Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in Belgium
Belgium: Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions was 153,447 tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
153,447 tonnes
Change on year
up 12.0%
World rank
47th
of 220 countries
All-time high
1.19 million tonnes
in 1973
All-time low
55,711 tonnes
in 1851
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in Belgium, 1750–2022
Source: Hoesly et al. (2024) – Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Belgium recorded 153,447 tonnes for coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in 2022.
The figure is up 12.0% on the previous year and down 55.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in Belgium peaked at 1.19 million tonnes in 1973 and was at its lowest, 55,711 tonnes, in 1851.
That places Belgium 47th out of 220 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in Belgium, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 65,732 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 66,060 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1752 | 66,388 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1753 | 66,715 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1754 | 67,042 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1755 | 67,369 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1756 | 67,696 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1757 | 68,022 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1758 | 68,349 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1759 | 68,675 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1760 | 69,001 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1761 | 69,326 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1762 | 69,652 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1763 | 69,977 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1764 | 70,302 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1765 | 70,626 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1766 | 70,951 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1767 | 71,275 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1768 | 71,599 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1769 | 71,923 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1770 | 72,246 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1771 | 72,570 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1772 | 72,893 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1773 | 73,216 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1774 | 73,538 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1775 | 73,861 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1776 | 74,183 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1777 | 74,505 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1778 | 74,826 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1779 | 75,148 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1780 | 75,469 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1781 | 75,790 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1782 | 76,111 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1783 | 76,431 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1784 | 76,752 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1785 | 77,072 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1786 | 77,392 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1787 | 77,711 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1788 | 78,031 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1789 | 78,350 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1790 | 78,669 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1791 | 78,988 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1792 | 79,306 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1793 | 79,624 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1794 | 79,942 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1795 | 80,260 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1796 | 80,578 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1797 | 80,895 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1798 | 81,212 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1799 | 81,529 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1800 | 81,846 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1801 | 82,162 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1802 | 112,433 tonnes | +36.8% |
| 1803 | 82,794 tonnes | -26.4% |
| 1804 | 83,110 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1805 | 83,425 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1806 | 83,741 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1807 | 84,056 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1808 | 84,371 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1809 | 84,685 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1810 | 85,000 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1811 | 85,314 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1812 | 85,628 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1813 | 85,941 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1814 | 86,255 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1815 | 86,568 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1816 | 86,881 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1817 | 87,194 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1818 | 87,506 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1819 | 87,818 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1820 | 88,130 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1821 | 88,853 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1822 | 89,576 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1823 | 90,298 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1824 | 91,019 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1825 | 91,740 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1826 | 92,460 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1827 | 93,180 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1828 | 93,899 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1829 | 94,618 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1830 | 124,348 tonnes | +31.4% |
| 1831 | 116,330 tonnes | -6.4% |
| 1832 | 117,563 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1833 | 116,908 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1834 | 116,221 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1835 | 117,924 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1836 | 121,911 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1837 | 123,837 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1838 | 124,458 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1839 | 127,233 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1840 | 132,047 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1841 | 131,115 tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1842 | 133,122 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1843 | 131,112 tonnes | -1.5% |
| 1844 | 134,990 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1845 | 137,608 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1846 | 141,784 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1847 | 144,110 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1848 | 139,871 tonnes | -2.9% |
| 1849 | 142,620 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1850 | 59,051 tonnes | -58.6% |
| 1851 | 55,711 tonnes | -5.7% |
| 1852 | 68,618 tonnes | +23.2% |
| 1853 | 70,872 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1854 | 76,347 tonnes | +7.7% |
| 1855 | 77,627 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1856 | 78,614 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1857 | 82,384 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1858 | 91,010 tonnes | +10.5% |
| 1859 | 90,772 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1860 | 89,423 tonnes | -1.5% |
| 1861 | 98,034 tonnes | +9.6% |
| 1862 | 96,164 tonnes | -1.9% |
| 1863 | 101,559 tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1864 | 106,110 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1865 | 112,085 tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1866 | 119,852 tonnes | +6.9% |
| 1867 | 130,602 tonnes | +9.0% |
| 1868 | 124,631 tonnes | -4.6% |
| 1869 | 134,351 tonnes | +7.8% |
| 1870 | 149,056 tonnes | +10.9% |
| 1871 | 145,382 tonnes | -2.5% |
| 1872 | 153,692 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1873 | 167,452 tonnes | +9.0% |
| 1874 | 160,024 tonnes | -4.4% |
| 1875 | 168,376 tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1876 | 164,894 tonnes | -2.1% |
| 1877 | 163,165 tonnes | -1.0% |
| 1878 | 177,463 tonnes | +8.8% |
| 1879 | 178,511 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1880 | 194,332 tonnes | +8.9% |
| 1881 | 202,697 tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1882 | 216,012 tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1883 | 229,773 tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1884 | 230,962 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1885 | 231,356 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1886 | 228,772 tonnes | -1.1% |
| 1887 | 242,360 tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1888 | 256,441 tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1889 | 265,935 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1890 | 285,535 tonnes | +7.4% |
| 1891 | 281,275 tonnes | -1.5% |
| 1892 | 289,687 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1893 | 288,822 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1894 | 313,466 tonnes | +8.5% |
| 1895 | 329,779 tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1896 | 347,764 tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1897 | 359,185 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1898 | 370,215 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1899 | 382,766 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1900 | 393,094 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1901 | 385,337 tonnes | -2.0% |
| 1902 | 392,791 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1903 | 419,039 tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1904 | 412,068 tonnes | -1.7% |
| 1905 | 414,776 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1906 | 456,575 tonnes | +10.1% |
| 1907 | 468,995 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1908 | 478,602 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1909 | 485,918 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1910 | 518,129 tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1911 | 551,349 tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1912 | 594,513 tonnes | +7.8% |
| 1913 | 576,533 tonnes | -3.0% |
| 1914 | 369,979 tonnes | -35.8% |
| 1915 | 270,623 tonnes | -26.9% |
| 1916 | 302,372 tonnes | +11.7% |
| 1917 | 233,754 tonnes | -22.7% |
| 1918 | 213,738 tonnes | -8.6% |
| 1919 | 269,944 tonnes | +26.3% |
| 1920 | 392,155 tonnes | +45.3% |
| 1921 | 349,171 tonnes | -11.0% |
| 1922 | 406,216 tonnes | +16.3% |
| 1923 | 514,706 tonnes | +26.7% |
| 1924 | 562,285 tonnes | +9.2% |
| 1925 | 595,558 tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1926 | 622,958 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1927 | 708,452 tonnes | +13.7% |
| 1928 | 732,030 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1929 | 801,224 tonnes | +9.5% |
| 1930 | 724,720 tonnes | -9.5% |
| 1931 | 665,007 tonnes | -8.2% |
| 1932 | 570,187 tonnes | -14.3% |
| 1933 | 636,860 tonnes | +11.7% |
| 1934 | 726,677 tonnes | +14.1% |
| 1935 | 760,094 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1936 | 745,598 tonnes | -1.9% |
| 1937 | 935,012 tonnes | +25.4% |
| 1938 | 858,101 tonnes | -8.2% |
| 1939 | 755,957 tonnes | -11.9% |
| 1940 | 482,946 tonnes | -36.1% |
| 1941 | 419,497 tonnes | -13.1% |
| 1942 | 391,854 tonnes | -6.6% |
| 1943 | 378,394 tonnes | -3.4% |
| 1944 | 201,887 tonnes | -46.6% |
| 1945 | 222,752 tonnes | +10.3% |
| 1946 | 368,728 tonnes | +65.5% |
| 1947 | 571,575 tonnes | +55.0% |
| 1948 | 612,733 tonnes | +7.2% |
| 1949 | 613,920 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1950 | 571,136 tonnes | -7.0% |
| 1951 | 649,419 tonnes | +13.7% |
| 1952 | 612,466 tonnes | -5.7% |
| 1953 | 603,816 tonnes | -1.4% |
| 1954 | 625,234 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1955 | 651,007 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1956 | 692,340 tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1957 | 694,782 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1958 | 645,271 tonnes | -7.1% |
| 1959 | 645,030 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1960 | 712,443 tonnes | +10.5% |
| 1961 | 727,349 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1962 | 757,995 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1963 | 821,439 tonnes | +8.4% |
| 1964 | 887,604 tonnes | +8.1% |
| 1965 | 947,453 tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1966 | 932,675 tonnes | -1.6% |
| 1967 | 957,751 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1968 | 1.02 million tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1969 | 1.09 million tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1970 | 1.11 million tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1971 | 1.06 million tonnes | -4.7% |
| 1972 | 1.13 million tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1973 | 1.19 million tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1974 | 1.03 million tonnes | -13.0% |
| 1975 | 899,562 tonnes | -12.8% |
| 1976 | 950,525 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1977 | 907,250 tonnes | -4.6% |
| 1978 | 946,716 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1979 | 917,015 tonnes | -3.1% |
| 1980 | 879,455 tonnes | -4.1% |
| 1981 | 787,931 tonnes | -10.4% |
| 1982 | 769,798 tonnes | -2.3% |
| 1983 | 633,601 tonnes | -17.7% |
| 1984 | 572,486 tonnes | -9.6% |
| 1985 | 552,282 tonnes | -3.5% |
| 1986 | 600,669 tonnes | +8.8% |
| 1987 | 585,684 tonnes | -2.5% |
| 1988 | 599,798 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1989 | 581,476 tonnes | -3.1% |
| 1990 | 589,721 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1991 | 594,941 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1992 | 582,441 tonnes | -2.1% |
| 1993 | 569,038 tonnes | -2.3% |
| 1994 | 520,686 tonnes | -8.5% |
| 1995 | 470,375 tonnes | -9.7% |
| 1996 | 500,080 tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1997 | 513,361 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1998 | 520,578 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1999 | 439,587 tonnes | -15.6% |
| 2000 | 465,764 tonnes | +6.0% |
| 2001 | 452,379 tonnes | -2.9% |
| 2002 | 528,955 tonnes | +16.9% |
| 2003 | 585,005 tonnes | +10.6% |
| 2004 | 612,868 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 2005 | 590,801 tonnes | -3.6% |
| 2006 | 593,748 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 2007 | 613,533 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 2008 | 599,313 tonnes | -2.3% |
| 2009 | 436,648 tonnes | -27.1% |
| 2010 | 450,320 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 2011 | 405,682 tonnes | -9.9% |
| 2012 | 340,817 tonnes | -16.0% |
| 2013 | 332,466 tonnes | -2.5% |
| 2014 | 289,144 tonnes | -13.0% |
| 2015 | 264,727 tonnes | -8.4% |
| 2016 | 318,784 tonnes | +20.4% |
| 2017 | 385,042 tonnes | +20.8% |
| 2018 | 466,829 tonnes | +21.2% |
| 2019 | 413,055 tonnes | -11.5% |
| 2020 | 107,817 tonnes | -73.9% |
| 2021 | 137,057 tonnes | +27.1% |
| 2022 | 153,447 tonnes | +12.0% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 153,447 tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 26,427 tonnes, 5.8× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 153,447 tonnes is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 40,466 tonnes, 3.8× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in Belgium 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | -73.9% | 413,055 tonnes | 107,817 tonnes |
| 1946 | +65.5% | 222,752 tonnes | 368,728 tonnes |
| 1850 | -58.6% | 142,620 tonnes | 59,051 tonnes |
| 1947 | +55.0% | 368,728 tonnes | 571,575 tonnes |
| 1944 | -46.6% | 378,394 tonnes | 201,887 tonnes |
| 1920 | +45.3% | 269,944 tonnes | 392,155 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 67,205 tonnes | 65,732 tonnes | 68,675 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 70,463 tonnes | 69,001 tonnes | 71,923 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 73,698 tonnes | 72,246 tonnes | 75,148 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 76,911 tonnes | 75,469 tonnes | 78,350 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 80,100 tonnes | 78,669 tonnes | 81,529 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 86,262 tonnes | 81,846 tonnes | 112,433 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 86,410 tonnes | 85,000 tonnes | 87,818 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 91,377 tonnes | 88,130 tonnes | 94,618 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 120,673 tonnes | 116,221 tonnes | 127,233 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 136,838 tonnes | 131,112 tonnes | 144,110 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 75,101 tonnes | 55,711 tonnes | 91,010 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 111,281 tonnes | 89,423 tonnes | 134,351 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 162,802 tonnes | 145,382 tonnes | 178,511 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 229,864 tonnes | 194,332 tonnes | 265,935 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 324,849 tonnes | 281,275 tonnes | 382,766 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 430,720 tonnes | 385,337 tonnes | 485,918 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 390,093 tonnes | 213,738 tonnes | 594,513 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 568,476 tonnes | 349,171 tonnes | 801,224 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 737,821 tonnes | 570,187 tonnes | 935,012 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 426,429 tonnes | 201,887 tonnes | 613,920 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 639,050 tonnes | 571,136 tonnes | 694,782 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 885,768 tonnes | 712,443 tonnes | 1.09 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.01 million tonnes | 899,562 tonnes | 1.19 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 656,318 tonnes | 552,282 tonnes | 879,455 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 530,081 tonnes | 439,587 tonnes | 594,941 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 547,901 tonnes | 436,648 tonnes | 613,533 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 366,687 tonnes | 264,727 tonnes | 466,829 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 132,774 tonnes | 107,817 tonnes | 153,447 tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
More energy & mining data for Belgium
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate -2.47 % 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 0.0001 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fuel imports 16.0% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in Belgium?
- Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in Belgium was 153,447 tonnes in 2022, according to Hoesly et al. (2024) – Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 1.19 million tonnes in 1973.
- What is the lowest coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 55,711 tonnes in 1851.
- How does Belgium rank for coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions?
- Belgium ranks 47th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is down 55.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from Hoesly et al. (2024) – Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 273 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Sulfur dioxide (SO₂) is an air pollutant formed from the burning of fuels that contain sulfur, such as coal. SO₂ is one of the main chemicals that forms acid rain.