Forest fires — Emissions in Canada

Canada: Forest fires — Emissions was 49,170 kt in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
49,170 kt
Change on year
down 73.7%
World rank
9th
of 181 countries
All-time high
187,018 kt
in 2023
All-time low
1,420 kt
in 2001
Years of data
24
2001–2024

Forest fires — Emissions in Canada, 2001–2024

050.0k100.0k150.0k200.0k2001201220242001: 1.4k kt2002: 6.9k kt2003: 17.2k kt2004: 11.6k kt2005: 6.7k kt2006: 10.1k kt2007: 5.1k kt2008: 1.9k kt2009: 6.1k kt2010: 13.5k kt2011: 12.8k kt2012: 17.0k kt2013: 16.8k kt2014: 11.0k kt2015: 39.9k kt2016: 14.2k kt2017: 18.3k kt2018: 44.5k kt2019: 19.7k kt2020: 2.8k kt2021: 42.5k kt2022: 12.3k kt2023: 187.0k kt2024: 49.2k kt

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

Analysis

In 2024, forest fires — emissions in Canada stood at 49,170 kt.

That represents a change of down 73.7% on the previous year and up 345.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, forest fires — emissions in Canada peaked at 187,018 kt in 2023 and was at its lowest, 1,420 kt, in 2001.

Canada ranks 9th of 181 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

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

Forest fires — Emissions in Canada, year by year

Annual values for Forest fires — Emissions (CO2) in Canada, 2001 to 2024.
Year kt Change
2001 1,420 kt —
2002 6,944 kt +389.0%
2003 17,164 kt +147.2%
2004 11,630 kt -32.2%
2005 6,669 kt -42.7%
2006 10,096 kt +51.4%
2007 5,079 kt -49.7%
2008 1,931 kt -62.0%
2009 6,076 kt +214.7%
2010 13,539 kt +122.8%
2011 12,805 kt -5.4%
2012 16,952 kt +32.4%
2013 16,793 kt -0.9%
2014 11,033 kt -34.3%
2015 39,903 kt +261.7%
2016 14,226 kt -64.3%
2017 18,309 kt +28.7%
2018 44,536 kt +143.2%
2019 19,740 kt -55.7%
2020 2,833 kt -85.6%
2021 42,468 kt +1399.1%
2022 12,256 kt -71.1%
2023 187,018 kt +1425.9%
2024 49,170 kt -73.7%

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Forest fires — Emissions in Canada 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.

YearChange FromTo
2023 +1425.9% 12,256 kt 187,018 kt
2021 +1399.1% 2,833 kt 42,468 kt

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 7,445 kt 1,420 kt 17,164 kt 9
2010s 20,784 kt 11,033 kt 44,536 kt 10
2020s 58,749 kt 2,833 kt 187,018 kt 5

Countries ranked near Canada

  1. 6 Lao People's Democratic Republic 40,769 kt compare
  2. 6 OECD 134,865 kt compare
  3. 7 Myanmar 110,834 kt compare
  4. 7 United Republic of Tanzania 35,372 kt compare
  5. 8 Russian Federation 49,472 kt compare
  6. 8 Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) 27,468 kt compare
  7. 10 Mexico 46,350 kt compare
  8. 10 Viet Nam 6,480 kt compare
  9. 11 Democratic People's Republic of Korea 857.93 kt compare
  10. 11 India 43,675 kt compare
  11. 12 Cambodia 40,127 kt compare
  12. 12 Melanesia 770.87 kt compare

See the full ranking of 234 places →

More climate change data for Canada

All data for Canada →

Frequently asked questions

What is forest fires — emissions in Canada?
Forest fires — emissions in Canada was 49,170 kt in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
What is the highest forest fires — emissions recorded in Canada?
The highest recorded value was 187,018 kt in 2023.
What is the lowest forest fires — emissions recorded in Canada?
The lowest recorded value was 1,420 kt in 2001.
How does Canada rank for forest fires — emissions?
Canada ranks 9th out of 181 countries with data for 2024.
Is forest fires — emissions rising or falling in Canada?
Over the last ten years it is up 345.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Canada data come from?
The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, published as part of Forest fires — Emissions (CO2). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Forest fires — Emissions in Canada. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 27 September 2026, from https://climate.statizoid.com/stat/forest-fires-emissions-co2-fao-tier-1/canada/

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About this data

Indicator
Forest fires — Emissions (CO2)
Unit
kt
Source
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Licence
CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (FAO)
Coverage
234 places, 5,513 data points, 2001–2024
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.