Tree cover loss from wildfires in Zambia

Zambia: Tree cover loss from wildfires was 3,223 hectares in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
3,223 hectares
Change on year
up 203.1%
World rank
35th
of 152 countries
All-time high
9,026 hectares
in 2016
All-time low
286.18 hectares
in 2018
Years of data
24
2001–2024

Tree cover loss from wildfires in Zambia, 2001–2024

02.0k4.0k6.0k8.0k10.0k2001201220242001: 524.7 hectares2002: 660.1 hectares2003: 510.1 hectares2004: 911.7 hectares2005: 817.8 hectares2006: 2.1k hectares2007: 1.1k hectares2008: 625.2 hectares2009: 794.7 hectares2010: 768.2 hectares2011: 297.4 hectares2012: 688.9 hectares2013: 2.5k hectares2014: 2.2k hectares2015: 3.8k hectares2016: 9.0k hectares2017: 756.1 hectares2018: 286.2 hectares2019: 1.6k hectares2020: 445.4 hectares2021: 1.8k hectares2022: 1.2k hectares2023: 1.1k hectares2024: 3.2k hectares

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 Zambia stood at 3,223 hectares.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 203.1% on the previous year and up 45.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, tree cover loss from wildfires in Zambia peaked at 9,026 hectares in 2016 and was at its lowest, 286.18 hectares, in 2018.

That places Zambia 35th 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.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 892.71 hectares 510.06 hectares 2,076 hectares 9
2010s 2,198 hectares 286.18 hectares 9,026 hectares 10
2020s 1,556 hectares 445.39 hectares 3,223 hectares 5

Countries ranked near Zambia

  1. 32 Angola 4,147 hectares compare
  2. 33 Algeria 3,616 hectares compare
  3. 34 Cuba 3,473 hectares compare
  4. 36 North Korea 3,026 hectares compare
  5. 37 Mongolia 2,478 hectares compare
  6. 38 Italy 2,467 hectares compare

See the full ranking of 152 places →

More reference data data for Zambia

All data for Zambia →

Frequently asked questions

What is tree cover loss from wildfires in Zambia?
Tree cover loss from wildfires in Zambia was 3,223 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 Zambia?
The highest recorded value was 9,026 hectares in 2016.
What is the lowest tree cover loss from wildfires recorded in Zambia?
The lowest recorded value was 286.18 hectares in 2018.
How does Zambia rank for tree cover loss from wildfires?
Zambia ranks 35th out of 152 countries with data for 2024.
Is tree cover loss from wildfires rising or falling in Zambia?
Over the last ten years it is up 45.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Zambia 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

Indicator
Tree cover loss from wildfires
Unit
hectares
Source
Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
152 places, 3,353 data points, 2001–2024
Last refreshed

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).