Annual PM2.5 emissions from wildfires in Nepal
Nepal: Annual PM2.5 emissions from wildfires was 10,534 tonnes in 2026. ◆ Volatile
Annual PM2.5 emissions from wildfires in Nepal, 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 Nepal stood at 10,534 tonnes.
The figure is up 9.5% on the previous year and down 70.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires in Nepal peaked at 35,112 tonnes in 2016 and was at its lowest, 4,708 tonnes, in 2020.
Nepal ranks 77th 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 Nepal, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 10,812 tonnes | — |
| 2004 | 13,235 tonnes | +22.4% |
| 2005 | 11,571 tonnes | -12.6% |
| 2006 | 13,031 tonnes | +12.6% |
| 2007 | 5,491 tonnes | -57.9% |
| 2008 | 12,276 tonnes | +123.6% |
| 2009 | 21,743 tonnes | +77.1% |
| 2010 | 11,700 tonnes | -46.2% |
| 2011 | 8,518 tonnes | -27.2% |
| 2012 | 13,908 tonnes | +63.3% |
| 2013 | 10,416 tonnes | -25.1% |
| 2014 | 13,436 tonnes | +29.0% |
| 2015 | 5,120 tonnes | -61.9% |
| 2016 | 35,112 tonnes | +585.8% |
| 2017 | 7,479 tonnes | -78.7% |
| 2018 | 10,317 tonnes | +37.9% |
| 2019 | 11,703 tonnes | +13.4% |
| 2020 | 4,708 tonnes | -59.8% |
| 2021 | 23,781 tonnes | +405.1% |
| 2022 | 6,116 tonnes | -74.3% |
| 2023 | 13,570 tonnes | +121.9% |
| 2024 | 21,141 tonnes | +55.8% |
| 2025 | 9,620 tonnes | -54.5% |
| 2026 | 10,534 tonnes | +9.5% |
Nepal compared with similar countries
- Nepal's 10,534 tonnes is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 12,315 tonnes, 86% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Nepal's 10,534 tonnes is above the median for South Asia, which is 7,326 tonnes, 1.4× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual PM2.5 emissions from wildfires in Nepal 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | +585.8% | 5,120 tonnes | 35,112 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 12,594 tonnes | 5,491 tonnes | 21,743 tonnes | 7 |
| 2010s | 12,771 tonnes | 5,120 tonnes | 35,112 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 12,782 tonnes | 4,708 tonnes | 23,781 tonnes | 7 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
- 74 Mongolia 11,835 tonnes compare
- 75 Togo 11,665 tonnes compare
- 76 Saudi Arabia 11,430 tonnes compare
- 78 United Arab Emirates 9,814 tonnes compare
- 79 Malawi 9,785 tonnes compare
- 80 Dominican Republic 9,009 tonnes compare
More climate change data for Nepal
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 14.93 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 23,478 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 3,890 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 19,588 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 14.68 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 699.59 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 5,853 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 1,263 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 4,590 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 4.76 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires in Nepal?
- Annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires in Nepal was 10,534 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 Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 35,112 tonnes in 2016.
- What is the lowest annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 4,708 tonnes in 2020.
- How does Nepal rank for annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires?
- Nepal ranks 77th out of 248 countries with data for 2026.
- Is annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 70.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nepal 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.