Annual PM2.5 emissions from wildfires in Lesotho
Lesotho: Annual PM2.5 emissions from wildfires was 870.24 tonnes in 2026. ◆ Volatile
Annual PM2.5 emissions from wildfires in Lesotho, 2003–2026
Source: Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2026, annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires in Lesotho stood at 870.24 tonnes.
The figure is up 115.1% on the previous year and up 95.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires in Lesotho peaked at 3,685 tonnes in 2007 and was at its lowest, 286.21 tonnes, in 2012.
Lesotho ranks 125th of 248 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual PM2.5 emissions from wildfires in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 3,277 tonnes | — |
| 2004 | 996.63 tonnes | -69.6% |
| 2005 | 1,327 tonnes | +33.2% |
| 2006 | 432.45 tonnes | -67.4% |
| 2007 | 3,685 tonnes | +752.1% |
| 2008 | 750.7 tonnes | -79.6% |
| 2009 | 679.73 tonnes | -9.5% |
| 2010 | 2,851 tonnes | +319.5% |
| 2011 | 679.87 tonnes | -76.2% |
| 2012 | 286.21 tonnes | -57.9% |
| 2013 | 2,455 tonnes | +757.7% |
| 2014 | 2,244 tonnes | -8.6% |
| 2015 | 918.88 tonnes | -59.1% |
| 2016 | 445.66 tonnes | -51.5% |
| 2017 | 794.37 tonnes | +78.2% |
| 2018 | 608.69 tonnes | -23.4% |
| 2019 | 2,254 tonnes | +270.3% |
| 2020 | 590.33 tonnes | -73.8% |
| 2021 | 976.41 tonnes | +65.4% |
| 2022 | 943.76 tonnes | -3.3% |
| 2023 | 1,982 tonnes | +110.0% |
| 2024 | 2,969 tonnes | +49.8% |
| 2025 | 404.64 tonnes | -86.4% |
| 2026 | 870.24 tonnes | +115.1% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 870.24 tonnes is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 12,315 tonnes, 7% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 870.24 tonnes is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 30,647 tonnes, 3% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual PM2.5 emissions from wildfires in Lesotho 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | +752.1% | 432.45 tonnes | 3,685 tonnes |
| 2013 | +757.7% | 286.21 tonnes | 2,455 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1,593 tonnes | 432.45 tonnes | 3,685 tonnes | 7 |
| 2010s | 1,354 tonnes | 286.21 tonnes | 2,851 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,248 tonnes | 404.64 tonnes | 2,969 tonnes | 7 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
More climate change data for Lesotho
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 6.55 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 2,116 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 715.74 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 1,401 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 2.7 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 50.03 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 61.29 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 51.99 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 9.3 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 0.1962 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires in Lesotho?
- Annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires in Lesotho was 870.24 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 Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 3,685 tonnes in 2007.
- What is the lowest annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 286.21 tonnes in 2012.
- How does Lesotho rank for annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires?
- Lesotho ranks 125th out of 248 countries with data for 2026.
- Is annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is up 95.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lesotho 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.