Coal consumption in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Coal consumption was 13.79 terawatt-hours in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
13.79 terawatt-hours
Change on year
down 51.8%
World rank
60th
of 220 countries
All-time high
1,365 terawatt-hours
in 1965
All-time low
13.79 terawatt-hours
in 2025
Years of data
61
1965–2025
Coal consumption in United Kingdom, 1965–2025
Source: Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in terawatt-hours.
Analysis
In 2025, coal consumption in United Kingdom stood at 13.79 terawatt-hours. That is the lowest value across all 61 years on record.
The figure is down 51.8% on the previous year and down 95.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, coal consumption in United Kingdom peaked at 1,365 terawatt-hours in 1965 and was at its lowest, 13.79 terawatt-hours, in 2025.
That places United Kingdom 60th out of 220 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Coal consumption in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | terawatt-hours | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 1,365 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1966 | 1,299 terawatt-hours | -4.8% |
| 1967 | 1,214 terawatt-hours | -6.6% |
| 1968 | 1,215 terawatt-hours | +0.1% |
| 1969 | 1,184 terawatt-hours | -2.5% |
| 1970 | 1,117 terawatt-hours | -5.7% |
| 1971 | 989.71 terawatt-hours | -11.4% |
| 1972 | 866.92 terawatt-hours | -12.4% |
| 1973 | 938.98 terawatt-hours | +8.3% |
| 1974 | 826.66 terawatt-hours | -12.0% |
| 1975 | 831.6 terawatt-hours | +0.6% |
| 1976 | 846.27 terawatt-hours | +1.8% |
| 1977 | 849.05 terawatt-hours | +0.3% |
| 1978 | 827.14 terawatt-hours | -2.6% |
| 1979 | 889.11 terawatt-hours | +7.5% |
| 1980 | 826.49 terawatt-hours | -7.0% |
| 1981 | 822 terawatt-hours | -0.5% |
| 1982 | 766.64 terawatt-hours | -6.7% |
| 1983 | 773.77 terawatt-hours | +0.9% |
| 1984 | 549.82 terawatt-hours | -28.9% |
| 1985 | 731.28 terawatt-hours | +33.0% |
| 1986 | 789.77 terawatt-hours | +8.0% |
| 1987 | 809.09 terawatt-hours | +2.4% |
| 1988 | 785.4 terawatt-hours | -2.9% |
| 1989 | 756 terawatt-hours | -3.7% |
| 1990 | 755.31 terawatt-hours | -0.1% |
| 1991 | 756.59 terawatt-hours | +0.2% |
| 1992 | 711.38 terawatt-hours | -6.0% |
| 1993 | 619.48 terawatt-hours | -12.9% |
| 1994 | 578.41 terawatt-hours | -6.6% |
| 1995 | 551.91 terawatt-hours | -4.6% |
| 1996 | 515.98 terawatt-hours | -6.5% |
| 1997 | 460.18 terawatt-hours | -10.8% |
| 1998 | 448.69 terawatt-hours | -2.5% |
| 1999 | 398.92 terawatt-hours | -11.1% |
| 2000 | 427.15 terawatt-hours | +7.1% |
| 2001 | 452.55 terawatt-hours | +5.9% |
| 2002 | 415.31 terawatt-hours | -8.2% |
| 2003 | 443.15 terawatt-hours | +6.7% |
| 2004 | 432.51 terawatt-hours | -2.4% |
| 2005 | 440.46 terawatt-hours | +1.8% |
| 2006 | 480.99 terawatt-hours | +9.2% |
| 2007 | 452.89 terawatt-hours | -5.8% |
| 2008 | 420.33 terawatt-hours | -7.2% |
| 2009 | 346.69 terawatt-hours | -17.5% |
| 2010 | 354.81 terawatt-hours | +2.3% |
| 2011 | 357.7 terawatt-hours | +0.8% |
| 2012 | 451.25 terawatt-hours | +26.2% |
| 2013 | 434.93 terawatt-hours | -3.6% |
| 2014 | 351.19 terawatt-hours | -19.3% |
| 2015 | 277.32 terawatt-hours | -21.0% |
| 2016 | 141.17 terawatt-hours | -49.1% |
| 2017 | 114.23 terawatt-hours | -19.1% |
| 2018 | 96.42 terawatt-hours | -15.6% |
| 2019 | 68.91 terawatt-hours | -28.5% |
| 2020 | 62.8 terawatt-hours | -8.9% |
| 2021 | 64.27 terawatt-hours | +2.3% |
| 2022 | 59.25 terawatt-hours | -7.8% |
| 2023 | 51 terawatt-hours | -13.9% |
| 2024 | 28.63 terawatt-hours | -43.9% |
| 2025 | 13.79 terawatt-hours | -51.8% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 13.79 terawatt-hours is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.39 terawatt-hours, 5.8× the median. (76 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 13.79 terawatt-hours is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 10.81 terawatt-hours, 1.3× the median. (51 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1,255 terawatt-hours | 1,184 terawatt-hours | 1,365 terawatt-hours | 5 |
| 1970s | 898.22 terawatt-hours | 826.66 terawatt-hours | 1,117 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1980s | 761.02 terawatt-hours | 549.82 terawatt-hours | 826.49 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1990s | 579.68 terawatt-hours | 398.92 terawatt-hours | 756.59 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 431.2 terawatt-hours | 346.69 terawatt-hours | 480.99 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 264.79 terawatt-hours | 68.91 terawatt-hours | 451.25 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 46.62 terawatt-hours | 13.79 terawatt-hours | 64.27 terawatt-hours | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More energy & mining data for United Kingdom
- Primary energy from fossil nuclear renewables, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
- Primary energy from fossil nuclear renewables, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fuel imports 8.1% (2025)
- Ores and metals imports 3.3% (2025)
- Fuel exports 7.2% (2025)
- Ores and metals exports 5.7% (2025)
- Gas production 299.32 terawatt-hours (2025)
- Fossil fuel production per person, by fuel 4,304 kilowatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel 299.32 terawatt-hours (2025)
- Gas production per person 4,304 kilowatt-hours per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is coal consumption in United Kingdom?
- Coal consumption in United Kingdom was 13.79 terawatt-hours in 2025, according to Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest coal consumption recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 1,365 terawatt-hours in 1965.
- What is the lowest coal consumption recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.79 terawatt-hours in 2025.
- How does United Kingdom rank for coal consumption?
- United Kingdom ranks 60th out of 220 countries with data for 2025.
- Is coal consumption rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 95.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Coal consumption. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 61 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Measured in terawatt-hours.