Wildfires worldwide · Country
Nigeria: wildfires seen from space, 2000-2026
From November 2000 to 15 October 2026, NASA's MODIS satellites detected 1,836,682 vegetation fires in this country.
- Fires detected since 2000
- 1,836,682
- World rank
- #15 of 223
- Share of the world
- 1.7%
- Record year
- 2004
- 20-year change (Aqua)
- −22%
Fires detected per year
Terra from November 2000, Aqua from July 2002. 2026 runs to 15 October.
Year by year data
| Year | Detections |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 39,527 |
| 2002 | 58,747 |
| 2003 | 93,837 |
| 2004 | 102,992 |
| 2005 | 95,329 |
| 2006 | 93,754 |
| 2007 | 101,604 |
| 2008 | 90,429 |
| 2009 | 72,856 |
| 2010 | 74,757 |
| 2011 | 65,560 |
| 2012 | 63,465 |
| 2013 | 55,026 |
| 2014 | 55,892 |
| 2015 | 63,213 |
| 2016 | 71,362 |
| 2017 | 70,195 |
| 2018 | 65,375 |
| 2019 | 55,851 |
| 2020 | 70,713 |
| 2021 | 69,363 |
| 2022 | 69,583 |
| 2023 | 60,999 |
| 2024 | 71,684 |
| 2025 | 59,569 |
| 2026 | 32,915 |
Fire season: average detections per month, 2003-2025
In short
2004 is the year with the most detections (102,992); the record month is January 2007, with 47,276.
The fire season is concentrated between December and February: these three months hold 82% of an average year's detections.
Against 2003-2012, yearly detections in 2016-2025 fell by 22% (Aqua satellite).
The average radiative power of a detection (Aqua satellite) went from 24.3 MW in 2003-2012 to 25.5 MW in 2016-2025.
In 2026 (to 15 October): 32,915 detections.
Method and sourcesFrequently asked questions
Nigeria: frequently asked questions
Nigeria: how many wildfires are there each year?
On average 73,626 vegetation fires detected a year by the MODIS satellites in 2003-2025, with a high of 102,992 in 2004.
Nigeria: are wildfires increasing?
Against 2003-2012, yearly detections in 2016-2025 fell by 22% (Aqua satellite).
Nigeria: when is the fire season?
The fire season is concentrated between December and February: these three months hold 82% of an average year's detections.
Nigeria: what was the worst year for wildfires?
2004, with 102,992 detections. The record month was January 2007, with 47,276.
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