Area burned by wildfires by land cover type, per square kilometre in Lesotho
Lesotho: Area burned by wildfires by land cover type, per square kilometre was 1.16 hectares per square kilometre in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Area burned by wildfires by land cover type, per square kilometre in Lesotho, 2002–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in hectares per square kilometre.
Analysis
In 2023, area burned by wildfires by land cover type, per square kilometre in Lesotho stood at 1.16 hectares per square kilometre.
The figure is up 36.6% on the previous year and down 16.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, area burned by wildfires by land cover type, per square kilometre in Lesotho peaked at 4.31 hectares per square kilometre in 2003 and was at its lowest, 0.2333 hectares per square kilometre, in 2018.
That places Lesotho 31st out of 206 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
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 Lesotho, year by year
| Year | hectares per square kilometre | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 1.48 hectares per square kilometre | — |
| 2003 | 4.31 hectares per square kilometre | +191.0% |
| 2004 | 1.22 hectares per square kilometre | -71.7% |
| 2005 | 1.98 hectares per square kilometre | +62.6% |
| 2006 | 1.52 hectares per square kilometre | -23.1% |
| 2007 | 4.07 hectares per square kilometre | +167.6% |
| 2008 | 0.712 hectares per square kilometre | -82.5% |
| 2009 | 1.85 hectares per square kilometre | +160.5% |
| 2010 | 1.48 hectares per square kilometre | -20.3% |
| 2011 | 3.37 hectares per square kilometre | +128.3% |
| 2012 | 1.82 hectares per square kilometre | -46.2% |
| 2013 | 1.39 hectares per square kilometre | -23.6% |
| 2014 | 1.13 hectares per square kilometre | -18.5% |
| 2015 | 1.46 hectares per square kilometre | +28.6% |
| 2016 | 2.27 hectares per square kilometre | +56.3% |
| 2017 | 0.6766 hectares per square kilometre | -70.3% |
| 2018 | 0.2333 hectares per square kilometre | -65.5% |
| 2019 | 0.9015 hectares per square kilometre | +286.4% |
| 2020 | 0.2432 hectares per square kilometre | -73.0% |
| 2021 | 1.37 hectares per square kilometre | +464.2% |
| 2022 | 0.847 hectares per square kilometre | -38.3% |
| 2023 | 1.16 hectares per square kilometre | +36.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 2.14 hectares per square kilometre | 0.712 hectares per square kilometre | 4.31 hectares per square kilometre | 8 |
| 2010s | 1.47 hectares per square kilometre | 0.2333 hectares per square kilometre | 3.37 hectares per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.9048 hectares per square kilometre | 0.2432 hectares per square kilometre | 1.37 hectares per square kilometre | 4 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
- 28 Cambodia 1.25 hectares per square kilometre compare
- 29 Mongolia 1.24 hectares per square kilometre compare
- 30 Rwanda 1.22 hectares per square kilometre compare
- 32 Gabon 1.09 hectares per square kilometre compare
- 33 Belize 1.05 hectares per square kilometre compare
- 34 Bolivia 0.9987 hectares per square kilometre compare
More reference data data for Lesotho
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0331 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.5388 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.582 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0101 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.582 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.111 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.1115 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 2.48 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.77 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0549 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is area burned by wildfires by land cover type, per square kilometre in Lesotho?
- Area burned by wildfires by land cover type, per square kilometre in Lesotho was 1.16 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 Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 4.31 hectares per square kilometre in 2003.
- What is the lowest area burned by wildfires by land cover type, per square kilometre recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2333 hectares per square kilometre in 2018.
- How does Lesotho rank for area burned by wildfires by land cover type, per square kilometre?
- Lesotho ranks 31st out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is area burned by wildfires by land cover type, per square kilometre rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lesotho 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.
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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.