Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Turkey
Turkey: Area burned by wildfires by land cover type was 49,522 hectares in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Turkey, 2002–2025
Source: Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
In 2025, area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Turkey stood at 49,522 hectares.
That represents a change of up 15.6% on the previous year and down 28.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Turkey peaked at 87,903 hectares in 2021 and was at its lowest, 9,703 hectares, in 2014.
Turkey ranks 59th of 225 countries on this measure, 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 Turkey, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 27,906 hectares | — |
| 2003 | 16,207 hectares | -41.9% |
| 2004 | 22,324 hectares | +37.7% |
| 2005 | 12,987 hectares | -41.8% |
| 2006 | 37,844 hectares | +191.4% |
| 2007 | 26,274 hectares | -30.6% |
| 2008 | 37,780 hectares | +43.8% |
| 2009 | 46,903 hectares | +24.1% |
| 2010 | 69,270 hectares | +47.7% |
| 2011 | 54,266 hectares | -21.7% |
| 2012 | 24,664 hectares | -54.5% |
| 2013 | 31,641 hectares | +28.3% |
| 2014 | 9,703 hectares | -69.3% |
| 2015 | 68,927 hectares | +610.4% |
| 2016 | 80,497 hectares | +16.8% |
| 2017 | 32,800 hectares | -59.3% |
| 2018 | 30,632 hectares | -6.6% |
| 2019 | 43,554 hectares | +42.2% |
| 2020 | 34,302 hectares | -21.2% |
| 2021 | 87,903 hectares | +156.3% |
| 2022 | 9,788 hectares | -88.9% |
| 2023 | 17,924 hectares | +83.1% |
| 2024 | 42,846 hectares | +139.0% |
| 2025 | 49,522 hectares | +15.6% |
Turkey compared with similar countries
- Turkey's 49,522 hectares is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 10,669 hectares, 4.6× the median. (56 countries reporting)
- Turkey's 49,522 hectares is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 890.83 hectares, 55.6× the median. (54 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Turkey 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | +610.4% | 9,703 hectares | 68,927 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 28,528 hectares | 12,987 hectares | 46,903 hectares | 8 |
| 2010s | 44,595 hectares | 9,703 hectares | 80,497 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 40,381 hectares | 9,788 hectares | 87,903 hectares | 6 |
Countries ranked near Turkey
More reference data data for Turkey
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.815 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 10.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 22.31 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.72 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 22.31 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 2.73 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 53.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 103 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 9.35 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Turkey?
- Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in Turkey was 49,522 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 Turkey?
- The highest recorded value was 87,903 hectares in 2021.
- What is the lowest area burned by wildfires by land cover type recorded in Turkey?
- The lowest recorded value was 9,703 hectares in 2014.
- How does Turkey rank for area burned by wildfires by land cover type?
- Turkey ranks 59th out of 225 countries with data for 2025.
- Is area burned by wildfires by land cover type rising or falling in Turkey?
- Over the last ten years it is down 28.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Turkey 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.