Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in China
China: Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions was 10.38 million tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
10.38 million tonnes
Change on year
up 0.5%
World rank
2nd
of 220 countries
All-time high
38.11 million tonnes
in 2006
All-time low
38,516 tonnes
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in China, 1750–2022
Source: Hoesly et al. (2024) – Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2022, coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in China stood at 10.38 million tonnes.
The figure is up 0.5% on the previous year and down 66.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in China peaked at 38.11 million tonnes in 2006 and was at its lowest, 38,516 tonnes, in 1750.
That places China 2nd out of 220 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in China, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 38,516 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 38,627 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1752 | 38,737 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1753 | 38,848 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1754 | 38,959 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1755 | 39,070 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1756 | 39,180 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1757 | 39,291 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1758 | 39,401 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1759 | 39,512 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1760 | 39,622 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1761 | 39,673 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1762 | 39,724 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1763 | 39,774 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1764 | 39,824 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1765 | 39,875 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1766 | 39,925 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1767 | 39,976 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1768 | 40,026 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1769 | 40,076 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1770 | 40,127 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1771 | 41,150 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1772 | 42,172 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1773 | 43,194 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1774 | 44,215 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1775 | 45,236 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1776 | 46,256 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1777 | 47,276 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1778 | 48,295 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1779 | 49,314 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1780 | 50,332 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1781 | 50,569 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1782 | 50,806 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1783 | 51,043 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1784 | 51,279 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1785 | 51,516 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1786 | 51,752 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1787 | 51,988 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1788 | 52,224 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1789 | 52,460 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1790 | 52,696 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1791 | 52,402 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1792 | 52,108 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1793 | 51,815 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1794 | 51,522 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1795 | 51,228 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1796 | 50,935 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1797 | 50,642 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1798 | 50,350 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1799 | 50,057 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1800 | 49,764 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1801 | 50,407 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1802 | 51,050 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1803 | 51,691 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1804 | 52,333 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1805 | 52,974 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1806 | 53,614 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1807 | 54,255 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1808 | 54,894 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1809 | 55,534 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1810 | 56,173 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1811 | 56,095 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1812 | 56,017 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1813 | 55,940 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1814 | 55,862 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1815 | 55,784 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1816 | 55,707 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1817 | 55,630 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1818 | 55,552 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1819 | 55,475 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1820 | 55,397 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1821 | 55,783 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1822 | 56,169 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1823 | 56,554 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1824 | 56,939 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1825 | 57,324 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1826 | 57,708 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1827 | 58,092 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1828 | 58,476 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1829 | 58,859 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1830 | 59,242 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1831 | 59,239 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1832 | 59,236 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1833 | 59,234 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1834 | 59,231 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1835 | 59,228 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1836 | 59,225 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1837 | 59,222 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1838 | 59,219 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1839 | 59,216 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1840 | 59,213 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1841 | 59,207 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1842 | 59,202 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1843 | 59,196 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1844 | 59,191 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1845 | 59,186 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1846 | 59,180 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1847 | 59,174 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1848 | 59,169 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1849 | 59,163 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1850 | 59,158 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1851 | 58,637 tonnes | -0.9% |
| 1852 | 58,121 tonnes | -0.9% |
| 1853 | 57,609 tonnes | -0.9% |
| 1854 | 57,102 tonnes | -0.9% |
| 1855 | 56,599 tonnes | -0.9% |
| 1856 | 56,101 tonnes | -0.9% |
| 1857 | 55,607 tonnes | -0.9% |
| 1858 | 55,118 tonnes | -0.9% |
| 1859 | 54,633 tonnes | -0.9% |
| 1860 | 54,152 tonnes | -0.9% |
| 1861 | 53,874 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1862 | 53,598 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1863 | 53,323 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1864 | 53,049 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1865 | 52,777 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1866 | 52,507 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1867 | 52,237 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1868 | 51,970 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1869 | 51,703 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1870 | 51,438 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1871 | 51,580 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1872 | 51,723 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1873 | 51,866 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1874 | 52,009 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1875 | 52,153 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1876 | 52,297 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1877 | 52,441 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1878 | 52,586 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1879 | 52,732 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1880 | 52,873 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1881 | 53,040 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1882 | 53,206 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1883 | 53,374 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1884 | 53,542 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1885 | 53,710 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1886 | 53,879 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1887 | 54,049 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1888 | 54,220 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1889 | 54,391 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1890 | 54,562 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1891 | 54,836 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1892 | 55,113 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1893 | 55,391 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1894 | 55,671 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1895 | 55,954 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1896 | 56,230 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1897 | 56,509 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1898 | 56,790 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1899 | 58,873 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1900 | 57,356 tonnes | -2.6% |
| 1901 | 58,886 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1902 | 62,205 tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1903 | 98,317 tonnes | +58.1% |
| 1904 | 101,958 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1905 | 107,119 tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1906 | 376,503 tonnes | +251.5% |
| 1907 | 371,338 tonnes | -1.4% |
| 1908 | 476,110 tonnes | +28.2% |
| 1909 | 441,701 tonnes | -7.2% |
| 1910 | 404,363 tonnes | -8.5% |
| 1911 | 536,994 tonnes | +32.8% |
| 1912 | 231,660 tonnes | -56.9% |
| 1913 | 238,067 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1914 | 288,204 tonnes | +21.1% |
| 1915 | 288,270 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1916 | 319,660 tonnes | +10.9% |
| 1917 | 352,250 tonnes | +10.2% |
| 1918 | 376,585 tonnes | +6.9% |
| 1919 | 429,033 tonnes | +13.9% |
| 1920 | 473,470 tonnes | +10.4% |
| 1921 | 453,567 tonnes | -4.2% |
| 1922 | 472,664 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1923 | 548,697 tonnes | +16.1% |
| 1924 | 589,086 tonnes | +7.4% |
| 1925 | 563,970 tonnes | -4.3% |
| 1926 | 518,929 tonnes | -8.0% |
| 1927 | 565,365 tonnes | +8.9% |
| 1928 | 564,173 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1929 | 579,249 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1930 | 601,830 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1931 | 626,770 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1932 | 604,440 tonnes | -3.6% |
| 1933 | 646,106 tonnes | +6.9% |
| 1934 | 729,339 tonnes | +12.9% |
| 1935 | 824,319 tonnes | +13.0% |
| 1936 | 907,434 tonnes | +10.1% |
| 1937 | 852,855 tonnes | -6.0% |
| 1938 | 794,285 tonnes | -6.9% |
| 1939 | 927,344 tonnes | +16.8% |
| 1940 | 1.14 million tonnes | +22.9% |
| 1941 | 1.37 million tonnes | +19.8% |
| 1942 | 1.41 million tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1943 | 1.23 million tonnes | -12.9% |
| 1944 | 1.23 million tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1945 | 719,287 tonnes | -41.6% |
| 1946 | 521,110 tonnes | -27.6% |
| 1947 | 549,590 tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1948 | 448,325 tonnes | -18.4% |
| 1949 | 832,951 tonnes | +85.8% |
| 1950 | 1.04 million tonnes | +25.4% |
| 1951 | 1.28 million tonnes | +22.7% |
| 1952 | 1.53 million tonnes | +19.6% |
| 1953 | 1.57 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1954 | 1.82 million tonnes | +16.1% |
| 1955 | 2.08 million tonnes | +14.3% |
| 1956 | 2.32 million tonnes | +11.2% |
| 1957 | 2.72 million tonnes | +17.7% |
| 1958 | 5.38 million tonnes | +97.4% |
| 1959 | 7.13 million tonnes | +32.6% |
| 1960 | 7.66 million tonnes | +7.4% |
| 1961 | 5.55 million tonnes | -27.6% |
| 1962 | 4.49 million tonnes | -19.1% |
| 1963 | 4.41 million tonnes | -1.7% |
| 1964 | 4.36 million tonnes | -1.1% |
| 1965 | 4.64 million tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1966 | 5.00 million tonnes | +7.6% |
| 1967 | 4.23 million tonnes | -15.4% |
| 1968 | 4.50 million tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1969 | 5.34 million tonnes | +18.6% |
| 1970 | 6.86 million tonnes | +28.6% |
| 1971 | 7.55 million tonnes | +10.0% |
| 1972 | 7.93 million tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1973 | 8.09 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1974 | 8.05 million tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1975 | 9.35 million tonnes | +16.2% |
| 1976 | 9.45 million tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1977 | 10.87 million tonnes | +15.0% |
| 1978 | 12.05 million tonnes | +10.9% |
| 1979 | 12.30 million tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1980 | 11.67 million tonnes | -5.2% |
| 1981 | 11.76 million tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1982 | 12.29 million tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1983 | 12.90 million tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1984 | 14.08 million tonnes | +9.1% |
| 1985 | 14.53 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1986 | 15.22 million tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1987 | 16.23 million tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1988 | 17.35 million tonnes | +6.9% |
| 1989 | 17.50 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1990 | 17.72 million tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1991 | 18.16 million tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1992 | 18.77 million tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1993 | 19.81 million tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1994 | 20.70 million tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1995 | 22.36 million tonnes | +8.1% |
| 1996 | 21.88 million tonnes | -2.1% |
| 1997 | 21.65 million tonnes | -1.1% |
| 1998 | 21.35 million tonnes | -1.4% |
| 1999 | 20.39 million tonnes | -4.5% |
| 2000 | 20.99 million tonnes | +2.9% |
| 2001 | 21.86 million tonnes | +4.2% |
| 2002 | 23.24 million tonnes | +6.3% |
| 2003 | 27.03 million tonnes | +16.3% |
| 2004 | 31.87 million tonnes | +17.9% |
| 2005 | 37.03 million tonnes | +16.2% |
| 2006 | 38.11 million tonnes | +2.9% |
| 2007 | 37.68 million tonnes | -1.1% |
| 2008 | 35.59 million tonnes | -5.5% |
| 2009 | 33.38 million tonnes | -6.2% |
| 2010 | 30.74 million tonnes | -7.9% |
| 2011 | 31.92 million tonnes | +3.9% |
| 2012 | 31.20 million tonnes | -2.3% |
| 2013 | 28.25 million tonnes | -9.4% |
| 2014 | 23.28 million tonnes | -17.6% |
| 2015 | 19.74 million tonnes | -15.2% |
| 2016 | 16.25 million tonnes | -17.7% |
| 2017 | 13.37 million tonnes | -17.7% |
| 2018 | 12.40 million tonnes | -7.3% |
| 2019 | 11.48 million tonnes | -7.4% |
| 2020 | 10.42 million tonnes | -9.3% |
| 2021 | 10.33 million tonnes | -0.8% |
| 2022 | 10.38 million tonnes | +0.5% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 10.38 million tonnes is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 75,907 tonnes, 136.8× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- China's 10.38 million tonnes is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 63,332 tonnes, 163.9× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in China 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1906 | +251.5% | 107,119 tonnes | 376,503 tonnes |
| 1958 | +97.4% | 2.72 million tonnes | 5.38 million tonnes |
| 1949 | +85.8% | 448,325 tonnes | 832,951 tonnes |
| 1903 | +58.1% | 62,205 tonnes | 98,317 tonnes |
| 1912 | -56.9% | 536,994 tonnes | 231,660 tonnes |
| 1945 | -41.6% | 1.23 million tonnes | 719,287 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 39,014 tonnes | 38,516 tonnes | 39,512 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 39,850 tonnes | 39,622 tonnes | 40,076 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 44,723 tonnes | 40,127 tonnes | 49,314 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 51,397 tonnes | 50,332 tonnes | 52,460 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 51,375 tonnes | 50,057 tonnes | 52,696 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 52,652 tonnes | 49,764 tonnes | 55,534 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 55,823 tonnes | 55,475 tonnes | 56,173 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 57,130 tonnes | 55,397 tonnes | 58,859 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 59,229 tonnes | 59,216 tonnes | 59,242 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 59,188 tonnes | 59,163 tonnes | 59,213 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 56,868 tonnes | 54,633 tonnes | 59,158 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 52,919 tonnes | 51,703 tonnes | 54,152 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 52,082 tonnes | 51,438 tonnes | 52,732 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 53,628 tonnes | 52,873 tonnes | 54,391 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 55,993 tonnes | 54,562 tonnes | 58,873 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 215,149 tonnes | 57,356 tonnes | 476,110 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 346,509 tonnes | 231,660 tonnes | 536,994 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 532,917 tonnes | 453,567 tonnes | 589,086 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 751,472 tonnes | 601,830 tonnes | 927,344 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 945,440 tonnes | 448,325 tonnes | 1.41 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 2.69 million tonnes | 1.04 million tonnes | 7.13 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 5.02 million tonnes | 4.23 million tonnes | 7.66 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 9.25 million tonnes | 6.86 million tonnes | 12.30 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 14.35 million tonnes | 11.67 million tonnes | 17.50 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 20.28 million tonnes | 17.72 million tonnes | 22.36 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 30.68 million tonnes | 20.99 million tonnes | 38.11 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 21.86 million tonnes | 11.48 million tonnes | 31.92 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.38 million tonnes | 10.33 million tonnes | 10.42 million tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near China
More energy & mining data for China
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate 2.15 % 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 20.4% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in China?
- Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in China was 10.38 million 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 China?
- The highest recorded value was 38.11 million tonnes in 2006.
- What is the lowest coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 38,516 tonnes in 1750.
- How does China rank for coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions?
- China ranks 2nd out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 66.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China 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.