Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in France
France: Area burned by wildfires by land cover type was 1,309 hectares in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in France, 2002–2025
Source: Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
France recorded 1,309 hectares for area burned by wildfires by land cover type in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 24.5% on the previous year and up 29.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, area burned by wildfires by land cover type in France peaked at 9,874 hectares in 2003 and was at its lowest, 107.33 hectares, in 2018.
That places France 114th 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 France, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 944.5 hectares | — |
| 2003 | 9,874 hectares | +945.5% |
| 2004 | 2,426 hectares | -75.4% |
| 2005 | 5,667 hectares | +133.6% |
| 2006 | 1,288 hectares | -77.3% |
| 2007 | 880.1 hectares | -31.7% |
| 2008 | 2,834 hectares | +222.0% |
| 2009 | 3,413 hectares | +20.5% |
| 2010 | 2,962 hectares | -13.2% |
| 2011 | 1,546 hectares | -47.8% |
| 2012 | 1,975 hectares | +27.8% |
| 2013 | 1,202 hectares | -39.1% |
| 2014 | 1,395 hectares | +16.1% |
| 2015 | 1,009 hectares | -27.7% |
| 2016 | 4,100 hectares | +306.4% |
| 2017 | 3,971 hectares | -3.1% |
| 2018 | 107.33 hectares | -97.3% |
| 2019 | 2,018 hectares | +1780.0% |
| 2020 | 1,159 hectares | -42.6% |
| 2021 | 1,374 hectares | +18.5% |
| 2022 | 5,324 hectares | +287.5% |
| 2023 | 2,125 hectares | -60.1% |
| 2024 | 1,052 hectares | -50.5% |
| 2025 | 1,309 hectares | +24.5% |
France compared with similar countries
- France's 1,309 hectares is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 890.83 hectares, 1.5× the median. (54 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in France 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 | +1780.0% | 107.33 hectares | 2,018 hectares |
| 2003 | +945.5% | 944.5 hectares | 9,874 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3,416 hectares | 880.1 hectares | 9,874 hectares | 8 |
| 2010s | 2,029 hectares | 107.33 hectares | 4,100 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 2,057 hectares | 1,052 hectares | 5,324 hectares | 6 |
Countries ranked near France
- 111 Germany 1,803 hectares compare
- 111 Panama 1,803 hectares compare
- 113 North Korea 1,717 hectares compare
- 115 French Guiana 1,159 hectares compare
- 116 Dominican Republic 1,009 hectares compare
- 117 South Korea 837.17 hectares compare
More reference data data for France
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 5.48 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 2.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 22.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.81 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 22.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 18.36 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 11.75 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 14.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 106.68 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 15.3 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is area burned by wildfires by land cover type in France?
- Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in France was 1,309 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 France?
- The highest recorded value was 9,874 hectares in 2003.
- What is the lowest area burned by wildfires by land cover type recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 107.33 hectares in 2018.
- How does France rank for area burned by wildfires by land cover type?
- France ranks 114th out of 225 countries with data for 2025.
- Is area burned by wildfires by land cover type rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is up 29.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this France 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.