Coal reserves in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Coal reserves was 26.00 million tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Coal reserves in United Kingdom, 2008–2023
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
The most recent figure for coal reserves in United Kingdom is 26.00 million tonnes, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 16 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 90.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, coal reserves in United Kingdom peaked at 432.00 million tonnes in 2008 and was at its lowest, 26.00 million tonnes, in 2018.
That places United Kingdom 76th out of 216 countries with data for 2023, 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 reserves in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 432.00 million tonnes | — |
| 2009 | 367.00 million tonnes | -15.0% |
| 2010 | 371.00 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 2011 | 375.00 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 264.00 million tonnes | -29.6% |
| 2013 | 264.00 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 70.00 million tonnes | -73.5% |
| 2015 | 69.85 million tonnes | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 69.85 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 69.85 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 26.00 million tonnes | -62.8% |
| 2019 | 26.00 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 26.00 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 26.00 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 26.00 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 26.00 million tonnes | +0.0% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 26.00 million tonnes is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 317.00 million tonnes, 8% of the median. (51 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 399.50 million tonnes | 367.00 million tonnes | 432.00 million tonnes | 2 |
| 2010s | 160.56 million tonnes | 26.00 million tonnes | 375.00 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 26.00 million tonnes | 26.00 million tonnes | 26.00 million tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More energy & mining data for United Kingdom
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate -1.3 % change on previous year (2025)
- Coal consumption, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal consumption, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fuel imports 8.2% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is coal reserves in United Kingdom?
- Coal reserves in United Kingdom was 26.00 million 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 432.00 million tonnes in 2008.
- What is the lowest coal reserves recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 26.00 million tonnes in 2018.
- How does United Kingdom rank for coal reserves?
- United Kingdom ranks 76th out of 216 countries with data for 2023.
- Is coal reserves rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 90.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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.
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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.