New Zealand vs Sri Lanka: Annual PM2.5 emissions from wildfires
New Zealand
1,793 tonnes
in 2026
Sri Lanka
2,284 tonnes
in 2026
New Zealand rank
105th
Sri Lanka rank
100th
Annual PM2.5 emissions from wildfires over time
- New Zealand
- Sri Lanka
How they compare
Sri Lanka currently reports 2,284 tonnes against 1,793 tonnes in New Zealand, a difference of 491 tonnes.
That makes Sri Lanka's figure about 1.3 times New Zealand's.
The two have swapped places 7 times across 24 shared years of data; in 2003 it was New Zealand ahead.
New Zealand ranks 105th and Sri Lanka ranks 100th of 248 countries.
New Zealand has averaged higher in every one of the 3 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | New Zealand | Sri Lanka | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 13,295 tonnes | 11,176 tonnes | 2,119 tonnes | New Zealand |
| 2010s | 14,209 tonnes | 11,420 tonnes | 2,789 tonnes | New Zealand |
| 2020s | 10,284 tonnes | 8,959 tonnes | 1,325 tonnes | New Zealand |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires, New Zealand or Sri Lanka?
- Sri Lanka, at 2,284 tonnes against 1,793 tonnes in New Zealand as of 2026.
- What is the difference in annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires between New Zealand and Sri Lanka?
- 491 tonnes, with Sri Lanka ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for New Zealand and Sri Lanka?
- 24 years are reported by both, from 2003 to 2026.
- How do New Zealand and Sri Lanka rank globally for annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires?
- New Zealand ranks 105th and Sri Lanka ranks 100th 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 28 August 2026.