Electricity generation from coal in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Electricity generation from coal was 0.33 terawatt-hours in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
0.33 terawatt-hours
Change on year
down 82.6%
World rank
71st
of 211 countries
All-time high
212.14 terawatt-hours
in 1980
All-time low
0.33 terawatt-hours
in 2025
Years of data
106
1920–2025
Electricity generation from coal in United Kingdom, 1920–2025
Source: Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in terawatt-hours.
Analysis
United Kingdom recorded 0.33 terawatt-hours for electricity generation from coal in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 106 years on record.
The figure is down 82.6% on the previous year and down 99.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, electricity generation from coal in United Kingdom peaked at 212.14 terawatt-hours in 1980 and was at its lowest, 0.33 terawatt-hours, in 2025.
That places United Kingdom 71st out of 211 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.
Electricity generation from coal in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | terawatt-hours | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1920 | 3.77 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1921 | 4.47 terawatt-hours | +18.5% |
| 1922 | 5.2 terawatt-hours | +16.4% |
| 1923 | 5.93 terawatt-hours | +13.9% |
| 1924 | 6.54 terawatt-hours | +10.4% |
| 1925 | 6.82 terawatt-hours | +4.2% |
| 1926 | 8.37 terawatt-hours | +22.7% |
| 1927 | 9.16 terawatt-hours | +9.4% |
| 1928 | 10.2 terawatt-hours | +11.4% |
| 1929 | 10.37 terawatt-hours | +1.6% |
| 1930 | 10.76 terawatt-hours | +3.7% |
| 1931 | 11.6 terawatt-hours | +7.8% |
| 1932 | 12.94 terawatt-hours | +11.6% |
| 1933 | 14.74 terawatt-hours | +13.9% |
| 1934 | 16.7 terawatt-hours | +13.3% |
| 1935 | 19.31 terawatt-hours | +15.6% |
| 1936 | 21.84 terawatt-hours | +13.1% |
| 1937 | 23.11 terawatt-hours | +5.8% |
| 1938 | 25.09 terawatt-hours | +8.6% |
| 1939 | 27.6 terawatt-hours | +10.0% |
| 1940 | 31.15 terawatt-hours | +12.9% |
| 1941 | 34.13 terawatt-hours | +9.6% |
| 1942 | 35.2 terawatt-hours | +3.1% |
| 1943 | 36.74 terawatt-hours | +4.4% |
| 1944 | 35.7 terawatt-hours | -2.8% |
| 1945 | 39.58 terawatt-hours | +10.9% |
| 1946 | 41.01 terawatt-hours | +3.6% |
| 1947 | 44.46 terawatt-hours | +8.4% |
| 1948 | 46.73 terawatt-hours | +5.1% |
| 1949 | 52.18 terawatt-hours | +11.7% |
| 1950 | 70.32 terawatt-hours | +34.8% |
| 1951 | 72.39 terawatt-hours | +3.0% |
| 1952 | 76.01 terawatt-hours | +5.0% |
| 1953 | 82.14 terawatt-hours | +8.1% |
| 1954 | 90.52 terawatt-hours | +10.2% |
| 1955 | 96.63 terawatt-hours | +6.7% |
| 1956 | 99.47 terawatt-hours | +2.9% |
| 1957 | 99.77 terawatt-hours | +0.3% |
| 1958 | 100.42 terawatt-hours | +0.7% |
| 1959 | 110.08 terawatt-hours | +9.6% |
| 1960 | 118.86 terawatt-hours | +8.0% |
| 1961 | 131.21 terawatt-hours | +10.4% |
| 1962 | 144.85 terawatt-hours | +10.4% |
| 1963 | 149.37 terawatt-hours | +3.1% |
| 1964 | 151.16 terawatt-hours | +1.2% |
| 1965 | 148.94 terawatt-hours | -1.5% |
| 1966 | 150.13 terawatt-hours | +0.8% |
| 1967 | 166.52 terawatt-hours | +10.9% |
| 1968 | 172.52 terawatt-hours | +3.6% |
| 1969 | 168.14 terawatt-hours | -2.5% |
| 1970 | 164.32 terawatt-hours | -2.3% |
| 1971 | 148.68 terawatt-hours | -9.5% |
| 1972 | 177.63 terawatt-hours | +19.5% |
| 1973 | 153.47 terawatt-hours | -13.6% |
| 1974 | 172.28 terawatt-hours | +12.3% |
| 1975 | 185.3 terawatt-hours | +7.6% |
| 1976 | 188.33 terawatt-hours | +1.6% |
| 1977 | 192.65 terawatt-hours | +2.3% |
| 1978 | 208.93 terawatt-hours | +8.5% |
| 1979 | 211.43 terawatt-hours | +1.2% |
| 1980 | 212.14 terawatt-hours | +0.3% |
| 1981 | 196.53 terawatt-hours | -7.4% |
| 1982 | 200.82 terawatt-hours | +2.2% |
| 1983 | 130.64 terawatt-hours | -34.9% |
| 1984 | 182.52 terawatt-hours | +39.7% |
| 1985 | 177.16 terawatt-hours | -2.9% |
| 1986 | 201.36 terawatt-hours | +13.7% |
| 1987 | 209.92 terawatt-hours | +4.3% |
| 1988 | 203.37 terawatt-hours | -3.1% |
| 1989 | 199.94 terawatt-hours | -1.7% |
| 1990 | 206.44 terawatt-hours | +3.3% |
| 1991 | 211.46 terawatt-hours | +2.4% |
| 1992 | 193.64 terawatt-hours | -8.4% |
| 1993 | 171.25 terawatt-hours | -11.6% |
| 1994 | 161.34 terawatt-hours | -5.8% |
| 1995 | 155.21 terawatt-hours | -3.8% |
| 1996 | 147.27 terawatt-hours | -5.1% |
| 1997 | 121.97 terawatt-hours | -17.2% |
| 1998 | 122.97 terawatt-hours | +0.8% |
| 1999 | 106.18 terawatt-hours | -13.7% |
| 2000 | 119.95 terawatt-hours | +13.0% |
| 2001 | 131.46 terawatt-hours | +9.6% |
| 2002 | 124.28 terawatt-hours | -5.5% |
| 2003 | 138.46 terawatt-hours | +11.4% |
| 2004 | 131.79 terawatt-hours | -4.8% |
| 2005 | 134.64 terawatt-hours | +2.2% |
| 2006 | 148.85 terawatt-hours | +10.6% |
| 2007 | 135.94 terawatt-hours | -8.7% |
| 2008 | 124.38 terawatt-hours | -8.5% |
| 2009 | 103.04 terawatt-hours | -17.2% |
| 2010 | 107.59 terawatt-hours | +4.4% |
| 2011 | 108.44 terawatt-hours | +0.8% |
| 2012 | 142.79 terawatt-hours | +31.7% |
| 2013 | 130.26 terawatt-hours | -8.8% |
| 2014 | 100.24 terawatt-hours | -23.0% |
| 2015 | 75.88 terawatt-hours | -24.3% |
| 2016 | 30.67 terawatt-hours | -59.6% |
| 2017 | 22.53 terawatt-hours | -26.5% |
| 2018 | 16.83 terawatt-hours | -25.3% |
| 2019 | 6.92 terawatt-hours | -58.9% |
| 2020 | 5.7 terawatt-hours | -17.6% |
| 2021 | 6.79 terawatt-hours | +19.1% |
| 2022 | 5.94 terawatt-hours | -12.5% |
| 2023 | 3.78 terawatt-hours | -36.4% |
| 2024 | 1.9 terawatt-hours | -49.7% |
| 2025 | 0.33 terawatt-hours | -82.6% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 0.33 terawatt-hours is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.33 terawatt-hours, 1.0× the median. (51 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Electricity generation from coal in United Kingdom changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | -82.6% | 1.9 terawatt-hours | 0.33 terawatt-hours |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 7.08 terawatt-hours | 3.77 terawatt-hours | 10.37 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1930s | 18.37 terawatt-hours | 10.76 terawatt-hours | 27.6 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1940s | 39.69 terawatt-hours | 31.15 terawatt-hours | 52.18 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1950s | 89.77 terawatt-hours | 70.32 terawatt-hours | 110.08 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1960s | 150.17 terawatt-hours | 118.86 terawatt-hours | 172.52 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1970s | 180.3 terawatt-hours | 148.68 terawatt-hours | 211.43 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1980s | 191.44 terawatt-hours | 130.64 terawatt-hours | 212.14 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1990s | 159.77 terawatt-hours | 106.18 terawatt-hours | 211.46 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 129.28 terawatt-hours | 103.04 terawatt-hours | 148.85 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 74.22 terawatt-hours | 6.92 terawatt-hours | 142.79 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.07 terawatt-hours | 0.33 terawatt-hours | 6.79 terawatt-hours | 6 |
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 electricity generation from coal in United Kingdom?
- Electricity generation from coal in United Kingdom was 0.33 terawatt-hours in 2025, according to Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest electricity generation from coal recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 212.14 terawatt-hours in 1980.
- What is the lowest electricity generation from coal recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.33 terawatt-hours in 2025.
- How does United Kingdom rank for electricity generation from coal?
- United Kingdom ranks 71st out of 211 countries with data for 2025.
- Is electricity generation from coal rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 99.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Electricity generation from coal. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 106 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Measured in terawatt-hours.