Annual number of wildfires in Zambia
Zambia: Annual number of wildfires was 28,043 wildfires in 2026. ▼ Falling
Annual number of wildfires in Zambia, 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 Zambia is 28,043 wildfires, measured in 2026. That is the lowest value across all 15 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 18.3% on the previous year and down 53.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual number of wildfires in Zambia peaked at 61,102 wildfires in 2012 and was at its lowest, 28,043 wildfires, in 2026.
Zambia ranks 3rd of 248 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 15 years of available data.
Annual number of wildfires in Zambia, year by year
| Year | wildfires | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 61,102 wildfires | — |
| 2013 | 60,651 wildfires | -0.7% |
| 2014 | 55,415 wildfires | -8.6% |
| 2015 | 60,052 wildfires | +8.4% |
| 2016 | 59,717 wildfires | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 53,806 wildfires | -9.9% |
| 2018 | 57,157 wildfires | +6.2% |
| 2019 | 55,576 wildfires | -2.8% |
| 2020 | 48,820 wildfires | -12.2% |
| 2021 | 47,992 wildfires | -1.7% |
| 2022 | 52,757 wildfires | +9.9% |
| 2023 | 50,946 wildfires | -3.4% |
| 2024 | 38,578 wildfires | -24.3% |
| 2025 | 34,342 wildfires | -11.0% |
| 2026 | 28,043 wildfires | -18.3% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 28,043 wildfires is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 625 wildfires, 44.9× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 28,043 wildfires is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1,344 wildfires, 20.9× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 57,934 wildfires | 53,806 wildfires | 61,102 wildfires | 8 |
| 2020s | 43,068 wildfires | 28,043 wildfires | 52,757 wildfires | 7 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 1 Democratic Republic of Congo 65,851 wildfires compare
- 2 Angola 50,923 wildfires compare
- 4 Australia 24,293 wildfires compare
- 5 Mozambique 20,655 wildfires compare
- 6 Indonesia 17,008 wildfires compare
More reference data data for Zambia
- Exchange rate, new LCU per USD extended backward, period average 18.94 (2026)
- Exchange rate, old LCU per USD extended forward, period average 18.94 (2026)
- Official exchange rate, LCU per USD, period average 18.94 (2026)
- Global number of reported disasters by size, gaps filled 0 events (2025)
- Annual precipitation, annual growth rate 40.84 % change on previous year (2025)
- Free country, gaps filled 1 (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, gaps filled 4 (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
- Consumer price index 483.32 2010 = 100 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual number of wildfires in Zambia?
- Annual number of wildfires in Zambia was 28,043 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 Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 61,102 wildfires in 2012.
- What is the lowest annual number of wildfires recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 28,043 wildfires in 2026.
- How does Zambia rank for annual number of wildfires?
- Zambia ranks 3rd out of 248 countries with data for 2026.
- Is annual number of wildfires rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 53.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zambia 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.