Area burned wildfires by type in Kenya
Kenya: Area burned wildfires by type was 276,223 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Area burned wildfires by type in Kenya, 2002–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, area burned wildfires by type in Kenya stood at 276,223.
The figure is down 12.8% on the previous year and up 150.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, area burned wildfires by type in Kenya peaked at 818,923 in 2012 and was at its lowest, 38,381, 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 wildfires by type in Kenya, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 191,948 | — |
| 2003 | 369,556 | +92.5% |
| 2004 | 123,901 | -66.5% |
| 2005 | 163,570 | +32.0% |
| 2006 | 61,028 | -62.7% |
| 2007 | 654,709 | +972.8% |
| 2008 | 189,050 | -71.1% |
| 2009 | 78,823 | -58.3% |
| 2010 | 120,059 | +52.3% |
| 2011 | 120,488 | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 818,923 | +579.7% |
| 2013 | 278,885 | -65.9% |
| 2014 | 138,691 | -50.3% |
| 2015 | 110,270 | -20.5% |
| 2016 | 163,806 | +48.5% |
| 2017 | 38,381 | -76.6% |
| 2018 | 113,211 | +195.0% |
| 2019 | 155,542 | +37.4% |
| 2020 | 465,917 | +199.5% |
| 2021 | 220,841 | -52.6% |
| 2022 | 85,992 | -61.1% |
| 2023 | 72,082 | -16.2% |
| 2024 | 316,858 | +339.6% |
| 2025 | 276,223 | -12.8% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 276,223 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 49,425, 5.6× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 276,223 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 541,498, 51% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Area burned wildfires by 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 | 654,709 |
| 2012 | +579.7% | 120,488 | 818,923 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 229,073 | 61,028 | 654,709 | 8 |
| 2010s | 205,826 | 38,381 | 818,923 | 10 |
| 2020s | 239,652 | 72,082 | 465,917 | 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 wildfires by type in Kenya?
- Area burned wildfires by type in Kenya was 276,223 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest area burned wildfires by type recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 818,923 in 2012.
- What is the lowest area burned wildfires by type recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 38,381 in 2017.
- How does Kenya rank for area burned wildfires by type?
- Kenya ranks 37th out of 225 countries with data for 2025.
- Is area burned wildfires by 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Area burned wildfires by 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).