Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Italy
Italy: Area burned by wildfires by land cover type was 8,157 hectares in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Italy, 2002–2025
Source: Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
Italy recorded 8,157 hectares for area burned by wildfires by land cover type in 2025.
The figure is up 566.7% on the previous year and up 427.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Italy peaked at 33,014 hectares in 2007 and was at its lowest, 901.57 hectares, in 2005.
Italy ranks 93rd 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 Italy, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 1,717 hectares | — |
| 2003 | 5,925 hectares | +245.0% |
| 2004 | 1,932 hectares | -67.4% |
| 2005 | 901.57 hectares | -53.3% |
| 2006 | 1,567 hectares | +73.8% |
| 2007 | 33,014 hectares | +2006.8% |
| 2008 | 4,980 hectares | -84.9% |
| 2009 | 5,324 hectares | +6.9% |
| 2010 | 1,245 hectares | -76.6% |
| 2011 | 5,624 hectares | +351.7% |
| 2012 | 15,048 hectares | +167.6% |
| 2013 | 1,696 hectares | -88.7% |
| 2014 | 2,726 hectares | +60.8% |
| 2015 | 1,546 hectares | -43.3% |
| 2016 | 5,495 hectares | +255.6% |
| 2017 | 18,246 hectares | +232.0% |
| 2018 | 2,361 hectares | -87.1% |
| 2019 | 3,091 hectares | +30.9% |
| 2020 | 5,002 hectares | +61.8% |
| 2021 | 12,343 hectares | +146.8% |
| 2022 | 3,885 hectares | -68.5% |
| 2023 | 17,495 hectares | +350.3% |
| 2024 | 1,224 hectares | -93.0% |
| 2025 | 8,157 hectares | +566.7% |
Italy compared with similar countries
- Italy's 8,157 hectares is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 890.83 hectares, 9.2× the median. (54 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Italy 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | +2006.8% | 1,567 hectares | 33,014 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 6,920 hectares | 901.57 hectares | 33,014 hectares | 8 |
| 2010s | 5,708 hectares | 1,245 hectares | 18,246 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 8,018 hectares | 1,224 hectares | 17,495 hectares | 6 |
Countries ranked near Italy
- 90 Cuba 10,025 hectares compare
- 91 Romania 9,381 hectares compare
- 92 Saudi Arabia 8,908 hectares compare
- 94 Costa Rica 8,028 hectares compare
- 95 Nepal 7,685 hectares compare
- 96 Montenegro 7,341 hectares compare
More reference data data for Italy
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 2.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.48 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 8.94 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.927 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 8.94 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 8.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 5.21 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 6.51 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 41.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 5.05 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Italy?
- Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Italy was 8,157 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 Italy?
- The highest recorded value was 33,014 hectares in 2007.
- What is the lowest area burned by wildfires by land cover type recorded in Italy?
- The lowest recorded value was 901.57 hectares in 2005.
- How does Italy rank for area burned by wildfires by land cover type?
- Italy ranks 93rd out of 225 countries with data for 2025.
- Is area burned by wildfires by land cover type rising or falling in Italy?
- Over the last ten years it is up 427.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Italy 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.