Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Portugal
Portugal: Area burned by wildfires by land cover type was 60,813 hectares in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Portugal, 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 Portugal is 60,813 hectares, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 904.6% on the previous year and up 465.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Portugal peaked at 147,084 hectares in 2003 and was at its lowest, 1,524 hectares, in 2008.
Portugal ranks 57th of 225 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
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 Portugal, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 34,324 hectares | — |
| 2003 | 147,084 hectares | +328.5% |
| 2004 | 64,698 hectares | -56.0% |
| 2005 | 48,728 hectares | -24.7% |
| 2006 | 15,412 hectares | -68.4% |
| 2007 | 4,830 hectares | -68.7% |
| 2008 | 1,524 hectares | -68.4% |
| 2009 | 28,571 hectares | +1774.6% |
| 2010 | 42,846 hectares | +50.0% |
| 2011 | 21,852 hectares | -49.0% |
| 2012 | 37,351 hectares | +70.9% |
| 2013 | 46,044 hectares | +23.3% |
| 2014 | 3,928 hectares | -91.5% |
| 2015 | 10,754 hectares | +173.8% |
| 2016 | 21,595 hectares | +100.8% |
| 2017 | 71,825 hectares | +232.6% |
| 2018 | 14,833 hectares | -79.3% |
| 2019 | 2,576 hectares | -82.6% |
| 2020 | 9,273 hectares | +260.0% |
| 2021 | 9,166 hectares | -1.2% |
| 2022 | 16,185 hectares | +76.6% |
| 2023 | 4,980 hectares | -69.2% |
| 2024 | 6,053 hectares | +21.6% |
| 2025 | 60,813 hectares | +904.6% |
Portugal compared with similar countries
- Portugal's 60,813 hectares is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 890.83 hectares, 68.3× the median. (54 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Portugal 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | +1774.6% | 1,524 hectares | 28,571 hectares |
| 2025 | +904.6% | 6,053 hectares | 60,813 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 43,146 hectares | 1,524 hectares | 147,084 hectares | 8 |
| 2010s | 27,360 hectares | 2,576 hectares | 71,825 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 17,745 hectares | 4,980 hectares | 60,813 hectares | 6 |
Countries ranked near Portugal
More reference data data for Portugal
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5144 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.4372 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.51 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0472 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.51 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.72 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.81 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 6.9 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.2572 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Portugal?
- Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Portugal was 60,813 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 Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 147,084 hectares in 2003.
- What is the lowest area burned by wildfires by land cover type recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,524 hectares in 2008.
- How does Portugal rank for area burned by wildfires by land cover type?
- Portugal ranks 57th out of 225 countries with data for 2025.
- Is area burned by wildfires by land cover type rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 465.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Portugal 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.