Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Malaysia
Malaysia: Area burned by wildfires by land cover type was 279.06 hectares in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Malaysia, 2002–2025
Source: Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
Malaysia recorded 279.06 hectares for area burned by wildfires by land cover type in 2025.
That represents a change of down 93.0% on the previous year and down 91.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Malaysia peaked at 6,998 hectares in 2005 and was at its lowest, 0 hectares, in 2022.
Malaysia ranks 128th of 225 countries on this measure, 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 Malaysia, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 4,765 hectares | — |
| 2003 | 2,297 hectares | -51.8% |
| 2004 | 4,186 hectares | +82.2% |
| 2005 | 6,998 hectares | +67.2% |
| 2006 | 1,245 hectares | -82.2% |
| 2007 | 1,567 hectares | +25.9% |
| 2008 | 858.63 hectares | -45.2% |
| 2009 | 4,937 hectares | +475.0% |
| 2010 | 2,769 hectares | -43.9% |
| 2011 | 1,331 hectares | -51.9% |
| 2012 | 1,266 hectares | -4.8% |
| 2013 | 1,181 hectares | -6.8% |
| 2014 | 5,560 hectares | +370.9% |
| 2015 | 3,435 hectares | -38.2% |
| 2016 | 3,349 hectares | -2.5% |
| 2017 | 42.93 hectares | -98.7% |
| 2018 | 472.25 hectares | +1000.0% |
| 2019 | 2,297 hectares | +386.4% |
| 2020 | 450.78 hectares | -80.4% |
| 2021 | 515.18 hectares | +14.3% |
| 2022 | 0 hectares | -100.0% |
| 2023 | 214.66 hectares | — |
| 2024 | 3,993 hectares | +1760.0% |
| 2025 | 279.06 hectares | -93.0% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 279.06 hectares is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 10,669 hectares, 3% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 279.06 hectares is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 42.93 hectares, 6.5× the median. (35 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Malaysia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | +1760.0% | 214.66 hectares | 3,993 hectares |
| 2018 | +1000.0% | 42.93 hectares | 472.25 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3,357 hectares | 858.63 hectares | 6,998 hectares | 8 |
| 2010s | 2,170 hectares | 42.93 hectares | 5,560 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 908.72 hectares | 0 hectares | 3,993 hectares | 6 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
More reference data data for Malaysia
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.7102 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.5869 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 4.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1487 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 4.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 2.38 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.64 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 3.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 21.1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.8098 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Malaysia?
- Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Malaysia was 279.06 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 Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 6,998 hectares in 2005.
- What is the lowest area burned by wildfires by land cover type recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 hectares in 2022.
- How does Malaysia rank for area burned by wildfires by land cover type?
- Malaysia ranks 128th out of 225 countries with data for 2025.
- Is area burned by wildfires by land cover type rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 91.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malaysia 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
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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.