Share of primary energy from coal in USSR

USSR: Share of primary energy from coal was 27.0% in 1984. ▼ Falling

Latest (1984)
27.0%
Change on year
down 4.4%
World rank
12th
of 79 countries
All-time high
51.2%
in 1965
All-time low
27.0%
in 1984
Years of data
20
1965–1984

Share of primary energy from coal in USSR, 1965–1984

02040601965197419841965: 51.2 %1966: 50 %1967: 48.2 %1968: 46.2 %1969: 45 %1970: 42.4 %1971: 41.2 %1972: 40.1 %1973: 38.6 %1974: 36.8 %1975: 35.9 %1976: 34.6 %1977: 33.7 %1978: 32.2 %1979: 31.6 %1980: 30 %1981: 29.1 %1982: 28.8 %1983: 28.3 %1984: 27 %

Source: Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017); U.S. Energy Information Administration (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for share of primary energy from coal in USSR is 27.0%, measured in 1984. That is the lowest value across all 20 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.4% on the previous year and down 26.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, share of primary energy from coal in USSR peaked at 51.2% in 1965 and was at its lowest, 27.0%, in 1984.

That places USSR 12th out of 79 countries with data for 1984, putting it in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 20 years of available data.

Share of primary energy from coal in USSR, year by year

Annual values for Share of primary energy from coal in USSR, 1965 to 1984.
Year % Change
1965 51.2%
1966 50.0% -2.4%
1967 48.2% -3.6%
1968 46.2% -4.2%
1969 45.0% -2.5%
1970 42.4% -5.9%
1971 41.2% -2.8%
1972 40.1% -2.5%
1973 38.6% -3.9%
1974 36.8% -4.7%
1975 35.9% -2.2%
1976 34.6% -3.8%
1977 33.7% -2.5%
1978 32.2% -4.5%
1979 31.6% -2.0%
1980 30.0% -5.1%
1981 29.1% -2.7%
1982 28.8% -1.2%
1983 28.3% -1.8%
1984 27.0% -4.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 48.1% 45.0% 51.2% 5
1970s 36.7% 31.6% 42.4% 10
1980s 28.6% 27.0% 30.0% 5

Countries ranked near USSR

  1. 9 Poland 34.2% compare
  2. 10 Taiwan 30.1% compare
  3. 11 Morocco 28.4% compare
  4. 13 North Macedonia 26.7%
  5. 14 Japan 26.4% compare
  6. 15 Australia 26.4% compare

See the full ranking of 81 places →

More energy & mining data for USSR

All data for USSR →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of primary energy from coal in USSR?
Share of primary energy from coal in USSR was 27.0% in 1984, according to Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017); U.S. Energy Information Administration (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest share of primary energy from coal recorded in USSR?
The highest recorded value was 51.2% in 1965.
What is the lowest share of primary energy from coal recorded in USSR?
The lowest recorded value was 27.0% in 1984.
How does USSR rank for share of primary energy from coal?
USSR ranks 12th out of 79 countries with data for 1984.
Is share of primary energy from coal rising or falling in USSR?
Over the last ten years it is down 26.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this USSR data come from?
The figures come from Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017); U.S. Energy Information Administration (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of primary energy from coal. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Share of primary energy from coal in USSR. Statizoid, drawing on Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017); U.S. Energy Information Administration (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 23 September 2026, from https://energy.statizoid.com/stat/coal-energy-share/ussr/

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About this data

Indicator
Share of primary energy from coal
Unit
%
Source
Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017); U.S. Energy Information Administration (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
81 places, 4,378 data points, 1965–2025
Last refreshed

Measured as a percentage of total energy supply.