Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Area burned by wildfires by land cover type was 3,220 hectares in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in United Kingdom, 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 United Kingdom stood at 3,220 hectares. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
That represents a change of up 14,899.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, area burned by wildfires by land cover type in United Kingdom peaked at 3,220 hectares in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0 hectares, in 2002.
That places United Kingdom 104th 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 United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 0 hectares | — |
| 2003 | 2,791 hectares | — |
| 2004 | 0 hectares | -100.0% |
| 2005 | 257.59 hectares | — |
| 2006 | 128.8 hectares | -50.0% |
| 2007 | 1,181 hectares | +816.7% |
| 2008 | 0 hectares | -100.0% |
| 2009 | 64.4 hectares | — |
| 2010 | 1,030 hectares | +1500.0% |
| 2011 | 386.39 hectares | -62.5% |
| 2012 | 751.3 hectares | +94.4% |
| 2013 | 0 hectares | -100.0% |
| 2014 | 0 hectares | — |
| 2015 | 21.47 hectares | — |
| 2016 | 0 hectares | -100.0% |
| 2017 | 128.79 hectares | — |
| 2018 | 579.58 hectares | +350.0% |
| 2019 | 1,825 hectares | +214.8% |
| 2020 | 472.25 hectares | -74.1% |
| 2021 | 0 hectares | -100.0% |
| 2022 | 2,361 hectares | — |
| 2023 | 1,739 hectares | -26.4% |
| 2024 | 0 hectares | -100.0% |
| 2025 | 3,220 hectares | — |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 3,220 hectares is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 890.83 hectares, 3.6× the median. (54 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in United Kingdom 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | +1500.0% | 64.4 hectares | 1,030 hectares |
| 2007 | +816.7% | 128.8 hectares | 1,181 hectares |
| 2018 | +350.0% | 128.79 hectares | 579.58 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 552.75 hectares | 0 hectares | 2,791 hectares | 8 |
| 2010s | 472.25 hectares | 0 hectares | 1,825 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,299 hectares | 0 hectares | 3,220 hectares | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More reference data data for United Kingdom
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.13 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 3.97 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 13.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.01 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 13.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 10.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 6.51 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 15.81 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 59.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 5.48 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is area burned by wildfires by land cover type in United Kingdom?
- Area burned by wildfires by land cover type in United Kingdom was 3,220 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 3,220 hectares in 2025.
- What is the lowest area burned by wildfires by land cover type recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 hectares in 2002.
- How does United Kingdom rank for area burned by wildfires by land cover type?
- United Kingdom ranks 104th out of 225 countries with data for 2025.
- Is area burned by wildfires by land cover type rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14,899.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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.