Coal reserves in New Zealand
New Zealand: Coal reserves was 6.75 billion tonnes in 2023. ▼ Falling
Coal reserves in New Zealand, 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 New Zealand stood at 6.75 billion tonnes. That is the lowest value across all 16 years on record.
The figure is down 10.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, coal reserves in New Zealand peaked at 7.57 billion tonnes in 2008 and was at its lowest, 6.75 billion tonnes, in 2022.
New Zealand ranks 16th of 216 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 16 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 7.57 billion tonnes | 7.57 billion tonnes | 7.57 billion tonnes | 2 |
| 2010s | 7.57 billion tonnes | 7.57 billion tonnes | 7.57 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.16 billion tonnes | 6.75 billion tonnes | 7.57 billion tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
More energy & mining data for New Zealand
- Fuel imports 12.0% (2025)
- Ores and metals imports 2.1% (2025)
- Ores and metals exports 3.2% (2025)
- Gas production 35.27 terawatt-hours (2024)
- Fossil fuel production per person, by fuel 6,765 kilowatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel 35.27 terawatt-hours (2024)
- Gas production per person 6,765 kilowatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fuel exports 0.9% (2025)
- Electric power transmission and distribution losses 6.7% (2024)
- Share of dietary energy supply from carbohydrates vs gdp per capita 56.79 (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is coal reserves in New Zealand?
- Coal reserves in New Zealand was 6.75 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 New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 7.57 billion tonnes in 2008.
- What is the lowest coal reserves recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.75 billion tonnes in 2022.
- How does New Zealand rank for coal reserves?
- New Zealand ranks 16th out of 216 countries with data for 2023.
- Is coal reserves rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this New Zealand 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.