Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Area burned by wildfires by land cover type was 3,907 hectares in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Afghanistan, 2002–2025
Source: Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
In 2025, area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Afghanistan stood at 3,907 hectares.
That represents a change of up 219.3% on the previous year and up 167.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Afghanistan peaked at 92,883 hectares in 2003 and was at its lowest, 321.99 hectares, in 2018.
Afghanistan ranks 100th of 225 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 23,806 hectares | — |
| 2003 | 92,883 hectares | +290.2% |
| 2004 | 21,981 hectares | -76.3% |
| 2005 | 10,068 hectares | -54.2% |
| 2006 | 6,526 hectares | -35.2% |
| 2007 | 4,250 hectares | -34.9% |
| 2008 | 46,152 hectares | +985.9% |
| 2009 | 4,014 hectares | -91.3% |
| 2010 | 46,860 hectares | +1067.4% |
| 2011 | 2,962 hectares | -93.7% |
| 2012 | 5,560 hectares | +87.7% |
| 2013 | 5,667 hectares | +1.9% |
| 2014 | 1,009 hectares | -82.2% |
| 2015 | 1,460 hectares | +44.7% |
| 2016 | 3,134 hectares | +114.7% |
| 2017 | 665.44 hectares | -78.8% |
| 2018 | 321.99 hectares | -51.6% |
| 2019 | 14,168 hectares | +4300.0% |
| 2020 | 17,001 hectares | +20.0% |
| 2021 | 7,599 hectares | -55.3% |
| 2022 | 1,288 hectares | -83.1% |
| 2023 | 3,134 hectares | +143.3% |
| 2024 | 1,224 hectares | -61.0% |
| 2025 | 3,907 hectares | +219.3% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 3,907 hectares is below the median for low income countries, which is 96,961 hectares, 4% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 3,907 hectares is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 343.45 hectares, 11.4× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Afghanistan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +4300.0% | 321.99 hectares | 14,168 hectares |
| 2010 | +1067.4% | 4,014 hectares | 46,860 hectares |
| 2008 | +985.9% | 4,250 hectares | 46,152 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 26,210 hectares | 4,014 hectares | 92,883 hectares | 8 |
| 2010s | 8,181 hectares | 321.99 hectares | 46,860 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 5,692 hectares | 1,224 hectares | 17,001 hectares | 6 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
More reference data data for Afghanistan
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.8991 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 4.89 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 6.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.4362 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 6.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.01 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.847 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 18.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 26.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.38 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Afghanistan?
- Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Afghanistan was 3,907 hectares in 2025, according to Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest area burned by wildfires by land cover type recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 92,883 hectares in 2003.
- What is the lowest area burned by wildfires by land cover type recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 321.99 hectares in 2018.
- How does Afghanistan rank for area burned by wildfires by land cover type?
- Afghanistan ranks 100th out of 225 countries with data for 2025.
- Is area burned by wildfires by land cover type rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 167.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Area burned by wildfires by land cover type. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Area of shrubland and grassland burnt by wildfires each year, in hectares. Includes open and closed shrublands and grasslands without a significant tree cover.