Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Kenya
Kenya: Area burned by wildfires by land cover type was 276,223 hectares in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Kenya, 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 Kenya stood at 276,223 hectares.
The figure is down 12.8% on the previous year and up 150.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Kenya peaked at 818,923 hectares in 2012 and was at its lowest, 38,381 hectares, in 2017.
That places Kenya 37th 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 Kenya, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 191,948 hectares | — |
| 2003 | 369,556 hectares | +92.5% |
| 2004 | 123,901 hectares | -66.5% |
| 2005 | 163,570 hectares | +32.0% |
| 2006 | 61,028 hectares | -62.7% |
| 2007 | 654,709 hectares | +972.8% |
| 2008 | 189,050 hectares | -71.1% |
| 2009 | 78,823 hectares | -58.3% |
| 2010 | 120,059 hectares | +52.3% |
| 2011 | 120,488 hectares | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 818,923 hectares | +579.7% |
| 2013 | 278,885 hectares | -65.9% |
| 2014 | 138,691 hectares | -50.3% |
| 2015 | 110,270 hectares | -20.5% |
| 2016 | 163,806 hectares | +48.5% |
| 2017 | 38,381 hectares | -76.6% |
| 2018 | 113,211 hectares | +195.0% |
| 2019 | 155,542 hectares | +37.4% |
| 2020 | 465,917 hectares | +199.5% |
| 2021 | 220,841 hectares | -52.6% |
| 2022 | 85,992 hectares | -61.1% |
| 2023 | 72,082 hectares | -16.2% |
| 2024 | 316,858 hectares | +339.6% |
| 2025 | 276,223 hectares | -12.8% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 276,223 hectares is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 49,425 hectares, 5.6× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 276,223 hectares is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 541,498 hectares, 51% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Kenya 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 | +972.8% | 61,028 hectares | 654,709 hectares |
| 2012 | +579.7% | 120,488 hectares | 818,923 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 229,073 hectares | 61,028 hectares | 654,709 hectares | 8 |
| 2010s | 205,826 hectares | 38,381 hectares | 818,923 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 239,652 hectares | 72,082 hectares | 465,917 hectares | 6 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More reference data data for Kenya
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5379 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 12.22 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 14.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.377 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 14.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.8 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 58.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 68.95 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.05 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Kenya?
- Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Kenya was 276,223 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 Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 818,923 hectares in 2012.
- What is the lowest area burned by wildfires by land cover type recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 38,381 hectares in 2017.
- How does Kenya rank for area burned by wildfires by land cover type?
- Kenya ranks 37th out of 225 countries with data for 2025.
- Is area burned by wildfires by land cover type rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 150.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya 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.