Tree cover loss from wildfires in Congo
Congo: Tree cover loss from wildfires was 40,994 hectares in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Tree cover loss from wildfires in Congo, 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 Congo stood at 40,994 hectares. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1,263.2% on the previous year and up 2,793.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tree cover loss from wildfires in Congo peaked at 40,994 hectares in 2024 and was at its lowest, 135.29 hectares, in 2008.
That places Congo 15th 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 Congo, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 844.5 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 286.56 hectares | -66.1% |
| 2003 | 233.95 hectares | -18.4% |
| 2004 | 254.31 hectares | +8.7% |
| 2005 | 426.73 hectares | +67.8% |
| 2006 | 577.88 hectares | +35.4% |
| 2007 | 597.73 hectares | +3.4% |
| 2008 | 135.29 hectares | -77.4% |
| 2009 | 167.81 hectares | +24.0% |
| 2010 | 1,558 hectares | +828.4% |
| 2011 | 751.62 hectares | -51.8% |
| 2012 | 1,268 hectares | +68.7% |
| 2013 | 1,938 hectares | +52.9% |
| 2014 | 1,417 hectares | -26.9% |
| 2015 | 1,880 hectares | +32.7% |
| 2016 | 34,075 hectares | +1712.2% |
| 2017 | 1,009 hectares | -97.0% |
| 2018 | 3,274 hectares | +224.5% |
| 2019 | 1,815 hectares | -44.6% |
| 2020 | 2,934 hectares | +61.7% |
| 2021 | 2,764 hectares | -5.8% |
| 2022 | 4,123 hectares | +49.2% |
| 2023 | 3,007 hectares | -27.1% |
| 2024 | 40,994 hectares | +1263.2% |
Congo compared with similar countries
- Congo's 40,994 hectares is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 169.25 hectares, 242.2× the median. (38 countries reporting)
- Congo's 40,994 hectares is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 169.25 hectares, 242.2× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Tree cover loss from wildfires in Congo 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 | +1712.2% | 1,880 hectares | 34,075 hectares |
| 2024 | +1263.2% | 3,007 hectares | 40,994 hectares |
| 2010 | +828.4% | 167.81 hectares | 1,558 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 391.64 hectares | 135.29 hectares | 844.5 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 4,899 hectares | 751.62 hectares | 34,075 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 10,765 hectares | 2,764 hectares | 40,994 hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near Congo
More reference data data for Congo
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0199 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.1866 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.2108 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0031 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.2108 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0668 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.0724 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.9126 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.08 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.017 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is tree cover loss from wildfires in Congo?
- Tree cover loss from wildfires in Congo was 40,994 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 Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 40,994 hectares in 2024.
- What is the lowest tree cover loss from wildfires recorded in Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 135.29 hectares in 2008.
- How does Congo rank for tree cover loss from wildfires?
- Congo ranks 15th out of 152 countries with data for 2024.
- Is tree cover loss from wildfires rising or falling in Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2,793.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Congo 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).