Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in North Korea
North Korea: Area burned by wildfires by land cover type was 1,717 hectares in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in North Korea, 2002–2025
Source: Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
North Korea recorded 1,717 hectares for area burned by wildfires by land cover type in 2025.
That represents a change of up 86.0% on the previous year and down 50.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, area burned by wildfires by land cover type in North Korea peaked at 9,896 hectares in 2009 and was at its lowest, 386.39 hectares, in 2016.
That places North Korea 113th 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 North Korea, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 1,116 hectares | — |
| 2003 | 1,739 hectares | +55.8% |
| 2004 | 2,855 hectares | +64.2% |
| 2005 | 4,808 hectares | +68.4% |
| 2006 | 858.64 hectares | -82.1% |
| 2007 | 1,095 hectares | +27.5% |
| 2008 | 5,624 hectares | +413.7% |
| 2009 | 9,896 hectares | +76.0% |
| 2010 | 1,138 hectares | -88.5% |
| 2011 | 9,123 hectares | +701.9% |
| 2012 | 944.5 hectares | -89.6% |
| 2013 | 3,070 hectares | +225.0% |
| 2014 | 5,603 hectares | +82.5% |
| 2015 | 3,477 hectares | -37.9% |
| 2016 | 386.39 hectares | -88.9% |
| 2017 | 1,481 hectares | +283.3% |
| 2018 | 4,830 hectares | +226.1% |
| 2019 | 5,646 hectares | +16.9% |
| 2020 | 965.97 hectares | -82.9% |
| 2021 | 407.85 hectares | -57.8% |
| 2022 | 601.04 hectares | +47.4% |
| 2023 | 965.97 hectares | +60.7% |
| 2024 | 923.03 hectares | -4.4% |
| 2025 | 1,717 hectares | +86.0% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 1,717 hectares is below the median for low income countries, which is 96,961 hectares, 2% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 1,717 hectares is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 42.93 hectares, 40.0× the median. (35 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3,499 hectares | 858.64 hectares | 9,896 hectares | 8 |
| 2010s | 3,570 hectares | 386.39 hectares | 9,123 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 930.19 hectares | 407.85 hectares | 1,717 hectares | 6 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
More reference data data for North Korea
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.75 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - Burning - Crop residues 3.54 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Agricultural Soils 1,939 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Direct emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.838 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Direct emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 5.57 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Direct emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.91 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - Manure Management 325.47 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - Manure Management 11.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Agricultural 1,939 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Burning - Crop 24.3 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is area burned by wildfires by land cover type in North Korea?
- Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in North Korea was 1,717 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 North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 9,896 hectares in 2009.
- What is the lowest area burned by wildfires by land cover type recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 386.39 hectares in 2016.
- How does North Korea rank for area burned by wildfires by land cover type?
- North Korea ranks 113th out of 225 countries with data for 2025.
- Is area burned by wildfires by land cover type rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 50.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this North Korea 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.