Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions was 51,645 tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
51,645 tonnes
Change on year
up 16.5%
World rank
87th
of 220 countries
All-time high
3.83 million tonnes
in 1965
All-time low
761.33 tonnes
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in Bulgaria, 1750–2022
Source: Hoesly et al. (2024) – Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
The most recent figure for coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in Bulgaria is 51,645 tonnes, measured in 2022.
The figure is up 16.5% on the previous year and down 83.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in Bulgaria peaked at 3.83 million tonnes in 1965 and was at its lowest, 761.33 tonnes, in 1750.
Bulgaria ranks 87th of 220 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 761.33 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 764.95 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1752 | 768.58 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1753 | 772.2 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1754 | 775.83 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1755 | 779.45 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1756 | 783.08 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1757 | 786.7 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1758 | 790.33 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1759 | 793.95 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1760 | 797.58 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1761 | 801.38 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1762 | 805.17 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1763 | 808.97 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1764 | 812.77 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1765 | 816.57 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1766 | 820.37 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1767 | 824.16 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1768 | 827.96 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1769 | 831.76 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1770 | 835.56 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1771 | 839.54 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1772 | 843.52 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1773 | 847.5 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1774 | 851.47 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1775 | 855.45 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1776 | 859.43 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1777 | 863.41 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1778 | 867.39 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1779 | 871.37 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1780 | 875.35 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1781 | 879.51 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1782 | 883.68 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1783 | 887.85 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1784 | 892.02 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1785 | 896.19 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1786 | 900.36 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1787 | 904.52 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1788 | 908.69 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1789 | 912.86 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1790 | 917.03 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1791 | 921.4 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1792 | 925.76 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1793 | 930.13 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1794 | 934.5 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1795 | 938.86 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1796 | 943.23 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1797 | 947.6 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1798 | 951.97 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1799 | 956.33 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1800 | 960.7 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1801 | 965.21 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1802 | 969.72 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1803 | 974.23 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1804 | 978.74 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1805 | 983.25 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1806 | 987.75 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1807 | 992.26 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1808 | 996.77 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1809 | 1,001 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1810 | 1,006 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1811 | 1,011 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1812 | 1,016 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1813 | 1,021 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1814 | 1,026 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1815 | 1,031 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1816 | 1,037 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1817 | 1,042 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1818 | 1,047 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1819 | 1,052 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1820 | 1,057 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1821 | 1,060 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1822 | 1,063 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1823 | 1,067 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1824 | 1,070 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1825 | 1,073 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1826 | 1,076 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1827 | 1,079 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1828 | 1,082 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1829 | 1,085 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1830 | 1,089 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1831 | 1,094 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1832 | 1,100 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1833 | 1,105 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1834 | 1,110 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1835 | 1,116 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1836 | 1,121 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1837 | 1,127 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1838 | 1,132 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1839 | 1,138 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1840 | 1,143 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1841 | 1,149 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1842 | 1,155 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1843 | 1,160 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1844 | 1,166 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1845 | 1,172 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1846 | 1,177 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1847 | 1,183 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1848 | 1,189 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1849 | 1,194 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1850 | 1,196 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1851 | 1,203 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1852 | 1,209 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1853 | 1,215 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1854 | 1,221 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1855 | 1,227 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1856 | 1,233 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1857 | 1,239 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1858 | 1,245 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1859 | 1,251 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1860 | 1,257 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1861 | 1,263 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1862 | 1,269 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1863 | 1,274 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1864 | 1,280 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1865 | 1,286 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1866 | 1,292 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1867 | 1,299 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1868 | 1,306 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1869 | 1,312 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1870 | 1,319 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1871 | 1,344 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1872 | 1,370 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1873 | 1,396 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1874 | 1,421 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1875 | 1,446 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1876 | 1,474 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1877 | 1,502 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1878 | 1,529 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1879 | 1,556 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1880 | 1,583 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1881 | 2,479 tonnes | +56.5% |
| 1882 | 2,508 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1883 | 3,403 tonnes | +35.7% |
| 1884 | 4,296 tonnes | +26.3% |
| 1885 | 3,460 tonnes | -19.5% |
| 1886 | 3,492 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1887 | 4,388 tonnes | +25.7% |
| 1888 | 6,147 tonnes | +40.1% |
| 1889 | 7,906 tonnes | +28.6% |
| 1890 | 9,663 tonnes | +22.2% |
| 1891 | 11,412 tonnes | +18.1% |
| 1892 | 13,169 tonnes | +15.4% |
| 1893 | 16,635 tonnes | +26.3% |
| 1894 | 20,978 tonnes | +26.1% |
| 1895 | 21,867 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1896 | 27,072 tonnes | +23.8% |
| 1897 | 27,962 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1898 | 36,616 tonnes | +30.9% |
| 1899 | 36,640 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1900 | 53,048 tonnes | +44.8% |
| 1901 | 65,980 tonnes | +24.4% |
| 1902 | 58,226 tonnes | -11.8% |
| 1903 | 57,367 tonnes | -1.5% |
| 1904 | 72,848 tonnes | +27.0% |
| 1905 | 86,588 tonnes | +18.9% |
| 1906 | 76,283 tonnes | -11.9% |
| 1907 | 108,915 tonnes | +42.8% |
| 1908 | 142,378 tonnes | +30.7% |
| 1909 | 144,071 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1910 | 150,908 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1911 | 212,789 tonnes | +41.0% |
| 1912 | 212,929 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1913 | 187,300 tonnes | -12.0% |
| 1914 | 280,255 tonnes | +49.6% |
| 1915 | 181,525 tonnes | -35.2% |
| 1916 | 219,153 tonnes | +20.7% |
| 1917 | 269,596 tonnes | +23.0% |
| 1918 | 335,397 tonnes | +24.4% |
| 1919 | 197,948 tonnes | -41.0% |
| 1920 | 259,421 tonnes | +31.1% |
| 1921 | 321,617 tonnes | +24.0% |
| 1922 | 354,639 tonnes | +10.3% |
| 1923 | 376,498 tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1924 | 431,581 tonnes | +14.6% |
| 1925 | 423,501 tonnes | -1.9% |
| 1926 | 416,590 tonnes | -1.6% |
| 1927 | 425,003 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1928 | 487,088 tonnes | +14.6% |
| 1929 | 561,836 tonnes | +15.3% |
| 1930 | 540,426 tonnes | -3.8% |
| 1931 | 507,510 tonnes | -6.1% |
| 1932 | 572,260 tonnes | +12.8% |
| 1933 | 497,812 tonnes | -13.0% |
| 1934 | 506,805 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1935 | 501,939 tonnes | -1.0% |
| 1936 | 512,234 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1937 | 569,884 tonnes | +11.3% |
| 1938 | 648,059 tonnes | +13.7% |
| 1939 | 716,963 tonnes | +10.6% |
| 1940 | 870,119 tonnes | +21.4% |
| 1941 | 937,899 tonnes | +7.8% |
| 1942 | 1.13 million tonnes | +20.8% |
| 1943 | 1.23 million tonnes | +8.6% |
| 1944 | 917,507 tonnes | -25.5% |
| 1945 | 1.08 million tonnes | +17.6% |
| 1946 | 990,341 tonnes | -8.2% |
| 1947 | 1.10 million tonnes | +11.0% |
| 1948 | 1.05 million tonnes | -4.5% |
| 1949 | 1.19 million tonnes | +13.7% |
| 1950 | 1.02 million tonnes | -14.3% |
| 1951 | 1.13 million tonnes | +10.1% |
| 1952 | 1.29 million tonnes | +14.1% |
| 1953 | 1.43 million tonnes | +11.5% |
| 1954 | 1.51 million tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1955 | 1.58 million tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1956 | 1.67 million tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1957 | 1.83 million tonnes | +9.7% |
| 1958 | 1.97 million tonnes | +7.5% |
| 1959 | 2.33 million tonnes | +18.4% |
| 1960 | 2.57 million tonnes | +10.0% |
| 1961 | 2.80 million tonnes | +9.1% |
| 1962 | 3.18 million tonnes | +13.4% |
| 1963 | 3.31 million tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1964 | 3.83 million tonnes | +15.6% |
| 1965 | 3.83 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 3.56 million tonnes | -6.9% |
| 1967 | 3.58 million tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1968 | 3.50 million tonnes | -2.2% |
| 1969 | 3.44 million tonnes | -1.8% |
| 1970 | 3.38 million tonnes | -1.7% |
| 1971 | 3.21 million tonnes | -5.1% |
| 1972 | 3.12 million tonnes | -2.6% |
| 1973 | 3.04 million tonnes | -2.7% |
| 1974 | 3.11 million tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1975 | 3.11 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1976 | 2.97 million tonnes | -4.6% |
| 1977 | 2.77 million tonnes | -6.7% |
| 1978 | 2.88 million tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1979 | 2.90 million tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1980 | 3.06 million tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1981 | 2.99 million tonnes | -2.4% |
| 1982 | 3.10 million tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1983 | 3.01 million tonnes | -3.0% |
| 1984 | 2.97 million tonnes | -1.3% |
| 1985 | 3.17 million tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1986 | 3.13 million tonnes | -1.3% |
| 1987 | 3.15 million tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1988 | 3.28 million tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1989 | 3.17 million tonnes | -3.2% |
| 1990 | 1.46 million tonnes | -53.9% |
| 1991 | 1.25 million tonnes | -14.7% |
| 1992 | 1.12 million tonnes | -10.1% |
| 1993 | 1.56 million tonnes | +39.5% |
| 1994 | 1.75 million tonnes | +12.1% |
| 1995 | 1.70 million tonnes | -3.0% |
| 1996 | 1.66 million tonnes | -2.6% |
| 1997 | 1.61 million tonnes | -2.5% |
| 1998 | 1.44 million tonnes | -10.9% |
| 1999 | 1.09 million tonnes | -24.4% |
| 2000 | 1.10 million tonnes | +1.0% |
| 2001 | 1.02 million tonnes | -6.9% |
| 2002 | 923,300 tonnes | -9.7% |
| 2003 | 1.00 million tonnes | +8.4% |
| 2004 | 960,717 tonnes | -4.1% |
| 2005 | 949,351 tonnes | -1.2% |
| 2006 | 941,503 tonnes | -0.8% |
| 2007 | 1.03 million tonnes | +9.4% |
| 2008 | 719,659 tonnes | -30.1% |
| 2009 | 567,371 tonnes | -21.2% |
| 2010 | 326,036 tonnes | -42.5% |
| 2011 | 651,620 tonnes | +99.9% |
| 2012 | 318,822 tonnes | -51.1% |
| 2013 | 158,849 tonnes | -50.2% |
| 2014 | 150,393 tonnes | -5.3% |
| 2015 | 130,451 tonnes | -13.3% |
| 2016 | 89,355 tonnes | -31.5% |
| 2017 | 88,689 tonnes | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 74,436 tonnes | -16.1% |
| 2019 | 66,983 tonnes | -10.0% |
| 2020 | 64,405 tonnes | -3.8% |
| 2021 | 44,311 tonnes | -31.2% |
| 2022 | 51,645 tonnes | +16.5% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 51,645 tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 26,427 tonnes, 2.0× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 51,645 tonnes is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 40,466 tonnes, 1.3× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in Bulgaria 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | +99.9% | 326,036 tonnes | 651,620 tonnes |
| 1881 | +56.5% | 1,583 tonnes | 2,479 tonnes |
| 1990 | -53.9% | 3.17 million tonnes | 1.46 million tonnes |
| 2012 | -51.1% | 651,620 tonnes | 318,822 tonnes |
| 2013 | -50.2% | 318,822 tonnes | 158,849 tonnes |
| 1914 | +49.6% | 187,300 tonnes | 280,255 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 777.64 tonnes | 761.33 tonnes | 793.95 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 814.67 tonnes | 797.58 tonnes | 831.76 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 853.46 tonnes | 835.56 tonnes | 871.37 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 894.1 tonnes | 875.35 tonnes | 912.86 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 936.68 tonnes | 917.03 tonnes | 956.33 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 980.99 tonnes | 960.7 tonnes | 1,001 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 1,029 tonnes | 1,006 tonnes | 1,052 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 1,071 tonnes | 1,057 tonnes | 1,085 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 1,113 tonnes | 1,089 tonnes | 1,138 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 1,169 tonnes | 1,143 tonnes | 1,194 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 1,224 tonnes | 1,196 tonnes | 1,251 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 1,284 tonnes | 1,257 tonnes | 1,312 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 1,436 tonnes | 1,319 tonnes | 1,556 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 3,966 tonnes | 1,583 tonnes | 7,906 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 22,201 tonnes | 9,663 tonnes | 36,640 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 86,571 tonnes | 53,048 tonnes | 144,071 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 224,780 tonnes | 150,908 tonnes | 335,397 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 405,777 tonnes | 259,421 tonnes | 561,836 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 557,389 tonnes | 497,812 tonnes | 716,963 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 1.05 million tonnes | 870,119 tonnes | 1.23 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 1.58 million tonnes | 1.02 million tonnes | 2.33 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 3.36 million tonnes | 2.57 million tonnes | 3.83 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 3.05 million tonnes | 2.77 million tonnes | 3.38 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.10 million tonnes | 2.97 million tonnes | 3.28 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.46 million tonnes | 1.09 million tonnes | 1.75 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 921,245 tonnes | 567,371 tonnes | 1.10 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 205,563 tonnes | 66,983 tonnes | 651,620 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 53,454 tonnes | 44,311 tonnes | 64,405 tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
More energy & mining data for Bulgaria
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate 2.05 % 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 12.3% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in Bulgaria?
- Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in Bulgaria was 51,645 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 Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 3.83 million tonnes in 1965.
- What is the lowest coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 761.33 tonnes in 1750.
- How does Bulgaria rank for coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions?
- Bulgaria ranks 87th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 83.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bulgaria 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.