Tree cover loss from wildfires in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Tree cover loss from wildfires was 112.59 hectares in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Tree cover loss from wildfires in Costa Rica, 2001–2024
Source: Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
Costa Rica recorded 112.59 hectares for tree cover loss from wildfires in 2024.
That represents a change of up 8,148.4% on the previous year and up 322.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tree cover loss from wildfires in Costa Rica peaked at 2,710 hectares in 2017 and was at its lowest, 0.8344 hectares, in 2015.
That places Costa Rica 88th out of 152 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Tree cover loss from wildfires in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 12.4 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 2.8 hectares | -77.4% |
| 2003 | 6.43 hectares | +129.8% |
| 2004 | 7.56 hectares | +17.5% |
| 2005 | 7.18 hectares | -5.0% |
| 2006 | 1.59 hectares | -77.9% |
| 2007 | 9.38 hectares | +490.1% |
| 2008 | 3.71 hectares | -60.5% |
| 2009 | 7.49 hectares | +101.9% |
| 2010 | 5.67 hectares | -24.3% |
| 2011 | 3.78 hectares | -33.3% |
| 2012 | 4.47 hectares | +18.3% |
| 2013 | 8.09 hectares | +81.0% |
| 2014 | 26.68 hectares | +229.6% |
| 2015 | 0.8344 hectares | -96.9% |
| 2016 | 387.12 hectares | +46293.3% |
| 2017 | 2,710 hectares | +600.0% |
| 2018 | 34.25 hectares | -98.7% |
| 2019 | 231.07 hectares | +574.6% |
| 2020 | 10.62 hectares | -95.4% |
| 2021 | 1.44 hectares | -86.4% |
| 2022 | 1.44 hectares | -0.2% |
| 2023 | 1.37 hectares | -5.2% |
| 2024 | 112.59 hectares | +8148.4% |
Costa Rica compared with similar countries
- Costa Rica's 112.59 hectares is below the median for high income countries, which is 152.21 hectares, 74% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Costa Rica's 112.59 hectares is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 6,701 hectares, 2% of the median. (27 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Tree cover loss from wildfires in Costa Rica 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 | +46293.3% | 0.8344 hectares | 387.12 hectares |
| 2024 | +8148.4% | 1.37 hectares | 112.59 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 6.5 hectares | 1.59 hectares | 12.4 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 341.18 hectares | 0.8344 hectares | 2,710 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 25.49 hectares | 1.37 hectares | 112.59 hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
More reference data data for Costa Rica
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.2987 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.406 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.27 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0167 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.27 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.3161 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 2.24 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 5.91 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0907 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is tree cover loss from wildfires in Costa Rica?
- Tree cover loss from wildfires in Costa Rica was 112.59 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 Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 2,710 hectares in 2017.
- What is the lowest tree cover loss from wildfires recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.8344 hectares in 2015.
- How does Costa Rica rank for tree cover loss from wildfires?
- Costa Rica ranks 88th out of 152 countries with data for 2024.
- Is tree cover loss from wildfires rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is up 322.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Costa Rica 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).