Maybe 80 000 fire deaths per year worldwide
CTIF statistics show 17 400 fire deaths annually in surveyed countries representing one fifth of the world population (2023) and over 3 million fire service calls. CTIF is the International Association of Fire and Rescue Services’ Center for Fire Statistics. CTIF’s 30th report includes data from 46 surveyed countries, including many richer countries which likely have better fire standards. If the numbers are extrapolated to the world population, this means over 80 000 fire deaths worldwide each year. Around one third to half of reported fires are in buildings, mostly homes, and over 10% in transport. Numbers are estimates as different countries have different reporting criteria and systems. The data suggest probably a reduction by around one half of the number of fire deaths per 1000 population per year (from over 2.5 to around 1.2), 1993 – 2023, with a smaller drop in the number of deaths per fire (from around 0.8 deaths per hundred fires, to around 0.6).
“Word fire statistics”, report n°30, CTIF, International Association of Fire and Rescue Services, Center for Fire Statistics, www.ctif.org
