Forest fires — Burned Area in Southern Europe

Southern Europe: Forest fires — Burned Area was 37,330 ha in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
37,330 ha
Change on year
down 34.8%
Rank
23rd
of 31 groups
All-time high
121,227 ha
in 2017
All-time low
4,751 ha
in 2014
Years of data
35
1990–2024

Forest fires — Burned Area in Southern Europe, 1990–2024

025.0k50.0k75.0k100.0k125.0k1990200720241990: 37.4k ha1991: 37.4k ha1992: 37.4k ha1993: 37.4k ha1994: 37.4k ha1995: 37.4k ha1996: 39.9k ha1997: 56.4k ha1998: 81.6k ha1999: 33.8k ha2000: 70.5k ha2001: 6.9k ha2002: 11.9k ha2003: 93.4k ha2004: 12.6k ha2005: 77.2k ha2006: 39.6k ha2007: 55.5k ha2008: 10.7k ha2009: 10.8k ha2010: 15.3k ha2011: 23.0k ha2012: 38.0k ha2013: 14.7k ha2014: 4.8k ha2015: 12.9k ha2016: 33.0k ha2017: 121.2k ha2018: 7.0k ha2019: 11.7k ha2020: 31.3k ha2021: 54.8k ha2022: 56.7k ha2023: 57.3k ha2024: 37.3k ha

Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in ha.

Analysis

Southern Europe recorded 37,330 ha for forest fires — burned area in 2024.

That represents a change of down 34.8% on the previous year and up 685.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, forest fires — burned area in Southern Europe peaked at 121,227 ha in 2017 and was at its lowest, 4,751 ha, in 2014.

That places Southern Europe 23rd out of 31 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Forest fires — Burned Area in Southern Europe, year by year

Annual values for Forest fires — Burned Area in Southern Europe, 1990 to 2024.
Year ha Change
1990 37,394 ha
1991 37,394 ha +0.0%
1992 37,394 ha +0.0%
1993 37,394 ha +0.0%
1994 37,394 ha +0.0%
1995 37,394 ha +0.0%
1996 39,891 ha +6.7%
1997 56,397 ha +41.4%
1998 81,591 ha +44.7%
1999 33,798 ha -58.6%
2000 70,534 ha +108.7%
2001 6,900 ha -90.2%
2002 11,867 ha +72.0%
2003 93,406 ha +687.1%
2004 12,641 ha -86.5%
2005 77,221 ha +510.9%
2006 39,555 ha -48.8%
2007 55,467 ha +40.2%
2008 10,702 ha -80.7%
2009 10,809 ha +1.0%
2010 15,275 ha +41.3%
2011 22,966 ha +50.3%
2012 37,955 ha +65.3%
2013 14,723 ha -61.2%
2014 4,751 ha -67.7%
2015 12,856 ha +170.6%
2016 33,046 ha +157.1%
2017 121,227 ha +266.8%
2018 7,026 ha -94.2%
2019 11,672 ha +66.1%
2020 31,271 ha +167.9%
2021 54,781 ha +75.2%
2022 56,685 ha +3.5%
2023 57,260 ha +1.0%
2024 37,330 ha -34.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 43,604 ha 33,798 ha 81,591 ha 10
2000s 38,910 ha 6,900 ha 93,406 ha 10
2010s 28,150 ha 4,751 ha 121,227 ha 10
2020s 47,465 ha 31,271 ha 57,260 ha 5

Countries ranked near Southern Europe

  1. 20 Australia and New Zealand 126,361 ha compare
  2. 21 Australia 125,716 ha compare
  3. 22 Madagascar 116,407 ha compare
  4. 23 Guatemala 115,586 ha compare
  5. 24 Honduras 115,054 ha compare
  6. 25 Peru 112,510 ha compare
  7. 26 Cameroon 92,372 ha compare

See the full ranking of 272 places →

More climate change data for Southern Europe

All data for Southern Europe →

Frequently asked questions

What is forest fires — burned area in Southern Europe?
Forest fires — burned area in Southern Europe was 37,330 ha in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
What is the highest forest fires — burned area recorded in Southern Europe?
The highest recorded value was 121,227 ha in 2017.
What is the lowest forest fires — burned area recorded in Southern Europe?
The lowest recorded value was 4,751 ha in 2014.
How does Southern Europe rank for forest fires — burned area?
Southern Europe ranks 23rd out of 31 groups with data for 2024.
Is forest fires — burned area rising or falling in Southern Europe?
Over the last ten years it is up 685.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Southern Europe data come from?
The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, published as part of Forest fires — Burned Area. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Forest fires — Burned Area in Southern Europe. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 25 August 2026, from https://climate.statizoid.com/stat/forest-fires-burned-area-fao-tier-1/southern-europe/

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About this data

Indicator
Forest fires — Burned Area
Unit
ha
Source
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Licence
CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (FAO)
Coverage
272 places, 9,294 data points, 1990–2024
Last refreshed

The FAOSTAT domain on Emissions from Fires consists of estimates of methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions generated from biomass burning in a range of vegetation types and from fires in organic soils.