Annual PM2.5 emissions from wildfires in Canada
Canada: Annual PM2.5 emissions from wildfires was 1.66 million tonnes in 2026. ◆ Volatile
Annual PM2.5 emissions from wildfires in Canada, 2003–2026
Source: Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Canada recorded 1.66 million tonnes for annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires in 2026.
That represents a change of down 72.5% on the previous year and up 106.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires in Canada peaked at 10.71 million tonnes in 2023 and was at its lowest, 206,003 tonnes, in 2020.
Canada ranks 4th of 248 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual PM2.5 emissions from wildfires in Canada, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 1.56 million tonnes | — |
| 2004 | 1.85 million tonnes | +18.0% |
| 2005 | 1.05 million tonnes | -42.9% |
| 2006 | 1.38 million tonnes | +30.9% |
| 2007 | 1.39 million tonnes | +0.7% |
| 2008 | 816,403 tonnes | -41.3% |
| 2009 | 659,190 tonnes | -19.3% |
| 2010 | 1.89 million tonnes | +186.6% |
| 2011 | 1.39 million tonnes | -26.7% |
| 2012 | 1.25 million tonnes | -9.9% |
| 2013 | 2.85 million tonnes | +128.5% |
| 2014 | 3.15 million tonnes | +10.4% |
| 2015 | 2.62 million tonnes | -16.8% |
| 2016 | 804,039 tonnes | -69.3% |
| 2017 | 2.44 million tonnes | +204.0% |
| 2018 | 1.26 million tonnes | -48.6% |
| 2019 | 1.16 million tonnes | -8.0% |
| 2020 | 206,003 tonnes | -82.2% |
| 2021 | 2.19 million tonnes | +965.1% |
| 2022 | 1.18 million tonnes | -46.0% |
| 2023 | 10.71 million tonnes | +804.2% |
| 2024 | 5.01 million tonnes | -53.3% |
| 2025 | 6.03 million tonnes | +20.5% |
| 2026 | 1.66 million tonnes | -72.5% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 1.66 million tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 221.26 tonnes, 7488.4× the median. (85 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual PM2.5 emissions from wildfires in Canada changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | +965.1% | 206,003 tonnes | 2.19 million tonnes |
| 2023 | +804.2% | 1.18 million tonnes | 10.71 million tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1.24 million tonnes | 659,190 tonnes | 1.85 million tonnes | 7 |
| 2010s | 1.88 million tonnes | 804,039 tonnes | 3.15 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.86 million tonnes | 206,003 tonnes | 10.71 million tonnes | 7 |
Countries ranked near Canada
More climate change data for Canada
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 2.27 billion kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 44,359 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 9,631 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 34,728 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 36.34 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 1,240 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 17,229 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 16,823 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 406.39 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 63.48 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires in Canada?
- Annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires in Canada was 1.66 million tonnes in 2026, according to Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 10.71 million tonnes in 2023.
- What is the lowest annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 206,003 tonnes in 2020.
- How does Canada rank for annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires?
- Canada ranks 4th out of 248 countries with data for 2026.
- Is annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is up 106.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Canada data come from?
- The figures come from Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual PM2.5 emissions 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
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 18 September 2026.