Tree cover loss from wildfires in South Korea

South Korea: Tree cover loss from wildfires was 297.16 hectares in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
297.16 hectares
Change on year
down 85.6%
World rank
71st
of 152 countries
All-time high
5,293 hectares
in 2022
All-time low
34.78 hectares
in 2003
Years of data
24
2001–2024

Tree cover loss from wildfires in South Korea, 2001–2024

02.0k4.0k6.0k2001201220242001: 401.6 hectares2002: 415.3 hectares2003: 34.8 hectares2004: 715.3 hectares2005: 1.0k hectares2006: 187.6 hectares2007: 945.5 hectares2008: 266.3 hectares2009: 1.4k hectares2010: 239.8 hectares2011: 568.5 hectares2012: 104.3 hectares2013: 125.6 hectares2014: 72.8 hectares2015: 50 hectares2016: 253.2 hectares2017: 261.2 hectares2018: 207.9 hectares2019: 1.2k hectares2020: 1.2k hectares2021: 336.8 hectares2022: 5.3k hectares2023: 2.1k hectares2024: 297.2 hectares

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 South Korea stood at 297.16 hectares.

That represents a change of down 85.6% on the previous year and up 308.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, tree cover loss from wildfires in South Korea peaked at 5,293 hectares in 2022 and was at its lowest, 34.78 hectares, in 2003.

That places South Korea 71st 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.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 601.05 hectares 34.78 hectares 1,404 hectares 9
2010s 305.47 hectares 49.98 hectares 1,171 hectares 10
2020s 1,846 hectares 297.16 hectares 5,293 hectares 5

Countries ranked near South Korea

  1. 68 Belarus 353.67 hectares compare
  2. 69 Malawi 342.18 hectares compare
  3. 70 French Guiana 332.07 hectares compare
  4. 72 Germany 275.82 hectares compare
  5. 73 Lebanon 249.12 hectares compare
  6. 74 Finland 239.11 hectares compare

See the full ranking of 152 places →

More reference data data for South Korea

All data for South Korea →

Frequently asked questions

What is tree cover loss from wildfires in South Korea?
Tree cover loss from wildfires in South Korea was 297.16 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 South Korea?
The highest recorded value was 5,293 hectares in 2022.
What is the lowest tree cover loss from wildfires recorded in South Korea?
The lowest recorded value was 34.78 hectares in 2003.
How does South Korea rank for tree cover loss from wildfires?
South Korea ranks 71st out of 152 countries with data for 2024.
Is tree cover loss from wildfires rising or falling in South Korea?
Over the last ten years it is up 308.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this South 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

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).