Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in India
India: Area burned by wildfires by land cover type was 245,999 hectares in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in India, 2002–2025
Source: Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
India recorded 245,999 hectares for area burned by wildfires by land cover type in 2025.
The figure is up 226.6% on the previous year and up 437.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, area burned by wildfires by land cover type in India peaked at 353,242 hectares in 2021 and was at its lowest, 45,808 hectares, in 2015.
India ranks 42nd of 225 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
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 India, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 63,539 hectares | — |
| 2003 | 60,641 hectares | -4.6% |
| 2004 | 261,154 hectares | +330.7% |
| 2005 | 95,630 hectares | -63.4% |
| 2006 | 80,304 hectares | -16.0% |
| 2007 | 140,988 hectares | +75.6% |
| 2008 | 247,308 hectares | +75.4% |
| 2009 | 323,619 hectares | +30.9% |
| 2010 | 160,865 hectares | -50.3% |
| 2011 | 224,640 hectares | +39.6% |
| 2012 | 269,998 hectares | +20.2% |
| 2013 | 74,315 hectares | -72.5% |
| 2014 | 80,368 hectares | +8.1% |
| 2015 | 45,808 hectares | -43.0% |
| 2016 | 166,210 hectares | +262.8% |
| 2017 | 216,097 hectares | +30.0% |
| 2018 | 270,685 hectares | +25.3% |
| 2019 | 136,416 hectares | -49.6% |
| 2020 | 73,284 hectares | -46.3% |
| 2021 | 353,242 hectares | +382.0% |
| 2022 | 259,651 hectares | -26.5% |
| 2023 | 176,406 hectares | -32.1% |
| 2024 | 75,324 hectares | -57.3% |
| 2025 | 245,999 hectares | +226.6% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 245,999 hectares is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 49,425 hectares, 5.0× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- India's 245,999 hectares is above the median for South Asia, which is 4,465 hectares, 55.1× the median. (5 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 159,148 hectares | 60,641 hectares | 323,619 hectares | 8 |
| 2010s | 164,540 hectares | 45,808 hectares | 270,685 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 197,318 hectares | 73,284 hectares | 353,242 hectares | 6 |
Countries ranked near India
More reference data data for India
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 20.88 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 68.88 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 246.78 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 15.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 246.78 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 70.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 19.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 309.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1,063 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 85.03 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is area burned by wildfires by land cover type in India?
- Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in India was 245,999 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 India?
- The highest recorded value was 353,242 hectares in 2021.
- What is the lowest area burned by wildfires by land cover type recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 45,808 hectares in 2015.
- How does India rank for area burned by wildfires by land cover type?
- India ranks 42nd out of 225 countries with data for 2025.
- Is area burned by wildfires by land cover type rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 437.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this India 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.