Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Ghana
Ghana: Area burned by wildfires by land cover type was 3.35 million hectares in 2024. ▬ Flat
Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Ghana, 2002–2024
Source: Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
The most recent figure for area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Ghana is 3.35 million hectares, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 25.6% on the previous year and down 6.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Ghana peaked at 4.59 million hectares in 2005 and was at its lowest, 2.48 million hectares, in 2009.
Ghana ranks 13th of 225 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3.27 million hectares | 2.48 million hectares | 4.59 million hectares | 8 |
| 2010s | 3.28 million hectares | 2.60 million hectares | 4.06 million hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.34 million hectares | 2.67 million hectares | 3.97 million hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ghana
- 10 Burkina Faso 3.51 million hectares compare
- 11 Senegal 3.38 million hectares compare
- 12 Madagascar 3.37 million hectares compare
- 14 Nigeria 3.00 million hectares compare
- 15 Mozambique 2.81 million hectares compare
- 16 Tanzania 2.80 million hectares compare
More reference data data for Ghana
- Spring temperature anomalies -0.2851 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies -0.0419 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month 0.8532 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 0.3544 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies 0.6214 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 855.78 2010 = 100 (2025)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Competitive elections 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Ghana?
- Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Ghana was 3.35 million hectares in 2024, 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 Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 4.59 million hectares in 2005.
- What is the lowest area burned by wildfires by land cover type recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.48 million hectares in 2009.
- How does Ghana rank for area burned by wildfires by land cover type?
- Ghana ranks 13th out of 225 countries with data for 2024.
- Is area burned by wildfires by land cover type rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Ghana 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.