Tree cover loss from wildfires in Switzerland
Switzerland: Tree cover loss from wildfires was 10.54 hectares in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Tree cover loss from wildfires in Switzerland, 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 Switzerland stood at 10.54 hectares.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 58.2% on the previous year and up 837.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tree cover loss from wildfires in Switzerland peaked at 230.24 hectares in 2004 and was at its lowest, 0.0536 hectares, in 2006.
That places Switzerland 116th out of 152 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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 Switzerland, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 1.6 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 9.92 hectares | +519.4% |
| 2003 | 2.35 hectares | -76.3% |
| 2004 | 230.24 hectares | +9686.0% |
| 2005 | 0.9631 hectares | -99.6% |
| 2006 | 0.0536 hectares | -94.4% |
| 2007 | 7.17 hectares | +13287.4% |
| 2008 | 0.3186 hectares | -95.6% |
| 2009 | 1.82 hectares | +471.1% |
| 2010 | 3.05 hectares | +67.8% |
| 2011 | 40.15 hectares | +1215.0% |
| 2012 | 3.11 hectares | -92.3% |
| 2013 | 0.2674 hectares | -91.4% |
| 2014 | 1.12 hectares | +320.5% |
| 2015 | 0.1058 hectares | -90.6% |
| 2016 | 0.2675 hectares | +152.9% |
| 2017 | 3.7 hectares | +1281.4% |
| 2018 | 6.48 hectares | +75.4% |
| 2019 | 1.29 hectares | -80.2% |
| 2020 | 1.61 hectares | +25.0% |
| 2021 | 7.14 hectares | +344.8% |
| 2022 | 8.99 hectares | +25.9% |
| 2023 | 25.24 hectares | +180.7% |
| 2024 | 10.54 hectares | -58.2% |
Switzerland compared with similar countries
- Switzerland's 10.54 hectares is below the median for high income countries, which is 152.21 hectares, 7% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Switzerland's 10.54 hectares is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 70.29 hectares, 15% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Tree cover loss from wildfires in Switzerland 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | +13287.4% | 0.0536 hectares | 7.17 hectares |
| 2004 | +9686.0% | 2.35 hectares | 230.24 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 28.27 hectares | 0.0536 hectares | 230.24 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 5.95 hectares | 0.1058 hectares | 40.15 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.71 hectares | 1.61 hectares | 25.24 hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near Switzerland
More reference data data for Switzerland
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5507 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.2683 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.24 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.24 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.28 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 6.28 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.272 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is tree cover loss from wildfires in Switzerland?
- Tree cover loss from wildfires in Switzerland was 10.54 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 Switzerland?
- The highest recorded value was 230.24 hectares in 2004.
- What is the lowest tree cover loss from wildfires recorded in Switzerland?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0536 hectares in 2006.
- How does Switzerland rank for tree cover loss from wildfires?
- Switzerland ranks 116th out of 152 countries with data for 2024.
- Is tree cover loss from wildfires rising or falling in Switzerland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 837.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Switzerland 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).