Tree cover loss from wildfires in Malaysia
Malaysia: Tree cover loss from wildfires was 4,251 hectares in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Tree cover loss from wildfires in Malaysia, 2001–2024
Source: Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
Malaysia recorded 4,251 hectares for tree cover loss from wildfires in 2024.
That represents a change of up 133.6% on the previous year and down 58.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tree cover loss from wildfires in Malaysia peaked at 15,204 hectares in 2016 and was at its lowest, 640.44 hectares, in 2008.
That places Malaysia 31st out of 152 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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 Malaysia, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 964.43 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 803.91 hectares | -16.6% |
| 2003 | 790.28 hectares | -1.7% |
| 2004 | 1,667 hectares | +111.0% |
| 2005 | 2,275 hectares | +36.4% |
| 2006 | 1,112 hectares | -51.1% |
| 2007 | 1,541 hectares | +38.6% |
| 2008 | 640.44 hectares | -58.5% |
| 2009 | 2,870 hectares | +348.1% |
| 2010 | 1,467 hectares | -48.9% |
| 2011 | 1,276 hectares | -13.0% |
| 2012 | 3,131 hectares | +145.3% |
| 2013 | 1,852 hectares | -40.8% |
| 2014 | 10,129 hectares | +447.0% |
| 2015 | 5,445 hectares | -46.2% |
| 2016 | 15,204 hectares | +179.2% |
| 2017 | 6,173 hectares | -59.4% |
| 2018 | 3,379 hectares | -45.3% |
| 2019 | 3,570 hectares | +5.6% |
| 2020 | 1,978 hectares | -44.6% |
| 2021 | 1,132 hectares | -42.8% |
| 2022 | 1,030 hectares | -9.0% |
| 2023 | 1,820 hectares | +76.7% |
| 2024 | 4,251 hectares | +133.6% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 4,251 hectares is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 668.64 hectares, 6.4× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 4,251 hectares is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 835.53 hectares, 5.1× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Tree cover loss from wildfires in Malaysia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | +447.0% | 1,852 hectares | 10,129 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1,407 hectares | 640.44 hectares | 2,870 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 5,163 hectares | 1,276 hectares | 15,204 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 2,042 hectares | 1,030 hectares | 4,251 hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
More reference data data for Malaysia
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.7102 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.5869 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 4.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1487 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 4.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 2.38 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.64 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 3.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 21.1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.8098 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is tree cover loss from wildfires in Malaysia?
- Tree cover loss from wildfires in Malaysia was 4,251 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 Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 15,204 hectares in 2016.
- What is the lowest tree cover loss from wildfires recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 640.44 hectares in 2008.
- How does Malaysia rank for tree cover loss from wildfires?
- Malaysia ranks 31st out of 152 countries with data for 2024.
- Is tree cover loss from wildfires rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 58.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malaysia 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).