Wildfires worldwide · Country
Australia: wildfires seen from space, 2000-2026
From November 2000 to 15 October 2026, NASA's MODIS satellites detected 6,533,935 vegetation fires in this country.
- Fires detected since 2000
- 6,533,935
- World rank
- #5 of 223
- Share of the world
- 5.9%
- Record year
- 2012
- 20-year change (Aqua)
- −9%
Fires detected per year
Terra from November 2000, Aqua from July 2002. 2026 runs to 15 October.
Year by year data
| Year | Detections |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 234,686 |
| 2002 | 334,462 |
| 2003 | 211,380 |
| 2004 | 310,803 |
| 2005 | 188,277 |
| 2006 | 303,374 |
| 2007 | 253,693 |
| 2008 | 182,453 |
| 2009 | 250,861 |
| 2010 | 119,443 |
| 2011 | 436,085 |
| 2012 | 473,977 |
| 2013 | 189,310 |
| 2014 | 255,769 |
| 2015 | 238,488 |
| 2016 | 158,460 |
| 2017 | 272,151 |
| 2018 | 304,917 |
| 2019 | 308,430 |
| 2020 | 153,717 |
| 2021 | 170,392 |
| 2022 | 158,895 |
| 2023 | 394,189 |
| 2024 | 222,212 |
| 2025 | 254,031 |
| 2026 | 122,827 |
Fire season: average detections per month, 2003-2025
In short
2012 is the year with the most detections (473,977); the record month is October 2023, with 126,260.
The fire season is concentrated between September and November: these three months hold 46% of an average year's detections.
Against 2003-2012, yearly detections in 2016-2025 stayed similar (−9%, Aqua satellite).
The average radiative power of a detection (Aqua satellite) went from 72.5 MW in 2003-2012 to 70.2 MW in 2016-2025.
In 2026 (to 15 October): 122,827 detections.
Method and sourcesFrequently asked questions
Australia: frequently asked questions
Australia: how many wildfires are there each year?
On average 252,666 vegetation fires detected a year by the MODIS satellites in 2003-2025, with a high of 473,977 in 2012.
Australia: are wildfires increasing?
Against 2003-2012, yearly detections in 2016-2025 stayed similar (−9%, Aqua satellite).
Australia: when is the fire season?
The fire season is concentrated between September and November: these three months hold 46% of an average year's detections.
Australia: what was the worst year for wildfires?
2012, with 473,977 detections. The record month was October 2023, with 126,260.
Other countries
- DR Congo10,892,801
- Brazil10,004,825
- Angola7,999,164
- Russia7,578,260
- Zambia4,966,412
- South Sudan4,277,842
- Central African Republic4,021,547
- Mozambique3,513,919
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