Tree cover loss from wildfires in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico: Tree cover loss from wildfires was 0.0731 hectares in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Tree cover loss from wildfires in Puerto Rico, 2002–2023
Source: Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
The most recent figure for tree cover loss from wildfires in Puerto Rico is 0.0731 hectares, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 16 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 50.0% on the previous year and down 94.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tree cover loss from wildfires in Puerto Rico peaked at 412.74 hectares in 2017 and was at its lowest, 0.0731 hectares, in 2023.
Puerto Rico ranks 152nd of 152 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Tree cover loss from wildfires in Puerto Rico, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 0.2192 hectares | — |
| 2004 | 0.1464 hectares | -33.2% |
| 2006 | 0.3655 hectares | +149.7% |
| 2007 | 0.3654 hectares | -0.0% |
| 2008 | 0.0732 hectares | -80.0% |
| 2011 | 0.1462 hectares | +99.6% |
| 2012 | 0.5849 hectares | +300.2% |
| 2013 | 1.24 hectares | +112.7% |
| 2014 | 3.22 hectares | +158.6% |
| 2015 | 1.61 hectares | -50.0% |
| 2016 | 1.1 hectares | -31.9% |
| 2017 | 412.74 hectares | +37556.4% |
| 2018 | 3 hectares | -99.3% |
| 2019 | 2.12 hectares | -29.3% |
| 2020 | 0.1462 hectares | -93.1% |
| 2023 | 0.0731 hectares | -50.0% |
Puerto Rico compared with similar countries
- Puerto Rico's 0.0731 hectares is below the median for high income countries, which is 152.21 hectares, 0% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Puerto Rico's 0.0731 hectares is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 6,701 hectares, 0% of the median. (27 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Tree cover loss from wildfires in Puerto Rico 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | +37556.4% | 1.1 hectares | 412.74 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 0.234 hectares | 0.0732 hectares | 0.3655 hectares | 5 |
| 2010s | 47.31 hectares | 0.1462 hectares | 412.74 hectares | 9 |
| 2020s | 0.1096 hectares | 0.0731 hectares | 0.1462 hectares | 2 |
Countries ranked near Puerto Rico
More reference data data for Puerto Rico
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.2501 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.1709 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Agricultural 326.76 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - IPCC Agriculture 1,009 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - Manure Management 34.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - Burning - Crop residues 0.0011 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - Enteric Fermentation 34.81 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - IPCC Agriculture 36.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - Manure Management 1.24 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Burning - Crop 0.0077 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is tree cover loss from wildfires in Puerto Rico?
- Tree cover loss from wildfires in Puerto Rico was 0.0731 hectares in 2023, 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 Puerto Rico?
- The highest recorded value was 412.74 hectares in 2017.
- What is the lowest tree cover loss from wildfires recorded in Puerto Rico?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0731 hectares in 2023.
- How does Puerto Rico rank for tree cover loss from wildfires?
- Puerto Rico ranks 152nd out of 152 countries with data for 2023.
- Is tree cover loss from wildfires rising or falling in Puerto Rico?
- Over the last ten years it is down 94.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Puerto Rico 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 — 16 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).