Area burned wildfires by type in New Zealand
New Zealand: Area burned wildfires by type was 64.4 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Area burned wildfires by type in New Zealand, 2002–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for area burned wildfires by type in New Zealand is 64.4, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 93.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, area burned wildfires by type in New Zealand peaked at 5,066 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0, in 2003.
New Zealand ranks 138th 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 wildfires by type in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 21.47 | — |
| 2003 | 0 | -100.0% |
| 2004 | 515.18 | — |
| 2005 | 0 | -100.0% |
| 2006 | 1,417 | — |
| 2007 | 1,760 | +24.2% |
| 2008 | 472.25 | -73.2% |
| 2009 | 0 | -100.0% |
| 2010 | 772.77 | — |
| 2011 | 364.92 | -52.8% |
| 2012 | 42.93 | -88.2% |
| 2013 | 858.63 | +1900.0% |
| 2014 | 472.25 | -45.0% |
| 2015 | 1,009 | +113.6% |
| 2016 | 2,232 | +121.3% |
| 2017 | 1,009 | -54.8% |
| 2018 | 128.79 | -87.2% |
| 2019 | 2,426 | +1783.3% |
| 2020 | 5,066 | +108.8% |
| 2021 | 321.99 | -93.6% |
| 2022 | 407.85 | +26.7% |
| 2023 | 42.93 | -89.5% |
| 2024 | 64.4 | +50.0% |
| 2025 | 64.4 | +0.0% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 64.4 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 42.93, 1.5× the median. (35 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Area burned wildfires by type in New Zealand 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | +1900.0% | 42.93 | 858.63 |
| 2019 | +1783.3% | 128.79 | 2,426 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 523.23 | 0 | 1,760 | 8 |
| 2010s | 931.62 | 42.93 | 2,426 | 10 |
| 2020s | 994.58 | 42.93 | 5,066 | 6 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
More reference data data for New Zealand
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.4532 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 9.92 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 10.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0459 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 10.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.52 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.53 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 42.17 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 47.53 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.2499 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is area burned wildfires by type in New Zealand?
- Area burned wildfires by type in New Zealand was 64.4 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest area burned wildfires by type recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 5,066 in 2020.
- What is the lowest area burned wildfires by type recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 2003.
- How does New Zealand rank for area burned wildfires by type?
- New Zealand ranks 138th out of 225 countries with data for 2025.
- Is area burned wildfires by type rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 93.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this New Zealand 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).