Tree cover loss from wildfires in North Korea
North Korea: Tree cover loss from wildfires was 3,026 hectares in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Tree cover loss from wildfires in North Korea, 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 North Korea stood at 3,026 hectares.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 638.3% on the previous year and up 46.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tree cover loss from wildfires in North Korea peaked at 15,144 hectares in 2019 and was at its lowest, 409.82 hectares, in 2023.
North Korea ranks 36th 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 North Korea, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 3,889 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 954.11 hectares | -75.5% |
| 2003 | 1,131 hectares | +18.5% |
| 2004 | 3,010 hectares | +166.1% |
| 2005 | 5,373 hectares | +78.5% |
| 2006 | 1,505 hectares | -72.0% |
| 2007 | 2,175 hectares | +44.5% |
| 2008 | 3,966 hectares | +82.4% |
| 2009 | 2,715 hectares | -31.5% |
| 2010 | 2,735 hectares | +0.7% |
| 2011 | 1,696 hectares | -38.0% |
| 2012 | 1,497 hectares | -11.7% |
| 2013 | 466.53 hectares | -68.8% |
| 2014 | 2,061 hectares | +341.8% |
| 2015 | 6,647 hectares | +222.5% |
| 2016 | 3,114 hectares | -53.2% |
| 2017 | 1,224 hectares | -60.7% |
| 2018 | 1,301 hectares | +6.4% |
| 2019 | 15,144 hectares | +1063.6% |
| 2020 | 3,009 hectares | -80.1% |
| 2021 | 698 hectares | -76.8% |
| 2022 | 733.47 hectares | +5.1% |
| 2023 | 409.82 hectares | -44.1% |
| 2024 | 3,026 hectares | +638.3% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 3,026 hectares is above the median for low income countries, which is 353.64 hectares, 8.6× the median. (18 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 3,026 hectares is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 835.53 hectares, 3.6× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Tree cover loss from wildfires in North Korea 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +1063.6% | 1,301 hectares | 15,144 hectares |
| 2024 | +638.3% | 409.82 hectares | 3,026 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 2,746 hectares | 954.11 hectares | 5,373 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 3,589 hectares | 466.53 hectares | 15,144 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,575 hectares | 409.82 hectares | 3,026 hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
More reference data data for North Korea
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.75 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - Burning - Crop residues 3.54 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Agricultural Soils 1,939 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Direct emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.838 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Direct emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 5.57 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Direct emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.91 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - Manure Management 325.47 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - Manure Management 11.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Agricultural 1,939 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Burning - Crop 24.3 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is tree cover loss from wildfires in North Korea?
- Tree cover loss from wildfires in North Korea was 3,026 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 North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 15,144 hectares in 2019.
- What is the lowest tree cover loss from wildfires recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 409.82 hectares in 2023.
- How does North Korea rank for tree cover loss from wildfires?
- North Korea ranks 36th out of 152 countries with data for 2024.
- Is tree cover loss from wildfires rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 46.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this North Korea 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).