Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Area burned by wildfires by land cover type was 8,908 hectares in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Saudi Arabia, 2002–2025
Source: Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
Saudi Arabia recorded 8,908 hectares for area burned by wildfires by land cover type in 2025.
The figure is up 67.3% on the previous year and up 90.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Saudi Arabia peaked at 51,647 hectares in 2002 and was at its lowest, 858.64 hectares, in 2019.
That places Saudi Arabia 92nd 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 Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 51,647 hectares | — |
| 2003 | 23,441 hectares | -54.6% |
| 2004 | 25,931 hectares | +10.6% |
| 2005 | 31,555 hectares | +21.7% |
| 2006 | 24,858 hectares | -21.2% |
| 2007 | 23,119 hectares | -7.0% |
| 2008 | 6,161 hectares | -73.4% |
| 2009 | 11,484 hectares | +86.4% |
| 2010 | 9,273 hectares | -19.3% |
| 2011 | 1,782 hectares | -80.8% |
| 2012 | 3,370 hectares | +89.2% |
| 2013 | 1,288 hectares | -61.8% |
| 2014 | 1,374 hectares | +6.7% |
| 2015 | 4,680 hectares | +240.6% |
| 2016 | 1,953 hectares | -58.3% |
| 2017 | 1,996 hectares | +2.2% |
| 2018 | 4,186 hectares | +109.7% |
| 2019 | 858.64 hectares | -79.5% |
| 2020 | 2,683 hectares | +212.5% |
| 2021 | 4,594 hectares | +71.2% |
| 2022 | 8,329 hectares | +81.3% |
| 2023 | 5,216 hectares | -37.4% |
| 2024 | 5,324 hectares | +2.1% |
| 2025 | 8,908 hectares | +67.3% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 8,908 hectares is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 343.45 hectares, 25.9× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 24,774 hectares | 6,161 hectares | 51,647 hectares | 8 |
| 2010s | 3,076 hectares | 858.64 hectares | 9,273 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 5,842 hectares | 2,683 hectares | 8,908 hectares | 6 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More reference data data for Saudi Arabia
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.1847 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.4 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.44 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1771 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 2.44 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.6194 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.2207 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 6.07 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 10.64 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.9641 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Saudi Arabia?
- Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Saudi Arabia was 8,908 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 Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 51,647 hectares in 2002.
- What is the lowest area burned by wildfires by land cover type recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 858.64 hectares in 2019.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for area burned by wildfires by land cover type?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 92nd out of 225 countries with data for 2025.
- Is area burned by wildfires by land cover type rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 90.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia 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.