Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Somalia
Somalia: Area burned by wildfires by land cover type was 2,855 hectares in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Somalia, 2002–2025
Source: Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
Somalia recorded 2,855 hectares for area burned by wildfires by land cover type in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 78.6% on the previous year and up 22.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Somalia peaked at 132,144 hectares in 2003 and was at its lowest, 21.47 hectares, in 2017.
That places Somalia 105th 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 Somalia, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 20,521 hectares | — |
| 2003 | 132,144 hectares | +543.9% |
| 2004 | 17,817 hectares | -86.5% |
| 2005 | 25,180 hectares | +41.3% |
| 2006 | 7,255 hectares | -71.2% |
| 2007 | 36,513 hectares | +403.3% |
| 2008 | 25,416 hectares | -30.4% |
| 2009 | 11,999 hectares | -52.8% |
| 2010 | 21,895 hectares | +82.5% |
| 2011 | 3,671 hectares | -83.2% |
| 2012 | 66,093 hectares | +1700.6% |
| 2013 | 70,408 hectares | +6.5% |
| 2014 | 14,618 hectares | -79.2% |
| 2015 | 2,340 hectares | -84.0% |
| 2016 | 5,796 hectares | +147.7% |
| 2017 | 21.47 hectares | -99.6% |
| 2018 | 429.32 hectares | +1900.0% |
| 2019 | 2,640 hectares | +515.0% |
| 2020 | 16,421 hectares | +522.0% |
| 2021 | 4,894 hectares | -70.2% |
| 2022 | 1,288 hectares | -73.7% |
| 2023 | 3,306 hectares | +156.7% |
| 2024 | 13,330 hectares | +303.2% |
| 2025 | 2,855 hectares | -78.6% |
Somalia compared with similar countries
- Somalia's 2,855 hectares is below the median for low income countries, which is 96,961 hectares, 3% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Somalia's 2,855 hectares is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 541,498 hectares, 1% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Somalia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | +1900.0% | 21.47 hectares | 429.32 hectares |
| 2012 | +1700.6% | 3,671 hectares | 66,093 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 34,606 hectares | 7,255 hectares | 132,144 hectares | 8 |
| 2010s | 18,791 hectares | 21.47 hectares | 70,408 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 7,016 hectares | 1,288 hectares | 16,421 hectares | 6 |
Countries ranked near Somalia
More reference data data for Somalia
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.2637 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 10.39 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 10.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0493 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 10.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.8842 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.3652 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 41.78 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 43.31 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.2685 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Somalia?
- Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Somalia was 2,855 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 Somalia?
- The highest recorded value was 132,144 hectares in 2003.
- What is the lowest area burned by wildfires by land cover type recorded in Somalia?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.47 hectares in 2017.
- How does Somalia rank for area burned by wildfires by land cover type?
- Somalia ranks 105th out of 225 countries with data for 2025.
- Is area burned by wildfires by land cover type rising or falling in Somalia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 22.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Somalia 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.