Area burned by wildfires by land cover type, per square kilometre in Australia
Australia: Area burned by wildfires by land cover type, per square kilometre was 8.72 hectares per square kilometre in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Area burned by wildfires by land cover type, per square kilometre in Australia, 2002–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in hectares per square kilometre.
Analysis
The most recent figure for area burned by wildfires by land cover type, per square kilometre in Australia is 8.72 hectares per square kilometre, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 169.4% on the previous year and up 189.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, area burned by wildfires by land cover type, per square kilometre in Australia peaked at 10.55 hectares per square kilometre in 2012 and was at its lowest, 1.44 hectares per square kilometre, in 2020.
Australia ranks 8th of 206 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Area burned by wildfires by land cover type, per square kilometre in Australia, year by year
| Year | hectares per square kilometre | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 8.92 hectares per square kilometre | — |
| 2003 | 3.18 hectares per square kilometre | -64.4% |
| 2004 | 7.54 hectares per square kilometre | +137.3% |
| 2005 | 2.84 hectares per square kilometre | -62.3% |
| 2006 | 6.54 hectares per square kilometre | +130.2% |
| 2007 | 6.16 hectares per square kilometre | -5.8% |
| 2008 | 3.53 hectares per square kilometre | -42.7% |
| 2009 | 4.24 hectares per square kilometre | +20.0% |
| 2010 | 2.06 hectares per square kilometre | -51.3% |
| 2011 | 10.42 hectares per square kilometre | +405.2% |
| 2012 | 10.55 hectares per square kilometre | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 3.01 hectares per square kilometre | -71.5% |
| 2014 | 5.15 hectares per square kilometre | +71.3% |
| 2015 | 4.71 hectares per square kilometre | -8.6% |
| 2016 | 2.56 hectares per square kilometre | -45.7% |
| 2017 | 5.8 hectares per square kilometre | +127.0% |
| 2018 | 6.11 hectares per square kilometre | +5.3% |
| 2019 | 3.42 hectares per square kilometre | -44.0% |
| 2020 | 1.44 hectares per square kilometre | -57.8% |
| 2021 | 2.99 hectares per square kilometre | +107.0% |
| 2022 | 3.24 hectares per square kilometre | +8.3% |
| 2023 | 8.72 hectares per square kilometre | +169.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 5.37 hectares per square kilometre | 2.84 hectares per square kilometre | 8.92 hectares per square kilometre | 8 |
| 2010s | 5.38 hectares per square kilometre | 2.06 hectares per square kilometre | 10.55 hectares per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.1 hectares per square kilometre | 1.44 hectares per square kilometre | 8.72 hectares per square kilometre | 4 |
Countries ranked near Australia
- 5 Ghana 11.74 hectares per square kilometre compare
- 6 Angola 10.51 hectares per square kilometre compare
- 7 Burkina Faso 9.21 hectares per square kilometre compare
- 9 Zambia 5.84 hectares per square kilometre compare
- 10 Benin 5.73 hectares per square kilometre compare
- 11 Congo 5.15 hectares per square kilometre compare
More reference data data for Australia
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.21 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 28.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 38.41 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 38.41 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 4.07 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 6.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 118.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 170.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 13.9 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is area burned by wildfires by land cover type, per square kilometre in Australia?
- Area burned by wildfires by land cover type, per square kilometre in Australia was 8.72 hectares per square kilometre in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest area burned by wildfires by land cover type, per square kilometre recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 10.55 hectares per square kilometre in 2012.
- What is the lowest area burned by wildfires by land cover type, per square kilometre recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.44 hectares per square kilometre in 2020.
- How does Australia rank for area burned by wildfires by land cover type, per square kilometre?
- Australia ranks 8th out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is area burned by wildfires by land cover type, per square kilometre rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 189.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Area burned by wildfires by land cover type, per square kilometre. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 22 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Area burned by wildfires by land cover type divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Area burned by wildfires by land cover type ÷ Land area (sq. km)
Computed from
- Area burned by wildfires by land cover type Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
- Land area FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Area burned by wildfires by land cover type divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.