Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in New Zealand
New Zealand: Area burned by wildfires by land cover type was 64.4 hectares in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in New Zealand, 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 New Zealand is 64.4 hectares, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 93.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, area burned by wildfires by land cover type in New Zealand peaked at 5,066 hectares in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0 hectares, 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 by wildfires by land cover type in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 21.47 hectares | — |
| 2003 | 0 hectares | -100.0% |
| 2004 | 515.18 hectares | — |
| 2005 | 0 hectares | -100.0% |
| 2006 | 1,417 hectares | — |
| 2007 | 1,760 hectares | +24.2% |
| 2008 | 472.25 hectares | -73.2% |
| 2009 | 0 hectares | -100.0% |
| 2010 | 772.77 hectares | — |
| 2011 | 364.92 hectares | -52.8% |
| 2012 | 42.93 hectares | -88.2% |
| 2013 | 858.63 hectares | +1900.0% |
| 2014 | 472.25 hectares | -45.0% |
| 2015 | 1,009 hectares | +113.6% |
| 2016 | 2,232 hectares | +121.3% |
| 2017 | 1,009 hectares | -54.8% |
| 2018 | 128.79 hectares | -87.2% |
| 2019 | 2,426 hectares | +1783.3% |
| 2020 | 5,066 hectares | +108.8% |
| 2021 | 321.99 hectares | -93.6% |
| 2022 | 407.85 hectares | +26.7% |
| 2023 | 42.93 hectares | -89.5% |
| 2024 | 64.4 hectares | +50.0% |
| 2025 | 64.4 hectares | +0.0% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 64.4 hectares is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 42.93 hectares, 1.5× the median. (35 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Area burned by wildfires by land cover 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 hectares | 858.63 hectares |
| 2019 | +1783.3% | 128.79 hectares | 2,426 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 523.23 hectares | 0 hectares | 1,760 hectares | 8 |
| 2010s | 931.62 hectares | 42.93 hectares | 2,426 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 994.58 hectares | 42.93 hectares | 5,066 hectares | 6 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
- 135 Bhutan 128.79 hectares compare
- 136 Moldova 85.86 hectares compare
- 137 Ireland 85.86 hectares compare
- 139 East Timor 42.93 hectares compare
- 139 Slovenia 42.93 hectares compare
- 141 Austria 21.47 hectares compare
- 141 Hungary 21.47 hectares compare
- 141 Liberia 21.47 hectares compare
- 141 Libya 21.47 hectares compare
- 141 Slovakia 21.47 hectares compare
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 by wildfires by land cover type in New Zealand?
- Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in New Zealand was 64.4 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 New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 5,066 hectares in 2020.
- What is the lowest area burned by wildfires by land cover type recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 hectares in 2003.
- How does New Zealand rank for area burned by wildfires by land cover type?
- New Zealand ranks 138th out of 225 countries with data for 2025.
- Is area burned by wildfires by land cover 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 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.