134th out of 248 countries with data for 2026.
- Is annual number of wildfires rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 80.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual number of wildfires. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of wildfires. The 2026 data is incomplete and was last updated 18 September 2026.