Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Spain
Spain: Area burned by wildfires by land cover type was 93,098 hectares in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Spain, 2002–2025
Source: Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
Spain recorded 93,098 hectares for area burned by wildfires by land cover type in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 515.2% on the previous year and up 188.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Spain peaked at 150,819 hectares in 2022 and was at its lowest, 5,646 hectares, in 2018.
Spain ranks 51st 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 Spain, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 21,037 hectares | — |
| 2003 | 65,879 hectares | +213.2% |
| 2004 | 55,446 hectares | -15.8% |
| 2005 | 67,274 hectares | +21.3% |
| 2006 | 19,190 hectares | -71.5% |
| 2007 | 40,656 hectares | +111.9% |
| 2008 | 14,897 hectares | -63.4% |
| 2009 | 50,080 hectares | +236.2% |
| 2010 | 10,304 hectares | -79.4% |
| 2011 | 15,434 hectares | +49.8% |
| 2012 | 113,125 hectares | +633.0% |
| 2013 | 16,314 hectares | -85.6% |
| 2014 | 12,515 hectares | -23.3% |
| 2015 | 32,306 hectares | +158.1% |
| 2016 | 14,532 hectares | -55.0% |
| 2017 | 34,217 hectares | +135.5% |
| 2018 | 5,646 hectares | -83.5% |
| 2019 | 28,636 hectares | +407.2% |
| 2020 | 17,709 hectares | -38.2% |
| 2021 | 34,775 hectares | +96.4% |
| 2022 | 150,819 hectares | +333.7% |
| 2023 | 12,472 hectares | -91.7% |
| 2024 | 15,133 hectares | +21.3% |
| 2025 | 93,098 hectares | +515.2% |
Spain compared with similar countries
- Spain's 93,098 hectares is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 890.83 hectares, 104.5× the median. (54 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 41,807 hectares | 14,897 hectares | 67,274 hectares | 8 |
| 2010s | 28,303 hectares | 5,646 hectares | 113,125 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 54,001 hectares | 12,472 hectares | 150,819 hectares | 6 |
Countries ranked near Spain
More reference data data for Spain
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.18 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 2.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 11.76 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.898 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 11.76 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 10.67 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 6.03 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 11.06 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 52.4 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 4.89 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Spain?
- Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Spain was 93,098 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 Spain?
- The highest recorded value was 150,819 hectares in 2022.
- What is the lowest area burned by wildfires by land cover type recorded in Spain?
- The lowest recorded value was 5,646 hectares in 2018.
- How does Spain rank for area burned by wildfires by land cover type?
- Spain ranks 51st out of 225 countries with data for 2025.
- Is area burned by wildfires by land cover type rising or falling in Spain?
- Over the last ten years it is up 188.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Spain 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
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
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.