Wildfires worldwide · Country
Botswana: wildfires seen from space, 2000-2026
From November 2000 to 15 October 2026, NASA's MODIS satellites detected 395,465 vegetation fires in this country.
- Fires detected since 2000
- 395,465
- World rank
- #47 of 223
- Share of the world
- 0.4%
- Record year
- 2011
- 20-year change (Aqua)
- −4%
Fires detected per year
Terra from November 2000, Aqua from July 2002. 2026 runs to 15 October.
Year by year data
| Year | Detections |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 10,433 |
| 2002 | 21,350 |
| 2003 | 6,185 |
| 2004 | 4,298 |
| 2005 | 8,488 |
| 2006 | 13,505 |
| 2007 | 9,624 |
| 2008 | 26,417 |
| 2009 | 6,784 |
| 2010 | 35,462 |
| 2011 | 45,903 |
| 2012 | 14,114 |
| 2013 | 12,165 |
| 2014 | 7,315 |
| 2015 | 8,434 |
| 2016 | 6,012 |
| 2017 | 14,997 |
| 2018 | 10,371 |
| 2019 | 8,197 |
| 2020 | 8,882 |
| 2021 | 30,795 |
| 2022 | 24,858 |
| 2023 | 39,539 |
| 2024 | 8,356 |
| 2025 | 6,659 |
| 2026 | 5,582 |
Fire season: average detections per month, 2003-2025
In short
2011 is the year with the most detections (45,903); the record month is October 2011, with 17,365.
The fire season is concentrated between August and October: these three months hold 79% of an average year's detections.
Against 2003-2012, yearly detections in 2016-2025 stayed similar (−4%, Aqua satellite). In 2016-2021, before Aqua's orbit drift, the change was −22%.
The average radiative power of a detection (Aqua satellite) went from 101.6 MW in 2003-2012 to 89.5 MW in 2016-2025.
In 2026 (to 15 October): 5,582 detections; from January to September, −51% against the average of the same months in 2003-2025.
Method and sourcesFrequently asked questions
Botswana: frequently asked questions
Botswana: how many wildfires are there each year?
On average 15,537 vegetation fires detected a year by the MODIS satellites in 2003-2025, with a high of 45,903 in 2011.
Botswana: are wildfires increasing?
Against 2003-2012, yearly detections in 2016-2025 stayed similar (−4%, Aqua satellite). In 2016-2021, before Aqua's orbit drift, the change was −22%.
Botswana: when is the fire season?
The fire season is concentrated between August and October: these three months hold 79% of an average year's detections.
Botswana: what was the worst year for wildfires?
2011, with 45,903 detections. The record month was October 2011, with 17,365.
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