Annual PM2.5 emissions from wildfires in France
France: Annual PM2.5 emissions from wildfires was 23,734 tonnes in 2026. ◆ Volatile
Annual PM2.5 emissions from wildfires in France, 2003–2026
Source: Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
The most recent figure for annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires in France is 23,734 tonnes, measured in 2026.
That represents a change of up 273.5% on the previous year and up 221.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires in France peaked at 24,902 tonnes in 2003 and was at its lowest, 3,939 tonnes, in 2013.
France ranks 59th of 248 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual PM2.5 emissions from wildfires in France, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 24,902 tonnes | — |
| 2004 | 8,269 tonnes | -66.8% |
| 2005 | 8,466 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 2006 | 5,701 tonnes | -32.7% |
| 2007 | 4,609 tonnes | -19.2% |
| 2008 | 7,773 tonnes | +68.7% |
| 2009 | 5,525 tonnes | -28.9% |
| 2010 | 4,913 tonnes | -11.1% |
| 2011 | 4,676 tonnes | -4.8% |
| 2012 | 4,872 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 2013 | 3,939 tonnes | -19.2% |
| 2014 | 4,872 tonnes | +23.7% |
| 2015 | 4,330 tonnes | -11.1% |
| 2016 | 7,372 tonnes | +70.2% |
| 2017 | 10,606 tonnes | +43.9% |
| 2018 | 4,362 tonnes | -58.9% |
| 2019 | 6,770 tonnes | +55.2% |
| 2020 | 5,393 tonnes | -20.3% |
| 2021 | 6,470 tonnes | +20.0% |
| 2022 | 21,069 tonnes | +225.7% |
| 2023 | 4,963 tonnes | -76.4% |
| 2024 | 3,959 tonnes | -20.2% |
| 2025 | 6,355 tonnes | +60.5% |
| 2026 | 23,734 tonnes | +273.5% |
France compared with similar countries
- France's 23,734 tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 221.26 tonnes, 107.3× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- France's 23,734 tonnes is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 687.39 tonnes, 34.5× the median. (56 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual PM2.5 emissions from wildfires in France 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | +273.5% | 6,355 tonnes | 23,734 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 9,320 tonnes | 4,609 tonnes | 24,902 tonnes | 7 |
| 2010s | 5,671 tonnes | 3,939 tonnes | 10,606 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 10,278 tonnes | 3,959 tonnes | 23,734 tonnes | 7 |
Countries ranked near France
More climate change data for France
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 2.23 billion kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 55,837 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 11,820 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 44,017 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 44.6 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 1,572 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 16,983 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 16,451 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 532.77 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 62.08 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires in France?
- Annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires in France was 23,734 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 France?
- The highest recorded value was 24,902 tonnes in 2003.
- What is the lowest annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,939 tonnes in 2013.
- How does France rank for annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires?
- France ranks 59th out of 248 countries with data for 2026.
- Is annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is up 221.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this France 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.