Tree cover loss from wildfires in China

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

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

Tree cover loss from wildfires in China, 2001–2024

020.0k40.0k60.0k80.0k100.0k2001201220242001: 22.2k hectares2002: 26.8k hectares2003: 69.0k hectares2004: 88.2k hectares2005: 27.6k hectares2006: 98.9k hectares2007: 30.2k hectares2008: 37.8k hectares2009: 34.6k hectares2010: 34.4k hectares2011: 17.9k hectares2012: 12.8k hectares2013: 4.8k hectares2014: 6.0k hectares2015: 4.9k hectares2016: 13.8k hectares2017: 15.1k hectares2018: 14.7k hectares2019: 30.2k hectares2020: 21.4k hectares2021: 17.1k hectares2022: 7.5k hectares2023: 22.5k hectares2024: 32.9k hectares

Source: Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.

Analysis

China recorded 32,898 hectares 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 hectares in 2006 and was at its lowest, 4,792 hectares, 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.

Averages by decade

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

Countries ranked near China

  1. 15 Congo 40,994 hectares compare
  2. 16 Ukraine 37,381 hectares compare
  3. 17 Argentina 36,956 hectares compare
  4. 19 Madagascar 25,991 hectares compare
  5. 20 Nicaragua 23,055 hectares compare
  6. 21 Portugal 19,583 hectares 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 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 China?
The highest recorded value was 98,855 hectares in 2006.
What is the lowest tree cover loss from wildfires recorded in China?
The lowest recorded value was 4,792 hectares 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 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

Indicator
Tree cover loss from wildfires
Unit
hectares
Source
Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
152 places, 3,353 data points, 2001–2024
Last refreshed

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).