Tree cover loss from wildfires in China
China: Tree cover loss from wildfires was 32,898 hectares in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Tree cover loss from wildfires in China, 2001–2024
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.
Tree cover loss from wildfires in China, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 22,212 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 26,759 hectares | +20.5% |
| 2003 | 69,011 hectares | +157.9% |
| 2004 | 88,173 hectares | +27.8% |
| 2005 | 27,579 hectares | -68.7% |
| 2006 | 98,855 hectares | +258.4% |
| 2007 | 30,245 hectares | -69.4% |
| 2008 | 37,807 hectares | +25.0% |
| 2009 | 34,578 hectares | -8.5% |
| 2010 | 34,433 hectares | -0.4% |
| 2011 | 17,856 hectares | -48.1% |
| 2012 | 12,804 hectares | -28.3% |
| 2013 | 4,792 hectares | -62.6% |
| 2014 | 6,009 hectares | +25.4% |
| 2015 | 4,946 hectares | -17.7% |
| 2016 | 13,850 hectares | +180.0% |
| 2017 | 15,104 hectares | +9.1% |
| 2018 | 14,668 hectares | -2.9% |
| 2019 | 30,205 hectares | +105.9% |
| 2020 | 21,434 hectares | -29.0% |
| 2021 | 17,097 hectares | -20.2% |
| 2022 | 7,538 hectares | -55.9% |
| 2023 | 22,500 hectares | +198.5% |
| 2024 | 32,898 hectares | +46.2% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 32,898 hectares is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 668.64 hectares, 49.2× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- China's 32,898 hectares is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 835.53 hectares, 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.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | +258.4% | 27,579 hectares | 98,855 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | 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
More reference data data for China
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 49.4 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 75.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 18.8 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 165.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 206.2 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 350.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1,480 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 102.37 (2050)
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
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).