We explore the large spatial variation in the relationship between population density and burned area, using
continental-scale Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) based on 13 years of satellite-derived burned area
maps from the global fire emissions database (GFED) and the human population density from the gridded population
of the world (GPW 2005). Significant relationships are observed over 51.5% of the global land area, and the area
affected varies from continent to continent: population density has a significant impact on fire over most of Asia and
Africa but is important in explaining fire over < 22% of Europe and Australia. Increasing population density is
associated with both increased and decreased in fire. The nature of the relationship depends on land-use: increasing
population density is associated with increased burned are in rangelands but with decreased burned area in
croplands. Overall, the relationship between population density and burned area is non-monotonic: burned area
initially increases with population density and then decreases when population density exceeds a threshold. These
thresholds vary regionally. Our study contributes to improved understanding of how human activities relate to burned
area, and should contribute to a better estimate of atmospheric emissions from biomass burning.