Key Takeaways
- 15 million Indians affected by wildfires in 2024-25, with Uttar Pradesh worst-hit
- Global wildfire emissions hit 8 billion tonnes CO2, 10% above average
- India faces highest infrastructure exposure globally at $44 billion
A global analysis reveals that approximately 15 million people in India were affected by wildfires during the 2024-25 period, with Uttar Pradesh emerging as the most severely impacted region. The study published in Earth System Science Data identifies India among the world’s worst-affected nations alongside the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Uttar Pradesh’s Record Wildfire Season
Uttar Pradesh experienced its most severe wildfire season on record, driven primarily by crop burning, heatwaves, and accumulated dry fuel. The regional fires contributed to dangerous haze episodes in New Delhi during November 2024, with PM2.5 levels soaring to 13 times the WHO daily standard—exceeding 200 micrograms per cubic metre.
Global Climate Impact
Researchers from the University of East Anglia and UK Met Office warn that severe heatwaves and droughts are making extreme wildfires more frequent and intense worldwide. The analysis found that 3.7 million square kilometers—an area larger than India—was burned by wildfires globally in 2024-25, releasing over eight billion tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.
“Our annual reports are building unequivocal evidence of how climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of extreme wildfires,” said Douglas Kelley, land surface modeller at UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology and lead author of the report.
“Without human-driven warming, many of these wildfires, in Pantanal (South America) and Southern California, for example, would not have been on an extreme scale,” Kelley added.
Population Exposure Patterns
The study estimates approximately 100 million people were exposed to wildfires worldwide during the 2024-2025 fire season, with exposure most pronounced across South and Southeast Asia, and Central and East Africa. Within India, Uttar Pradesh had the highest population exposure with over 4.6 million people affected, followed by Punjab with more than 3.5 million.
Economic Impact
Globally, $215 billion worth of homes and infrastructure were exposed to wildfires. India ranked first in infrastructure exposure at $44 billion, followed by the United States ($26 billion) and China ($17 billion). The researchers noted that India, Brazil and China ranked high on both population and physical asset exposure metrics.
