China vs India: Annual PM2.5 emissions from wildfires
China
206,521 tonnes
in 2026
India
239,290 tonnes
in 2026
China rank
15th
India rank
14th
Annual PM2.5 emissions from wildfires over time
- China
- India
How they compare
India currently reports 239,290 tonnes against 206,521 tonnes in China, a difference of 32,769 tonnes.
That makes India's figure about 1.2 times China's.
The two have swapped places 11 times across 24 shared years of data; in 2003 it was China ahead.
China ranks 15th and India ranks 14th of 248 countries.
Across the 3 decades both report, China averaged higher in 2 and India in 1.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | China | India | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 465,363 tonnes | 437,483 tonnes | 27,880 tonnes | China |
| 2010s | 345,343 tonnes | 356,580 tonnes | 11,237 tonnes | India |
| 2020s | 303,287 tonnes | 274,315 tonnes | 28,972 tonnes | China |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires, China or India?
- India, at 239,290 tonnes against 206,521 tonnes in China as of 2026.
- What is the difference in annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires between China and India?
- 32,769 tonnes, with India ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for China and India?
- 24 years are reported by both, from 2003 to 2026.
- How do China and India rank globally for annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires?
- China ranks 15th and India ranks 14th of 248 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as Annual PM2.5 emissions from wildfires. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
PM2.5 emissions represent the quantity of fine particulate matter (diameter less than 2.5 micrometers) released by wildfires, in tonnes. The 2026 data is incomplete and was last updated 07 August 2026.