Annual PM2.5 emissions from wildfires in Kenya
Kenya: Annual PM2.5 emissions from wildfires was 6,595 tonnes in 2026. ▼ Falling
Annual PM2.5 emissions from wildfires in Kenya, 2003–2026
Source: Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Kenya recorded 6,595 tonnes for annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires in 2026. That is the lowest value across all 24 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 65.9% on the previous year and down 60.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires in Kenya peaked at 35,482 tonnes in 2012 and was at its lowest, 6,595 tonnes, in 2026.
That places Kenya 80th out of 248 countries with data for 2026, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 22,927 tonnes | 13,542 tonnes | 28,549 tonnes | 7 |
| 2010s | 17,492 tonnes | 7,604 tonnes | 35,482 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 13,040 tonnes | 6,595 tonnes | 19,355 tonnes | 7 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
- 77 Saudi Arabia 8,102 tonnes compare
- 78 Ecuador 7,012 tonnes compare
- 79 Belize 6,657 tonnes compare
- 81 United Kingdom 6,514 tonnes compare
- 82 Libya 6,189 tonnes compare
- 83 Costa Rica 5,686 tonnes compare
More climate change data for Kenya
- Share of global CO₂ emissions and population 1.0% (2100)
- Population growth 1.9% (2025)
- Population, total 57.53 million (2025)
- Urban population growth 2.9% (2025)
- Urban population 18.53 million (2025)
- Urban population 32.2% (2025)
- CO₂ emissions per capita vs. GDP per capita 0.3761 tonnes per person (2024)
- Cumulative CO₂ emissions 551.31 million tonnes (2024)
- CO₂ emissions per capita 0.3761 tonnes per person (2024)
- CO₂ emissions per capita vs. share of electricity generation from renewables 0.3761 tonnes per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires in Kenya?
- Annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires in Kenya was 6,595 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 Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 35,482 tonnes in 2012.
- What is the lowest annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 6,595 tonnes in 2026.
- How does Kenya rank for annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires?
- Kenya ranks 80th out of 248 countries with data for 2026.
- Is annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 60.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Kenya 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 07 August 2026.