Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Japan
Japan: Area burned by wildfires by land cover type was 536.65 hectares in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Japan, 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 Japan stood at 536.65 hectares.
The figure is down 30.6% on the previous year and down 28.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Japan peaked at 2,554 hectares in 2013 and was at its lowest, 42.93 hectares, in 2016.
That places Japan 122nd 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 Japan, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 128.8 hectares | — |
| 2003 | 772.77 hectares | +500.0% |
| 2004 | 450.78 hectares | -41.7% |
| 2005 | 150.26 hectares | -66.7% |
| 2006 | 107.33 hectares | -28.6% |
| 2007 | 450.78 hectares | +320.0% |
| 2008 | 257.59 hectares | -42.9% |
| 2009 | 665.44 hectares | +158.3% |
| 2010 | 622.51 hectares | -6.5% |
| 2011 | 493.71 hectares | -20.7% |
| 2012 | 64.4 hectares | -87.0% |
| 2013 | 2,554 hectares | +3866.6% |
| 2014 | 987.43 hectares | -61.3% |
| 2015 | 751.3 hectares | -23.9% |
| 2016 | 42.93 hectares | -94.3% |
| 2017 | 643.98 hectares | +1400.0% |
| 2018 | 1,782 hectares | +176.7% |
| 2019 | 729.84 hectares | -59.0% |
| 2020 | 1,095 hectares | +50.0% |
| 2021 | 85.86 hectares | -92.2% |
| 2022 | 2,469 hectares | +2775.0% |
| 2023 | 558.11 hectares | -77.4% |
| 2024 | 772.77 hectares | +38.5% |
| 2025 | 536.65 hectares | -30.6% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 536.65 hectares is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 42.93 hectares, 12.5× the median. (35 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Japan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | +3866.6% | 64.4 hectares | 2,554 hectares |
| 2022 | +2775.0% | 85.86 hectares | 2,469 hectares |
| 2017 | +1400.0% | 42.93 hectares | 643.98 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 372.97 hectares | 107.33 hectares | 772.77 hectares | 8 |
| 2010s | 867.22 hectares | 42.93 hectares | 2,554 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 919.46 hectares | 85.86 hectares | 2,469 hectares | 6 |
Countries ranked near Japan
More reference data data for Japan
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.19 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.981 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 4.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.3629 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 4.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.98 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 4.16 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 5.57 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 23.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.98 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Japan?
- Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Japan was 536.65 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 Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 2,554 hectares in 2013.
- What is the lowest area burned by wildfires by land cover type recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 42.93 hectares in 2016.
- How does Japan rank for area burned by wildfires by land cover type?
- Japan ranks 122nd out of 225 countries with data for 2025.
- Is area burned by wildfires by land cover type rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 28.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Japan 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.