Tree cover loss from wildfires in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Tree cover loss from wildfires was 14.7 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Tree cover loss from wildfires in Sri Lanka, 2001–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for tree cover loss from wildfires in Sri Lanka is 14.7, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 55.8% on the previous year and down 69.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tree cover loss from wildfires in Sri Lanka peaked at 48.53 in 2014 and was at its lowest, 0.076, in 2020.
That places Sri Lanka 112th 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 Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 0.4577 | — |
| 2002 | 5.71 | +1148.2% |
| 2003 | 0.6879 | -88.0% |
| 2004 | 0.5328 | -22.5% |
| 2005 | 0.4572 | -14.2% |
| 2007 | 6.62 | +1347.6% |
| 2008 | 9.39 | +41.9% |
| 2009 | 33.45 | +256.1% |
| 2010 | 0.9908 | -97.0% |
| 2011 | 5.12 | +416.3% |
| 2012 | 10.46 | +104.4% |
| 2013 | 19.84 | +89.7% |
| 2014 | 48.53 | +144.6% |
| 2015 | 12.77 | -73.7% |
| 2016 | 11.33 | -11.2% |
| 2017 | 3.73 | -67.1% |
| 2018 | 14.86 | +298.3% |
| 2019 | 26.57 | +78.8% |
| 2020 | 0.076 | -99.7% |
| 2021 | 12.47 | +16318.7% |
| 2022 | 10.11 | -18.9% |
| 2023 | 33.3 | +229.3% |
| 2024 | 14.7 | -55.8% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 14.7 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 668.64, 2% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 14.7 is below the median for South Asia, which is 154.43, 10% of the median. (5 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Tree cover loss from wildfires in Sri Lanka 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | +16318.7% | 0.076 | 12.47 |
| 2007 | +1347.6% | 0.4572 | 6.62 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 7.16 | 0.4572 | 33.45 | 8 |
| 2010s | 15.42 | 0.9908 | 48.53 | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.13 | 0.076 | 33.3 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More reference data data for Sri Lanka
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.1608 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.316 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.33 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1784 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 2.33 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.539 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.1604 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 10.15 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.9713 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is tree cover loss from wildfires in Sri Lanka?
- Tree cover loss from wildfires in Sri Lanka was 14.7 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest tree cover loss from wildfires recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 48.53 in 2014.
- What is the lowest tree cover loss from wildfires recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.076 in 2020.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for tree cover loss from wildfires?
- Sri Lanka ranks 112th out of 152 countries with data for 2024.
- Is tree cover loss from wildfires rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 69.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from 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 — 23 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).