Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in Canada
Canada: Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions was 629,055 tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
629,055 tonnes
Change on year
down 5.4%
World rank
24th
of 220 countries
All-time high
5.89 million tonnes
in 1973
All-time low
213.99 tonnes
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in Canada, 1750–2022
Source: Hoesly et al. (2024) – Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Canada recorded 629,055 tonnes for coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in 2022.
That represents a change of down 5.4% on the previous year and down 49.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in Canada peaked at 5.89 million tonnes in 1973 and was at its lowest, 213.99 tonnes, in 1750.
That places Canada 24th 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 Canada, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 213.99 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 217.19 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1752 | 220.38 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1753 | 223.57 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1754 | 226.75 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1755 | 229.94 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1756 | 233.11 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1757 | 236.29 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1758 | 239.46 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1759 | 242.62 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1760 | 245.79 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1761 | 249.58 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1762 | 253.37 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1763 | 257.15 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1764 | 260.92 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1765 | 264.69 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1766 | 268.46 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1767 | 272.22 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1768 | 275.97 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1769 | 279.72 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1770 | 283.46 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1771 | 287.98 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1772 | 292.49 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1773 | 297 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1774 | 301.49 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1775 | 305.98 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1776 | 310.46 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1777 | 314.93 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1778 | 319.4 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1779 | 323.85 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1780 | 328.3 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1781 | 333.71 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1782 | 339.11 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1783 | 344.49 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1784 | 349.87 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1785 | 389.71 tonnes | +11.4% |
| 1786 | 395.25 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1787 | 400.78 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1788 | 406.3 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1789 | 411.8 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1790 | 417.3 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1791 | 423.99 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1792 | 430.65 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1793 | 437.31 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1794 | 443.95 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1795 | 450.57 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1796 | 457.18 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1797 | 463.77 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1798 | 470.35 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1799 | 476.91 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1800 | 483.46 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1801 | 491.48 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1802 | 499.49 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1803 | 507.47 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1804 | 515.43 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1805 | 523.37 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1806 | 531.28 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1807 | 539.18 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1808 | 547.05 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1809 | 554.9 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1810 | 562.73 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1811 | 583.4 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1812 | 604 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1813 | 624.54 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1814 | 645.02 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1815 | 665.42 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1816 | 685.76 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1817 | 706.04 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1818 | 726.25 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1819 | 746.39 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1820 | 766.47 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1821 | 795.22 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1822 | 823.86 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1823 | 852.38 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1824 | 880.8 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1825 | 909.11 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1826 | 937.31 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1827 | 965.4 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1828 | 993.38 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1829 | 1,021 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1830 | 1,049 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1831 | 1,089 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1832 | 1,130 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1833 | 1,170 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1834 | 1,209 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1835 | 1,249 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1836 | 1,288 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1837 | 1,328 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1838 | 1,367 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1839 | 1,406 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1840 | 1,444 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1841 | 1,503 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1842 | 1,561 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1843 | 1,619 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1844 | 1,677 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1845 | 1,735 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1846 | 2,067 tonnes | +19.2% |
| 1847 | 2,217 tonnes | +7.3% |
| 1848 | 2,367 tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1849 | 2,518 tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1850 | 2,720 tonnes | +8.0% |
| 1851 | 2,822 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1852 | 3,028 tonnes | +7.3% |
| 1853 | 3,321 tonnes | +9.6% |
| 1854 | 3,656 tonnes | +10.1% |
| 1855 | 4,034 tonnes | +10.3% |
| 1856 | 4,457 tonnes | +10.5% |
| 1857 | 4,965 tonnes | +11.4% |
| 1858 | 5,598 tonnes | +12.8% |
| 1859 | 6,268 tonnes | +12.0% |
| 1860 | 7,101 tonnes | +13.3% |
| 1861 | 7,947 tonnes | +11.9% |
| 1862 | 9,181 tonnes | +15.5% |
| 1863 | 10,737 tonnes | +16.9% |
| 1864 | 12,518 tonnes | +16.6% |
| 1865 | 14,671 tonnes | +17.2% |
| 1866 | 17,478 tonnes | +19.1% |
| 1867 | 21,113 tonnes | +20.8% |
| 1868 | 13,241 tonnes | -37.3% |
| 1869 | 10,099 tonnes | -23.7% |
| 1870 | 16,247 tonnes | +60.9% |
| 1871 | 22,616 tonnes | +39.2% |
| 1872 | 23,365 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1873 | 20,564 tonnes | -12.0% |
| 1874 | 21,351 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1875 | 24,217 tonnes | +13.4% |
| 1876 | 24,205 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1877 | 26,741 tonnes | +10.5% |
| 1878 | 26,189 tonnes | -2.1% |
| 1879 | 28,991 tonnes | +10.7% |
| 1880 | 69,941 tonnes | +141.2% |
| 1881 | 75,841 tonnes | +8.4% |
| 1882 | 90,155 tonnes | +18.9% |
| 1883 | 102,567 tonnes | +13.8% |
| 1884 | 119,348 tonnes | +16.4% |
| 1885 | 115,606 tonnes | -3.1% |
| 1886 | 122,532 tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1887 | 141,913 tonnes | +15.8% |
| 1888 | 185,150 tonnes | +30.5% |
| 1889 | 160,332 tonnes | -13.4% |
| 1890 | 177,781 tonnes | +10.9% |
| 1891 | 203,350 tonnes | +14.4% |
| 1892 | 200,618 tonnes | -1.3% |
| 1893 | 216,513 tonnes | +7.9% |
| 1894 | 208,890 tonnes | -3.5% |
| 1895 | 199,125 tonnes | -4.7% |
| 1896 | 215,167 tonnes | +8.1% |
| 1897 | 219,846 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1898 | 237,937 tonnes | +8.2% |
| 1899 | 285,407 tonnes | +20.0% |
| 1900 | 319,007 tonnes | +11.8% |
| 1901 | 384,817 tonnes | +20.6% |
| 1902 | 425,832 tonnes | +10.7% |
| 1903 | 479,212 tonnes | +12.5% |
| 1904 | 571,226 tonnes | +19.2% |
| 1905 | 637,330 tonnes | +11.6% |
| 1906 | 659,713 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1907 | 771,694 tonnes | +17.0% |
| 1908 | 758,841 tonnes | -1.7% |
| 1909 | 735,534 tonnes | -3.1% |
| 1910 | 805,161 tonnes | +9.5% |
| 1911 | 905,978 tonnes | +12.5% |
| 1912 | 1.01 million tonnes | +11.8% |
| 1913 | 1.16 million tonnes | +14.8% |
| 1914 | 1.04 million tonnes | -10.6% |
| 1915 | 1.01 million tonnes | -3.3% |
| 1916 | 1.19 million tonnes | +18.5% |
| 1917 | 1.29 million tonnes | +8.4% |
| 1918 | 1.36 million tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1919 | 1.12 million tonnes | -17.2% |
| 1920 | 1.26 million tonnes | +12.0% |
| 1921 | 1.19 million tonnes | -5.8% |
| 1922 | 1.09 million tonnes | -7.8% |
| 1923 | 1.50 million tonnes | +37.0% |
| 1924 | 1.36 million tonnes | -9.1% |
| 1925 | 1.38 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1926 | 1.51 million tonnes | +8.9% |
| 1927 | 1.62 million tonnes | +7.3% |
| 1928 | 1.69 million tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1929 | 1.83 million tonnes | +8.2% |
| 1930 | 1.93 million tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1931 | 1.65 million tonnes | -14.8% |
| 1932 | 1.42 million tonnes | -13.9% |
| 1933 | 1.58 million tonnes | +11.5% |
| 1934 | 1.92 million tonnes | +21.3% |
| 1935 | 2.03 million tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1936 | 2.18 million tonnes | +7.6% |
| 1937 | 2.55 million tonnes | +16.6% |
| 1938 | 2.45 million tonnes | -3.6% |
| 1939 | 2.64 million tonnes | +7.7% |
| 1940 | 3.06 million tonnes | +15.7% |
| 1941 | 3.16 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1942 | 3.25 million tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1943 | 3.23 million tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1944 | 3.07 million tonnes | -5.0% |
| 1945 | 2.73 million tonnes | -11.0% |
| 1946 | 2.56 million tonnes | -6.2% |
| 1947 | 2.80 million tonnes | +9.3% |
| 1948 | 3.08 million tonnes | +10.0% |
| 1949 | 2.92 million tonnes | -5.2% |
| 1950 | 3.00 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1951 | 3.11 million tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1952 | 2.98 million tonnes | -4.4% |
| 1953 | 3.05 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1954 | 3.14 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1955 | 3.28 million tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1956 | 3.60 million tonnes | +9.6% |
| 1957 | 3.42 million tonnes | -5.1% |
| 1958 | 3.24 million tonnes | -5.0% |
| 1959 | 3.50 million tonnes | +8.0% |
| 1960 | 3.87 million tonnes | +10.6% |
| 1961 | 3.89 million tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1962 | 3.88 million tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1963 | 3.84 million tonnes | -1.1% |
| 1964 | 4.14 million tonnes | +7.7% |
| 1965 | 4.45 million tonnes | +7.5% |
| 1966 | 4.51 million tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1967 | 4.71 million tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1968 | 4.90 million tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1969 | 4.62 million tonnes | -5.8% |
| 1970 | 5.38 million tonnes | +16.5% |
| 1971 | 5.30 million tonnes | -1.4% |
| 1972 | 5.46 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1973 | 5.89 million tonnes | +7.9% |
| 1974 | 5.77 million tonnes | -2.1% |
| 1975 | 5.30 million tonnes | -8.0% |
| 1976 | 5.30 million tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1977 | 5.14 million tonnes | -3.0% |
| 1978 | 4.61 million tonnes | -10.3% |
| 1979 | 4.45 million tonnes | -3.6% |
| 1980 | 4.56 million tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1981 | 4.24 million tonnes | -7.0% |
| 1982 | 3.83 million tonnes | -9.8% |
| 1983 | 3.84 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1984 | 3.80 million tonnes | -0.9% |
| 1985 | 3.64 million tonnes | -4.4% |
| 1986 | 3.27 million tonnes | -10.1% |
| 1987 | 3.57 million tonnes | +9.1% |
| 1988 | 3.64 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1989 | 3.33 million tonnes | -8.5% |
| 1990 | 3.14 million tonnes | -5.8% |
| 1991 | 2.93 million tonnes | -6.6% |
| 1992 | 2.81 million tonnes | -4.3% |
| 1993 | 2.69 million tonnes | -4.3% |
| 1994 | 2.48 million tonnes | -7.6% |
| 1995 | 2.59 million tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1996 | 2.63 million tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1997 | 2.56 million tonnes | -2.5% |
| 1998 | 2.53 million tonnes | -1.2% |
| 1999 | 2.41 million tonnes | -4.6% |
| 2000 | 2.39 million tonnes | -0.9% |
| 2001 | 2.38 million tonnes | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 2.33 million tonnes | -2.3% |
| 2003 | 2.26 million tonnes | -3.1% |
| 2004 | 2.27 million tonnes | +0.5% |
| 2005 | 2.18 million tonnes | -4.1% |
| 2006 | 1.95 million tonnes | -10.5% |
| 2007 | 1.92 million tonnes | -1.5% |
| 2008 | 1.74 million tonnes | -9.5% |
| 2009 | 1.47 million tonnes | -15.1% |
| 2010 | 1.37 million tonnes | -7.2% |
| 2011 | 1.26 million tonnes | -8.2% |
| 2012 | 1.25 million tonnes | -0.6% |
| 2013 | 1.24 million tonnes | -0.9% |
| 2014 | 1.19 million tonnes | -4.0% |
| 2015 | 1.11 million tonnes | -6.1% |
| 2016 | 1.10 million tonnes | -1.4% |
| 2017 | 998,894 tonnes | -9.2% |
| 2018 | 862,843 tonnes | -13.6% |
| 2019 | 761,186 tonnes | -11.8% |
| 2020 | 671,028 tonnes | -11.8% |
| 2021 | 664,771 tonnes | -0.9% |
| 2022 | 629,055 tonnes | -5.4% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 629,055 tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 26,427 tonnes, 23.8× the median. (78 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in Canada 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | +141.2% | 28,991 tonnes | 69,941 tonnes |
| 1870 | +60.9% | 10,099 tonnes | 16,247 tonnes |
| 1868 | -37.3% | 21,113 tonnes | 13,241 tonnes |
| 1871 | +39.2% | 16,247 tonnes | 22,616 tonnes |
| 1923 | +37.0% | 1.09 million tonnes | 1.50 million tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 228.33 tonnes | 213.99 tonnes | 242.62 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 262.79 tonnes | 245.79 tonnes | 279.72 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 303.7 tonnes | 283.46 tonnes | 323.85 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 369.93 tonnes | 328.3 tonnes | 411.8 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 447.2 tonnes | 417.3 tonnes | 476.91 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 519.31 tonnes | 483.46 tonnes | 554.9 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 654.96 tonnes | 562.73 tonnes | 746.39 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 894.52 tonnes | 766.47 tonnes | 1,021 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 1,228 tonnes | 1,049 tonnes | 1,406 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 1,871 tonnes | 1,444 tonnes | 2,518 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 4,087 tonnes | 2,720 tonnes | 6,268 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 12,409 tonnes | 7,101 tonnes | 21,113 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 23,449 tonnes | 16,247 tonnes | 28,991 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 118,338 tonnes | 69,941 tonnes | 185,150 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 216,463 tonnes | 177,781 tonnes | 285,407 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 574,321 tonnes | 319,007 tonnes | 771,694 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 1.09 million tonnes | 805,161 tonnes | 1.36 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 1.44 million tonnes | 1.09 million tonnes | 1.83 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 2.03 million tonnes | 1.42 million tonnes | 2.64 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 2.99 million tonnes | 2.56 million tonnes | 3.25 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 3.23 million tonnes | 2.98 million tonnes | 3.60 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 4.28 million tonnes | 3.84 million tonnes | 4.90 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 5.26 million tonnes | 4.45 million tonnes | 5.89 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.77 million tonnes | 3.27 million tonnes | 4.56 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.68 million tonnes | 2.41 million tonnes | 3.14 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.09 million tonnes | 1.47 million tonnes | 2.39 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.11 million tonnes | 761,186 tonnes | 1.37 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 654,951 tonnes | 629,055 tonnes | 671,028 tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Canada
More energy & mining data for Canada
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate 1.48 % 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 (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 6.5% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in Canada?
- Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in Canada was 629,055 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 Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 5.89 million tonnes in 1973.
- What is the lowest coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 213.99 tonnes in 1750.
- How does Canada rank for coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions?
- Canada ranks 24th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is down 49.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Canada 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.