Wildfires worldwide · Country
Papua New Guinea: wildfires seen from space, 2000-2026
From November 2000 to 15 October 2026, NASA's MODIS satellites detected 180,784 vegetation fires in this country.
- Fires detected since 2000
- 180,784
- World rank
- #57 of 223
- Share of the world
- 0.2%
- Record year
- 2015
- 20-year change (Aqua)
- −12%
Fires detected per year
Terra from November 2000, Aqua from July 2002. 2026 runs to 15 October.
Year by year data
| Year | Detections |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 2,015 |
| 2002 | 9,945 |
| 2003 | 7,135 |
| 2004 | 12,632 |
| 2005 | 4,547 |
| 2006 | 7,139 |
| 2007 | 4,261 |
| 2008 | 4,846 |
| 2009 | 5,604 |
| 2010 | 6,403 |
| 2011 | 4,917 |
| 2012 | 5,032 |
| 2013 | 4,899 |
| 2014 | 6,636 |
| 2015 | 21,254 |
| 2016 | 4,188 |
| 2017 | 5,331 |
| 2018 | 7,843 |
| 2019 | 6,058 |
| 2020 | 3,724 |
| 2021 | 4,552 |
| 2022 | 6,228 |
| 2023 | 7,257 |
| 2024 | 4,373 |
| 2025 | 3,061 |
| 2026 | 20,805 |
Fire season: average detections per month, 2003-2025
In short
2015 is the year with the most detections (21,254); the record month is October 2026, with 7,739.
The fire season is concentrated between August and October: these three months hold 58% of an average year's detections.
Against 2003-2012, yearly detections in 2016-2025 fell by 12% (Aqua satellite).
The average radiative power of a detection (Aqua satellite) went from 26.7 MW in 2003-2012 to 25.6 MW in 2016-2025.
In 2026 (to 15 October): 20,805 detections; from January to September, +209% against the average of the same months in 2003-2025.
Method and sourcesFrequently asked questions
Papua New Guinea: frequently asked questions
Papua New Guinea: how many wildfires are there each year?
On average 6,431 vegetation fires detected a year by the MODIS satellites in 2003-2025, with a high of 21,254 in 2015.
Papua New Guinea: are wildfires increasing?
Against 2003-2012, yearly detections in 2016-2025 fell by 12% (Aqua satellite).
Papua New Guinea: when is the fire season?
The fire season is concentrated between August and October: these three months hold 58% of an average year's detections.
Papua New Guinea: what was the worst year for wildfires?
2015, with 21,254 detections. The record month was October 2026, with 7,739.
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