Tree cover loss from wildfires in Canada
Canada: Tree cover loss from wildfires was 4.44 million hectares in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Tree cover loss from wildfires in Canada, 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 Canada stood at 4.44 million hectares.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 43.0% on the previous year and up 147.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tree cover loss from wildfires in Canada peaked at 7.79 million hectares in 2023 and was at its lowest, 351,275 hectares, in 2020.
That places Canada 1st 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 Canada, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 562,662 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 1.41 million hectares | +151.1% |
| 2003 | 960,025 hectares | -32.0% |
| 2004 | 1.57 million hectares | +63.7% |
| 2005 | 1.80 million hectares | +14.7% |
| 2006 | 1.35 million hectares | -25.3% |
| 2007 | 1.10 million hectares | -18.0% |
| 2008 | 1.11 million hectares | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 810,646 hectares | -27.0% |
| 2010 | 1.35 million hectares | +66.1% |
| 2011 | 1.40 million hectares | +4.1% |
| 2012 | 1.59 million hectares | +13.4% |
| 2013 | 2.01 million hectares | +26.7% |
| 2014 | 1.79 million hectares | -11.0% |
| 2015 | 1.91 million hectares | +6.5% |
| 2016 | 1.10 million hectares | -42.2% |
| 2017 | 1.50 million hectares | +36.1% |
| 2018 | 1.19 million hectares | -20.6% |
| 2019 | 1.26 million hectares | +5.6% |
| 2020 | 351,275 hectares | -72.1% |
| 2021 | 1.62 million hectares | +360.7% |
| 2022 | 1.45 million hectares | -10.4% |
| 2023 | 7.79 million hectares | +436.9% |
| 2024 | 4.44 million hectares | -43.0% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 4.44 million hectares is above the median for high income countries, which is 152.21 hectares, 29173.8× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Tree cover loss from wildfires in Canada 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 | +436.9% | 1.45 million hectares | 7.79 million hectares |
| 2021 | +360.7% | 351,275 hectares | 1.62 million hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1.19 million hectares | 562,662 hectares | 1.80 million hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 1.51 million hectares | 1.10 million hectares | 2.01 million hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.13 million hectares | 351,275 hectares | 7.79 million hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near Canada
More reference data data for Canada
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 2.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 3.92 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 20.47 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.92 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 20.47 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 6.86 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 7.45 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 22.03 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 99.83 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 15.88 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is tree cover loss from wildfires in Canada?
- Tree cover loss from wildfires in Canada was 4.44 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 Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 7.79 million hectares in 2023.
- What is the lowest tree cover loss from wildfires recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 351,275 hectares in 2020.
- How does Canada rank for tree cover loss from wildfires?
- Canada ranks 1st out of 152 countries with data for 2024.
- Is tree cover loss from wildfires rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is up 147.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Canada 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).