China vs Mexico: Annual PM2.5 emissions from wildfires
China
206,521 tonnes
in 2026
Mexico
246,831 tonnes
in 2026
China rank
15th
Mexico rank
12th
Annual PM2.5 emissions from wildfires over time
- China
- Mexico
How they compare
Mexico currently reports 246,831 tonnes against 206,521 tonnes in China, a difference of 40,310 tonnes.
That makes Mexico's figure about 1.2 times China's.
The two have swapped places 7 times across 24 shared years of data; in 2003 it was China ahead.
China ranks 15th and Mexico ranks 12th of 248 countries.
Across the 3 decades both report, China averaged higher in 1 and Mexico in 2.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | China | Mexico | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 465,363 tonnes | 363,059 tonnes | 102,304 tonnes | China |
| 2010s | 345,343 tonnes | 385,735 tonnes | 40,392 tonnes | Mexico |
| 2020s | 303,287 tonnes | 387,315 tonnes | 84,028 tonnes | Mexico |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires, China or Mexico?
- Mexico, at 246,831 tonnes against 206,521 tonnes in China as of 2026.
- What is the difference in annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires between China and Mexico?
- 40,310 tonnes, with Mexico ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for China and Mexico?
- 24 years are reported by both, from 2003 to 2026.
- How do China and Mexico rank globally for annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires?
- China ranks 15th and Mexico ranks 12th 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.