Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in South Korea
South Korea: Area burned by wildfires by land cover type was 837.17 hectares in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in South Korea, 2002–2025
Source: Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
The most recent figure for area burned by wildfires by land cover type in South Korea is 837.17 hectares, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 3,800.0% on the previous year and up 1,200.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, area burned by wildfires by land cover type in South Korea peaked at 965.96 hectares in 2017 and was at its lowest, 0 hectares, in 2002.
That places South Korea 117th 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 South Korea, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 0 hectares | — |
| 2003 | 21.47 hectares | — |
| 2004 | 579.58 hectares | +2600.0% |
| 2005 | 321.99 hectares | -44.4% |
| 2006 | 64.4 hectares | -80.0% |
| 2007 | 21.47 hectares | -66.7% |
| 2008 | 0 hectares | -100.0% |
| 2009 | 386.38 hectares | — |
| 2010 | 0 hectares | -100.0% |
| 2011 | 729.84 hectares | — |
| 2012 | 42.93 hectares | -94.1% |
| 2013 | 64.4 hectares | +50.0% |
| 2014 | 214.66 hectares | +233.3% |
| 2015 | 64.4 hectares | -70.0% |
| 2016 | 85.86 hectares | +33.3% |
| 2017 | 965.96 hectares | +1025.0% |
| 2018 | 0 hectares | -100.0% |
| 2019 | 42.93 hectares | — |
| 2020 | 171.73 hectares | +300.0% |
| 2021 | 0 hectares | -100.0% |
| 2022 | 193.19 hectares | — |
| 2023 | 193.19 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 21.47 hectares | -88.9% |
| 2025 | 837.17 hectares | +3800.0% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 837.17 hectares is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 42.93 hectares, 19.5× the median. (35 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in South Korea 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | +3800.0% | 21.47 hectares | 837.17 hectares |
| 2004 | +2600.0% | 21.47 hectares | 579.58 hectares |
| 2017 | +1025.0% | 85.86 hectares | 965.96 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 174.41 hectares | 0 hectares | 579.58 hectares | 8 |
| 2010s | 221.1 hectares | 0 hectares | 965.96 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 236.12 hectares | 0 hectares | 837.17 hectares | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More reference data data for South Korea
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.9638 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.9281 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 3.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.2074 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 3.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.23 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 4.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 5.17 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 19.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.13 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is area burned by wildfires by land cover type in South Korea?
- Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in South Korea was 837.17 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 South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 965.96 hectares in 2017.
- What is the lowest area burned by wildfires by land cover type recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 hectares in 2002.
- How does South Korea rank for area burned by wildfires by land cover type?
- South Korea ranks 117th out of 225 countries with data for 2025.
- Is area burned by wildfires by land cover type rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1,200.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South 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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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.