Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Area burned by wildfires by land cover type was 17,130 hectares in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Bulgaria, 2002–2025
Source: Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
Bulgaria recorded 17,130 hectares for area burned by wildfires by land cover type in 2025.
The figure is down 13.9% on the previous year and up 458.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Bulgaria peaked at 46,323 hectares in 2007 and was at its lowest, 794.24 hectares, in 2014.
That places Bulgaria 76th out of 225 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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 Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 2,190 hectares | — |
| 2003 | 4,315 hectares | +97.1% |
| 2004 | 5,281 hectares | +22.4% |
| 2005 | 2,275 hectares | -56.9% |
| 2006 | 13,867 hectares | +509.4% |
| 2007 | 46,323 hectares | +234.1% |
| 2008 | 10,840 hectares | -76.6% |
| 2009 | 2,576 hectares | -76.2% |
| 2010 | 4,164 hectares | +61.7% |
| 2011 | 12,429 hectares | +198.5% |
| 2012 | 11,699 hectares | -5.9% |
| 2013 | 2,748 hectares | -76.5% |
| 2014 | 794.24 hectares | -71.1% |
| 2015 | 3,070 hectares | +286.5% |
| 2016 | 6,139 hectares | +100.0% |
| 2017 | 4,658 hectares | -24.1% |
| 2018 | 1,438 hectares | -69.1% |
| 2019 | 5,624 hectares | +291.0% |
| 2020 | 4,293 hectares | -23.7% |
| 2021 | 794.24 hectares | -81.5% |
| 2022 | 3,349 hectares | +321.6% |
| 2023 | 7,363 hectares | +119.9% |
| 2024 | 19,899 hectares | +170.3% |
| 2025 | 17,130 hectares | -13.9% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 17,130 hectares is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 890.83 hectares, 19.2× the median. (54 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 10,958 hectares | 2,190 hectares | 46,323 hectares | 8 |
| 2010s | 5,276 hectares | 794.24 hectares | 12,429 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 8,805 hectares | 794.24 hectares | 19,899 hectares | 6 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
More reference data data for Bulgaria
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.3067 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.2728 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.73 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.2506 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.73 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.03 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.608 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 7.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.36 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Bulgaria?
- Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Bulgaria was 17,130 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 Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 46,323 hectares in 2007.
- What is the lowest area burned by wildfires by land cover type recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 794.24 hectares in 2014.
- How does Bulgaria rank for area burned by wildfires by land cover type?
- Bulgaria ranks 76th out of 225 countries with data for 2025.
- Is area burned by wildfires by land cover type rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 458.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bulgaria 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.
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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.