Annual number of wildfires in India
India: Annual number of wildfires was 13,597 wildfires in 2026. ▼ Falling
Annual number of wildfires in India, 2012–2026
Source: Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in wildfires.
Analysis
The most recent figure for annual number of wildfires in India is 13,597 wildfires, measured in 2026.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 10.8% on the previous year and down 48.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual number of wildfires in India peaked at 33,767 wildfires in 2021 and was at its lowest, 12,935 wildfires, in 2024.
That places India 9th out of 248 countries with data for 2026, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 15 years of available data.
Annual number of wildfires in India, year by year
| Year | wildfires | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 24,799 wildfires | — |
| 2013 | 18,637 wildfires | -24.8% |
| 2014 | 20,177 wildfires | +8.3% |
| 2015 | 17,607 wildfires | -12.7% |
| 2016 | 26,275 wildfires | +49.2% |
| 2017 | 22,743 wildfires | -13.4% |
| 2018 | 23,085 wildfires | +1.5% |
| 2019 | 20,363 wildfires | -11.8% |
| 2020 | 17,501 wildfires | -14.1% |
| 2021 | 33,767 wildfires | +92.9% |
| 2022 | 25,575 wildfires | -24.3% |
| 2023 | 18,159 wildfires | -29.0% |
| 2024 | 12,935 wildfires | -28.8% |
| 2025 | 15,251 wildfires | +17.9% |
| 2026 | 13,597 wildfires | -10.8% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 13,597 wildfires is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 625 wildfires, 21.8× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- India's 13,597 wildfires is above the median for South Asia, which is 263.5 wildfires, 51.6× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 21,711 wildfires | 17,607 wildfires | 26,275 wildfires | 8 |
| 2020s | 19,541 wildfires | 12,935 wildfires | 33,767 wildfires | 7 |
Countries ranked near India
More reference data data for India
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 20.88 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 68.88 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 246.78 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 15.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 246.78 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 70.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 19.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 309.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1,063 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 85.03 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual number of wildfires in India?
- Annual number of wildfires in India was 13,597 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 India?
- The highest recorded value was 33,767 wildfires in 2021.
- What is the lowest annual number of wildfires recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 12,935 wildfires in 2024.
- How does India rank for annual number of wildfires?
- India ranks 9th out of 248 countries with data for 2026.
- Is annual number of wildfires rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 48.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this India 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.