Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in El Salvador
El Salvador: Area burned by wildfires by land cover type was 150.26 hectares in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in El Salvador, 2002–2025
Source: Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
El Salvador recorded 150.26 hectares for area burned by wildfires by land cover type in 2025.
That represents a change of down 79.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, area burned by wildfires by land cover type in El Salvador peaked at 1,309 hectares in 2013 and was at its lowest, 0 hectares, in 2010.
El Salvador ranks 133rd 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 El Salvador, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 107.33 hectares | — |
| 2003 | 300.52 hectares | +180.0% |
| 2004 | 214.66 hectares | -28.6% |
| 2005 | 150.26 hectares | -30.0% |
| 2006 | 85.86 hectares | -42.9% |
| 2007 | 279.06 hectares | +225.0% |
| 2008 | 407.85 hectares | +46.2% |
| 2009 | 579.58 hectares | +42.1% |
| 2010 | 0 hectares | -100.0% |
| 2011 | 128.79 hectares | — |
| 2012 | 42.93 hectares | -66.7% |
| 2013 | 1,309 hectares | +2950.0% |
| 2014 | 257.59 hectares | -80.3% |
| 2015 | 729.84 hectares | +183.3% |
| 2016 | 150.26 hectares | -79.4% |
| 2017 | 536.65 hectares | +257.1% |
| 2018 | 901.57 hectares | +68.0% |
| 2019 | 386.39 hectares | -57.1% |
| 2020 | 858.63 hectares | +122.2% |
| 2021 | 364.92 hectares | -57.5% |
| 2022 | 643.98 hectares | +76.5% |
| 2023 | 300.52 hectares | -53.3% |
| 2024 | 150.26 hectares | -50.0% |
| 2025 | 150.26 hectares | +0.0% |
El Salvador compared with similar countries
- El Salvador's 150.26 hectares is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 10,669 hectares, 1% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
- El Salvador's 150.26 hectares is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 2,758 hectares, 5% of the median. (38 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in El Salvador 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | +2950.0% | 42.93 hectares | 1,309 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 265.64 hectares | 85.86 hectares | 579.58 hectares | 8 |
| 2010s | 444.34 hectares | 0 hectares | 1,309 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 411.43 hectares | 150.26 hectares | 858.63 hectares | 6 |
Countries ranked near El Salvador
More reference data data for El Salvador
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.2714 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.6267 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.78 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0909 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.78 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.91 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.3176 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 3.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 8.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.4948 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is area burned by wildfires by land cover type in El Salvador?
- Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in El Salvador was 150.26 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 El Salvador?
- The highest recorded value was 1,309 hectares in 2013.
- What is the lowest area burned by wildfires by land cover type recorded in El Salvador?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 hectares in 2010.
- How does El Salvador rank for area burned by wildfires by land cover type?
- El Salvador ranks 133rd out of 225 countries with data for 2025.
- Is area burned by wildfires by land cover type rising or falling in El Salvador?
- Over the last ten years it is down 79.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this El Salvador 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.