Tree cover loss from wildfires in China

China: Tree cover loss from wildfires was 32,898 in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
32,898
Change on year
up 46.2%
World rank
18th
of 152 countries
All-time high
98,855
in 2006
All-time low
4,792
in 2013
Years of data
24
2001–2024

Tree cover loss from wildfires in China, 2001–2024

020.0k40.0k60.0k80.0k100.0k2001201220242001: 22.2k2002: 26.8k2003: 69.0k2004: 88.2k2005: 27.6k2006: 98.9k2007: 30.2k2008: 37.8k2009: 34.6k2010: 34.4k2011: 17.9k2012: 12.8k2013: 4.8k2014: 6.0k2015: 4.9k2016: 13.8k2017: 15.1k2018: 14.7k2019: 30.2k2020: 21.4k2021: 17.1k2022: 7.5k2023: 22.5k2024: 32.9k

Source: Our World in Data.

Analysis

China recorded 32,898 for tree cover loss from wildfires in 2024.

That represents a change of up 46.2% on the previous year and up 447.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, tree cover loss from wildfires in China peaked at 98,855 in 2006 and was at its lowest, 4,792, in 2013.

China ranks 18th of 152 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Tree cover loss from wildfires in China, year by year

Annual values for Tree cover loss from wildfires in China, 2001 to 2024.
Year Value Change
2001 22,212 —
2002 26,759 +20.5%
2003 69,011 +157.9%
2004 88,173 +27.8%
2005 27,579 -68.7%
2006 98,855 +258.4%
2007 30,245 -69.4%
2008 37,807 +25.0%
2009 34,578 -8.5%
2010 34,433 -0.4%
2011 17,856 -48.1%
2012 12,804 -28.3%
2013 4,792 -62.6%
2014 6,009 +25.4%
2015 4,946 -17.7%
2016 13,850 +180.0%
2017 15,104 +9.1%
2018 14,668 -2.9%
2019 30,205 +105.9%
2020 21,434 -29.0%
2021 17,097 -20.2%
2022 7,538 -55.9%
2023 22,500 +198.5%
2024 32,898 +46.2%

China compared with similar countries

  • China's 32,898 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 668.64, 49.2× the median. (46 countries reporting)
  • China's 32,898 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 835.53, 39.4× the median. (23 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Tree cover loss from wildfires in China 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.

YearChange FromTo
2006 +258.4% 27,579 98,855

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 48,358 22,212 98,855 9
2010s 15,467 4,792 34,433 10
2020s 20,294 7,538 32,898 5

Countries ranked near China

  1. 15 Congo 40,994 compare
  2. 16 Ukraine 37,381 compare
  3. 17 Argentina 36,956 compare
  4. 19 Madagascar 25,991 compare
  5. 20 Nicaragua 23,055 compare
  6. 21 Portugal 19,583 compare

See the full ranking of 152 places →

More reference data data for China

All data for China →

Frequently asked questions

What is tree cover loss from wildfires in China?
Tree cover loss from wildfires in China was 32,898 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
What is the highest tree cover loss from wildfires recorded in China?
The highest recorded value was 98,855 in 2006.
What is the lowest tree cover loss from wildfires recorded in China?
The lowest recorded value was 4,792 in 2013.
How does China rank for tree cover loss from wildfires?
China ranks 18th out of 152 countries with data for 2024.
Is tree cover loss from wildfires rising or falling in China?
Over the last ten years it is up 447.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this China data come from?
The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Tree cover loss from wildfires. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Tree cover loss from wildfires in China. Statizoid, drawing on Our World in Data. Retrieved 10 November 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/tree-cover-loss-from-wildfires/china/

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About this data

Indicator
Tree cover loss from wildfires
Source
Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
152 places, 3,353 data points, 2001–2024
Last refreshed