Approximately 7.2 billion hectares of land across the globe were burned from 2001 to 2018. More than two-thirds of the fires within this time frame occurred in Africa. More specifically, the region with the largest area burned by wildfires in 2001-2018 was Eastern and Southern Africa, with a total of 2.18 billion hectares affected. Western and Central Africa followed, with 1.91 billion hectares burned during this period.
Total land area burned by wildfires worldwide from 2001 to 2018, by region
(in million hectares)
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FAO. (November 12, 2020). Total land area burned by wildfires worldwide from 2001 to 2018, by region (in million hectares) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved January 08, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1293002/global-land-area-burned-by-wildfires-by-region/
FAO. "Total land area burned by wildfires worldwide from 2001 to 2018, by region (in million hectares)." Chart. November 12, 2020. Statista. Accessed January 08, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1293002/global-land-area-burned-by-wildfires-by-region/
FAO. (2020). Total land area burned by wildfires worldwide from 2001 to 2018, by region (in million hectares). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: January 08, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1293002/global-land-area-burned-by-wildfires-by-region/
FAO. "Total Land Area Burned by Wildfires Worldwide from 2001 to 2018, by Region (in Million Hectares)." Statista, Statista Inc., 12 Nov 2020, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1293002/global-land-area-burned-by-wildfires-by-region/
FAO, Total land area burned by wildfires worldwide from 2001 to 2018, by region (in million hectares) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1293002/global-land-area-burned-by-wildfires-by-region/ (last visited January 08, 2025)
Total land area burned by wildfires worldwide from 2001 to 2018, by region (in million hectares) [Graph], FAO, November 12, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1293002/global-land-area-burned-by-wildfires-by-region/