Wildfires worldwide · Country
Zambia: wildfires seen from space, 2000-2026
From November 2000 to 15 October 2026, NASA's MODIS satellites detected 4,966,412 vegetation fires in this country.
- Fires detected since 2000
- 4,966,412
- World rank
- #6 of 223
- Share of the world
- 4.5%
- Record year
- 2008
- 20-year change (Aqua)
- −5%
Fires detected per year
Terra from November 2000, Aqua from July 2002. 2026 runs to 15 October.
Year by year data
| Year | Detections |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 57,182 |
| 2002 | 136,610 |
| 2003 | 203,320 |
| 2004 | 195,021 |
| 2005 | 216,189 |
| 2006 | 186,335 |
| 2007 | 206,988 |
| 2008 | 222,910 |
| 2009 | 194,968 |
| 2010 | 217,568 |
| 2011 | 216,320 |
| 2012 | 218,601 |
| 2013 | 216,415 |
| 2014 | 198,931 |
| 2015 | 219,046 |
| 2016 | 214,730 |
| 2017 | 198,283 |
| 2018 | 194,075 |
| 2019 | 204,432 |
| 2020 | 166,373 |
| 2021 | 182,979 |
| 2022 | 186,295 |
| 2023 | 190,960 |
| 2024 | 205,551 |
| 2025 | 185,772 |
| 2026 | 129,963 |
Fire season: average detections per month, 2003-2025
In short
2008 is the year with the most detections (222,910); the record month is August 2018, with 75,766.
The fire season is concentrated between July and September: these three months hold 74% of an average year's detections.
Against 2003-2012, yearly detections in 2016-2025 stayed similar (−5%, Aqua satellite).
The average radiative power of a detection (Aqua satellite) went from 35.6 MW in 2003-2012 to 33.8 MW in 2016-2025.
In 2026 (to 15 October): 129,963 detections.
Method and sourcesFrequently asked questions
Zambia: frequently asked questions
Zambia: how many wildfires are there each year?
On average 201,829 vegetation fires detected a year by the MODIS satellites in 2003-2025, with a high of 222,910 in 2008.
Zambia: are wildfires increasing?
Against 2003-2012, yearly detections in 2016-2025 stayed similar (−5%, Aqua satellite).
Zambia: when is the fire season?
The fire season is concentrated between July and September: these three months hold 74% of an average year's detections.
Zambia: what was the worst year for wildfires?
2008, with 222,910 detections. The record month was August 2018, with 75,766.
Other countries
- Brazil10,004,825
- Angola7,999,164
- Russia7,578,260
- Australia6,533,935
- South Sudan4,277,842
- Central African Republic4,021,547
- Mozambique3,513,919
- United States3,007,752
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