Tree cover loss from wildfires in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Tree cover loss from wildfires was 5.15 hectares in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Tree cover loss from wildfires in Afghanistan, 2001–2024
Source: Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
In 2024, tree cover loss from wildfires in Afghanistan stood at 5.15 hectares.
The figure is down 19.0% on the previous year and down 4.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tree cover loss from wildfires in Afghanistan peaked at 134.99 hectares in 2003 and was at its lowest, 0.2537 hectares, in 2018.
That places Afghanistan 124th out of 152 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Tree cover loss from wildfires in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 1.52 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 34.05 hectares | +2135.5% |
| 2003 | 134.99 hectares | +296.5% |
| 2004 | 13.84 hectares | -89.7% |
| 2005 | 51.8 hectares | +274.2% |
| 2006 | 23.43 hectares | -54.8% |
| 2007 | 36.83 hectares | +57.2% |
| 2008 | 19.72 hectares | -46.5% |
| 2009 | 12.8 hectares | -35.1% |
| 2010 | 6.47 hectares | -49.4% |
| 2011 | 53.06 hectares | +719.5% |
| 2012 | 5.37 hectares | -89.9% |
| 2018 | 0.2537 hectares | -95.3% |
| 2019 | 2.28 hectares | +797.6% |
| 2020 | 1.01 hectares | -55.6% |
| 2021 | 2.09 hectares | +107.2% |
| 2022 | 0.5074 hectares | -75.8% |
| 2023 | 6.36 hectares | +1153.2% |
| 2024 | 5.15 hectares | -19.0% |
Afghanistan compared with similar countries
- Afghanistan's 5.15 hectares is below the median for low income countries, which is 353.64 hectares, 1% of the median. (18 countries reporting)
- Afghanistan's 5.15 hectares is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 15.24 hectares, 34% of the median. (12 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Tree cover loss from wildfires in Afghanistan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | +2135.5% | 1.52 hectares | 34.05 hectares |
| 2023 | +1153.2% | 0.5074 hectares | 6.36 hectares |
| 2019 | +797.6% | 0.2537 hectares | 2.28 hectares |
| 2011 | +719.5% | 6.47 hectares | 53.06 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 36.55 hectares | 1.52 hectares | 134.99 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 13.49 hectares | 0.2537 hectares | 53.06 hectares | 5 |
| 2020s | 3.02 hectares | 0.5074 hectares | 6.36 hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
More reference data data for Afghanistan
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.8991 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 4.89 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 6.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.4362 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 6.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.01 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.847 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 18.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 26.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.38 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is tree cover loss from wildfires in Afghanistan?
- Tree cover loss from wildfires in Afghanistan was 5.15 hectares in 2024, according to Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest tree cover loss from wildfires recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 134.99 hectares in 2003.
- What is the lowest tree cover loss from wildfires recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2537 hectares in 2018.
- How does Afghanistan rank for tree cover loss from wildfires?
- Afghanistan ranks 124th out of 152 countries with data for 2024.
- Is tree cover loss from wildfires rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Tree cover loss from wildfires. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 19 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Tree cover loss due to fire with no visible human conversion or agricultural activity afterward. Fires may be started by natural causes (e.g. lightning) or may be related to human activities (accidental or deliberate).