Tree cover loss from wildfires in Brazil
Brazil: Tree cover loss from wildfires was 2.18 million hectares in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Tree cover loss from wildfires in Brazil, 2001–2024
Source: Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
Brazil recorded 2.18 million hectares for tree cover loss from wildfires in 2024. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
The figure is up 336.9% on the previous year and up 1,121.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tree cover loss from wildfires in Brazil peaked at 2.18 million hectares in 2024 and was at its lowest, 41,269 hectares, in 2001.
That places Brazil 3rd out of 152 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Tree cover loss from wildfires in Brazil, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 41,269 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 51,532 hectares | +24.9% |
| 2003 | 62,111 hectares | +20.5% |
| 2004 | 64,941 hectares | +4.6% |
| 2005 | 67,188 hectares | +3.5% |
| 2006 | 71,245 hectares | +6.0% |
| 2007 | 114,979 hectares | +61.4% |
| 2008 | 74,023 hectares | -35.6% |
| 2009 | 78,120 hectares | +5.5% |
| 2010 | 199,079 hectares | +154.8% |
| 2011 | 123,216 hectares | -38.1% |
| 2012 | 209,075 hectares | +69.7% |
| 2013 | 126,587 hectares | -39.5% |
| 2014 | 178,819 hectares | +41.3% |
| 2015 | 211,139 hectares | +18.1% |
| 2016 | 1.78 million hectares | +741.2% |
| 2017 | 1.14 million hectares | -35.6% |
| 2018 | 385,744 hectares | -66.3% |
| 2019 | 325,869 hectares | -15.5% |
| 2020 | 855,988 hectares | +162.7% |
| 2021 | 488,422 hectares | -42.9% |
| 2022 | 480,311 hectares | -1.7% |
| 2023 | 499,881 hectares | +4.1% |
| 2024 | 2.18 million hectares | +336.9% |
Brazil compared with similar countries
- Brazil's 2.18 million hectares is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 668.64 hectares, 3266.6× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Brazil's 2.18 million hectares is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 6,701 hectares, 326.0× the median. (27 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Tree cover loss from wildfires in Brazil 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | +741.2% | 211,139 hectares | 1.78 million hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 69,490 hectares | 41,269 hectares | 114,979 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 468,010 hectares | 123,216 hectares | 1.78 million hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 901,760 hectares | 480,311 hectares | 2.18 million hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near Brazil
More reference data data for Brazil
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 13.82 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 72.83 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 139.27 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 9.01 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 139.27 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 46.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 18.99 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 405.35 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 699.19 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 49.04 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is tree cover loss from wildfires in Brazil?
- Tree cover loss from wildfires in Brazil was 2.18 million 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 Brazil?
- The highest recorded value was 2.18 million hectares in 2024.
- What is the lowest tree cover loss from wildfires recorded in Brazil?
- The lowest recorded value was 41,269 hectares in 2001.
- How does Brazil rank for tree cover loss from wildfires?
- Brazil ranks 3rd out of 152 countries with data for 2024.
- Is tree cover loss from wildfires rising or falling in Brazil?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1,121.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Brazil 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 — 24 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).