Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Iraq
Iraq: Area burned by wildfires by land cover type was 65,149 hectares in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Iraq, 2002–2025
Source: Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
In 2025, area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Iraq stood at 65,149 hectares.
That represents a change of down 64.7% on the previous year and down 48.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Iraq peaked at 929,794 hectares in 2019 and was at its lowest, 13,223 hectares, in 2006.
That places Iraq 55th out of 225 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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 Iraq, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 37,415 hectares | — |
| 2003 | 19,470 hectares | -48.0% |
| 2004 | 15,284 hectares | -21.5% |
| 2005 | 24,256 hectares | +58.7% |
| 2006 | 13,223 hectares | -45.5% |
| 2007 | 23,226 hectares | +75.6% |
| 2008 | 56,734 hectares | +144.3% |
| 2009 | 35,204 hectares | -37.9% |
| 2010 | 41,043 hectares | +16.6% |
| 2011 | 28,678 hectares | -30.1% |
| 2012 | 18,268 hectares | -36.3% |
| 2013 | 31,276 hectares | +71.2% |
| 2014 | 62,036 hectares | +98.4% |
| 2015 | 125,683 hectares | +102.6% |
| 2016 | 117,633 hectares | -6.4% |
| 2017 | 48,470 hectares | -58.8% |
| 2018 | 81,678 hectares | +68.5% |
| 2019 | 929,794 hectares | +1038.4% |
| 2020 | 412,939 hectares | -55.6% |
| 2021 | 71,610 hectares | -82.7% |
| 2022 | 51,132 hectares | -28.6% |
| 2023 | 101,512 hectares | +98.5% |
| 2024 | 184,478 hectares | +81.7% |
| 2025 | 65,149 hectares | -64.7% |
Iraq compared with similar countries
- Iraq's 65,149 hectares is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 10,669 hectares, 6.1× the median. (56 countries reporting)
- Iraq's 65,149 hectares is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 343.45 hectares, 189.7× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Iraq 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 | +1038.4% | 81,678 hectares | 929,794 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 28,102 hectares | 13,223 hectares | 56,734 hectares | 8 |
| 2010s | 148,456 hectares | 18,268 hectares | 929,794 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 147,803 hectares | 51,132 hectares | 412,939 hectares | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
More reference data data for Iraq
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.2116 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 3.19 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 7.23 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.3911 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 7.23 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.7096 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.235 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 13.21 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 30.36 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.13 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Iraq?
- Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Iraq was 65,149 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 Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 929,794 hectares in 2019.
- What is the lowest area burned by wildfires by land cover type recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 13,223 hectares in 2006.
- How does Iraq rank for area burned by wildfires by land cover type?
- Iraq ranks 55th out of 225 countries with data for 2025.
- Is area burned by wildfires by land cover type rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is down 48.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iraq 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.