Tree cover loss from wildfires in South Korea
South Korea: Tree cover loss from wildfires was 297.16 hectares in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Tree cover loss from wildfires in South 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 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.
Tree cover loss from wildfires in South Korea, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 401.63 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 415.31 hectares | +3.4% |
| 2003 | 34.78 hectares | -91.6% |
| 2004 | 715.26 hectares | +1956.7% |
| 2005 | 1,039 hectares | +45.3% |
| 2006 | 187.6 hectares | -81.9% |
| 2007 | 945.55 hectares | +404.0% |
| 2008 | 266.29 hectares | -71.8% |
| 2009 | 1,404 hectares | +427.1% |
| 2010 | 239.8 hectares | -82.9% |
| 2011 | 568.52 hectares | +137.1% |
| 2012 | 104.25 hectares | -81.7% |
| 2013 | 125.6 hectares | +20.5% |
| 2014 | 72.79 hectares | -42.1% |
| 2015 | 49.98 hectares | -31.3% |
| 2016 | 253.23 hectares | +406.7% |
| 2017 | 261.24 hectares | +3.2% |
| 2018 | 207.88 hectares | -20.4% |
| 2019 | 1,171 hectares | +463.5% |
| 2020 | 1,241 hectares | +5.9% |
| 2021 | 336.8 hectares | -72.9% |
| 2022 | 5,293 hectares | +1471.6% |
| 2023 | 2,063 hectares | -61.0% |
| 2024 | 297.16 hectares | -85.6% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 297.16 hectares is above the median for high income countries, which is 152.21 hectares, 2.0× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 297.16 hectares is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 835.53 hectares, 36% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Tree cover loss from wildfires in South 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | +1956.7% | 34.78 hectares | 715.26 hectares |
| 2022 | +1471.6% | 336.8 hectares | 5,293 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | 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
More reference data data for South Korea
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.9638 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.9281 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 3.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.2074 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 3.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.23 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 4.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 5.17 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 19.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.13 (2050)
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
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).