Annual number of wildfires in Botswana
Botswana: Annual number of wildfires was 812 wildfires in 2026. ◆ Volatile
Annual number of wildfires in Botswana, 2012–2026
Source: Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in wildfires.
Analysis
In 2026, annual number of wildfires in Botswana stood at 812 wildfires. That is the lowest value across all 15 years on record.
The figure is down 26.2% on the previous year and down 19.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual number of wildfires in Botswana peaked at 4,505 wildfires in 2023 and was at its lowest, 812 wildfires, in 2026.
That places Botswana 52nd out of 248 countries with data for 2026, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual number of wildfires in Botswana, year by year
| Year | wildfires | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 2,131 wildfires | — |
| 2013 | 2,049 wildfires | -3.8% |
| 2014 | 1,361 wildfires | -33.6% |
| 2015 | 1,462 wildfires | +7.4% |
| 2016 | 1,011 wildfires | -30.8% |
| 2017 | 2,255 wildfires | +123.0% |
| 2018 | 1,454 wildfires | -35.5% |
| 2019 | 1,052 wildfires | -27.6% |
| 2020 | 1,500 wildfires | +42.6% |
| 2021 | 4,403 wildfires | +193.5% |
| 2022 | 3,278 wildfires | -25.6% |
| 2023 | 4,505 wildfires | +37.4% |
| 2024 | 1,057 wildfires | -76.5% |
| 2025 | 1,101 wildfires | +4.2% |
| 2026 | 812 wildfires | -26.2% |
Botswana compared with similar countries
- Botswana's 812 wildfires is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 105.5 wildfires, 7.7× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Botswana's 812 wildfires is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1,344 wildfires, 60% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual number of wildfires in Botswana 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | +193.5% | 1,500 wildfires | 4,403 wildfires |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 1,597 wildfires | 1,011 wildfires | 2,255 wildfires | 8 |
| 2020s | 2,379 wildfires | 812 wildfires | 4,505 wildfires | 7 |
Countries ranked near Botswana
More reference data data for Botswana
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0472 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0078 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.1582 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.0825 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 6.97 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 7.25 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0424 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual number of wildfires in Botswana?
- Annual number of wildfires in Botswana was 812 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 Botswana?
- The highest recorded value was 4,505 wildfires in 2023.
- What is the lowest annual number of wildfires recorded in Botswana?
- The lowest recorded value was 812 wildfires in 2026.
- How does Botswana rank for annual number of wildfires?
- Botswana ranks 52nd out of 248 countries with data for 2026.
- Is annual number of wildfires rising or falling in Botswana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Botswana 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 15 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Number of wildfires. The 2026 data is incomplete and was last updated 18 September 2026.