Coal reserves in China
China: Coal reserves was 157.04 billion tonnes in 2023. ▲ Rising
Coal reserves in China, 2008–2023
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2023, coal reserves in China stood at 157.04 billion tonnes. That is the highest value across all 16 years on record.
The figure is up 22.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, coal reserves in China peaked at 157.04 billion tonnes in 2022 and was at its lowest, 114.50 billion tonnes, in 2008.
China ranks 3rd of 216 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 16 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 114.50 billion tonnes | 114.50 billion tonnes | 114.50 billion tonnes | 2 |
| 2010s | 129.48 billion tonnes | 114.50 billion tonnes | 141.59 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 150.12 billion tonnes | 143.20 billion tonnes | 157.04 billion tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near China
More energy & mining data for China
- Fuel imports 20.4% (2024)
- Ores and metals imports 15.1% (2024)
- Ores and metals exports 1.5% (2024)
- Gas production 2,641 terawatt-hours (2025)
- Fossil fuel production per person, by fuel 1,865 kilowatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel 2,641 terawatt-hours (2025)
- Gas production per person 1,865 kilowatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fuel exports 1.5% (2024)
- Electric power transmission and distribution losses 3.4% (2023)
- Share of dietary energy supply from carbohydrates vs. GDP per capita 59.5% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is coal reserves in China?
- Coal reserves in China was 157.04 billion tonnes in 2023, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest coal reserves recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 157.04 billion tonnes in 2022.
- What is the lowest coal reserves recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 114.50 billion tonnes in 2008.
- How does China rank for coal reserves?
- China ranks 3rd out of 216 countries with data for 2023.
- Is coal reserves rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 22.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from U.S. Energy Information Administration (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Coal reserves. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 16 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Proved reserves, measured in tonnes, are generally those quantities that can be recovered in the future from known reservoirs under existing economic and operating conditions, according to geological and engineering information.