Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Syria
Syria: Area burned by wildfires by land cover type was 12,729 hectares in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Syria, 2002–2025
Source: Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
Syria recorded 12,729 hectares for area burned by wildfires by land cover type in 2025.
That represents a change of down 76.6% on the previous year and up 57.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Syria peaked at 181,945 hectares in 2019 and was at its lowest, 0 hectares, in 2008.
That places Syria 83rd 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 Syria, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 236.13 hectares | — |
| 2003 | 4,315 hectares | +1727.3% |
| 2004 | 5,925 hectares | +37.3% |
| 2005 | 193.19 hectares | -96.7% |
| 2006 | 665.44 hectares | +244.4% |
| 2007 | 4,121 hectares | +519.4% |
| 2008 | 0 hectares | -100.0% |
| 2009 | 1,159 hectares | — |
| 2010 | 1,181 hectares | +1.9% |
| 2011 | 965.96 hectares | -18.2% |
| 2012 | 7,577 hectares | +684.4% |
| 2013 | 5,989 hectares | -21.0% |
| 2014 | 1,889 hectares | -68.5% |
| 2015 | 8,071 hectares | +327.3% |
| 2016 | 4,057 hectares | -49.7% |
| 2017 | 1,481 hectares | -63.5% |
| 2018 | 1,030 hectares | -30.4% |
| 2019 | 181,945 hectares | +17558.4% |
| 2020 | 47,354 hectares | -74.0% |
| 2021 | 2,748 hectares | -94.2% |
| 2022 | 64.4 hectares | -97.7% |
| 2023 | 15,799 hectares | +24433.2% |
| 2024 | 54,480 hectares | +244.8% |
| 2025 | 12,729 hectares | -76.6% |
Syria compared with similar countries
- Syria's 12,729 hectares is below the median for low income countries, which is 96,961 hectares, 13% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Syria's 12,729 hectares is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 343.45 hectares, 37.1× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Syria 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +24433.2% | 64.4 hectares | 15,799 hectares |
| 2019 | +17558.4% | 1,030 hectares | 181,945 hectares |
| 2003 | +1727.3% | 236.13 hectares | 4,315 hectares |
| 2012 | +684.4% | 965.96 hectares | 7,577 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 2,077 hectares | 0 hectares | 5,925 hectares | 8 |
| 2010s | 21,419 hectares | 965.96 hectares | 181,945 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 22,196 hectares | 64.4 hectares | 54,480 hectares | 6 |
Countries ranked near Syria
- 80 Sierra Leone 15,026 hectares compare
- 81 Chile 13,953 hectares compare
- 82 Uzbekistan 12,922 hectares compare
- 84 Honduras 12,300 hectares compare
- 85 Guinea-Bissau 12,300 hectares compare
- 86 North Macedonia 11,248 hectares compare
- 86 Suriname 11,248 hectares compare
More reference data data for Syria
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.1191 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 4.23 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 7.23 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.5377 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 7.23 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.3995 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.1542 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 16.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 29.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.93 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Syria?
- Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Syria was 12,729 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 Syria?
- The highest recorded value was 181,945 hectares in 2019.
- What is the lowest area burned by wildfires by land cover type recorded in Syria?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 hectares in 2008.
- How does Syria rank for area burned by wildfires by land cover type?
- Syria ranks 83rd out of 225 countries with data for 2025.
- Is area burned by wildfires by land cover type rising or falling in Syria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 57.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Syria 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.