How does Germany rank for coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions?

Germany ranks 33rd out of 220 countries with data for 2022.

Is coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions rising or falling in Germany?

Over the last ten years it is down 42.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this Germany 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.

Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in Germany

Name: Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in Germany
Creator: Hoesly et al. (2024) - Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

Germany: Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions was 281,794 tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2022)

281,794 tonnes

Change on year

up 2.8%

World rank

33rd

of 220 countries

All-time high

8.64 million tonnes

in 1973

All-time low

11,967 tonnes

in 1750

Years of data

273

1750–2022

Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in Germany, 1750–2022

Source: Hoesly et al. (2024) - Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.

Analysis

Germany recorded 281,794 tonnes for coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in 2022.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.8% on the previous year and down 42.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in Germany peaked at 8.64 million tonnes in 1973 and was at its lowest, 11,967 tonnes, in 1750.

That places Germany 33rd 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.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1750s	12,029 tonnes	11,967 tonnes	12,086 tonnes	10
1760s	12,145 tonnes	12,098 tonnes	12,188 tonnes	10
1770s	12,230 tonnes	12,197 tonnes	12,259 tonnes	10
1780s	12,283 tonnes	12,264 tonnes	12,297 tonnes	10
1790s	17,408 tonnes	12,299 tonnes	19,988 tonnes	10
1800s	25,048 tonnes	19,402 tonnes	38,020 tonnes	10
1810s	34,249 tonnes	27,567 tonnes	46,610 tonnes	10
1820s	54,135 tonnes	46,433 tonnes	60,881 tonnes	10
1830s	74,188 tonnes	56,896 tonnes	99,182 tonnes	10
1840s	139,327 tonnes	111,899 tonnes	160,843 tonnes	10
1850s	277,859 tonnes	173,932 tonnes	358,064 tonnes	10
1860s	557,549 tonnes	371,965 tonnes	733,451 tonnes	10
1870s	933,915 tonnes	725,840 tonnes	1.08 million tonnes	10
1880s	1.46 million tonnes	1.18 million tonnes	1.83 million tonnes	10
1890s	2.33 million tonnes	1.92 million tonnes	2.93 million tonnes	10
1900s	3.56 million tonnes	3.09 million tonnes	4.13 million tonnes	10
1910s	4.47 million tonnes	3.68 million tonnes	4.98 million tonnes	10
1920s	4.26 million tonnes	2.89 million tonnes	5.15 million tonnes	10
1930s	4.44 million tonnes	3.24 million tonnes	6.18 million tonnes	10
1940s	4.68 million tonnes	2.06 million tonnes	6.81 million tonnes	10
1950s	5.65 million tonnes	4.46 million tonnes	6.36 million tonnes	10
1960s	7.36 million tonnes	6.80 million tonnes	7.83 million tonnes	10
1970s	8.19 million tonnes	7.80 million tonnes	8.64 million tonnes	10
1980s	7.19 million tonnes	6.14 million tonnes	7.85 million tonnes	10
1990s	2.53 million tonnes	898,842 tonnes	5.64 million tonnes	10
2000s	637,918 tonnes	520,891 tonnes	749,507 tonnes	10
2010s	431,351 tonnes	306,176 tonnes	532,824 tonnes	10
2020s	271,784 tonnes	259,379 tonnes	281,794 tonnes	3

Countries ranked near Germany

30 Chile 410,897 tonnes compare
31 Poland 376,349 tonnes compare
32 South Korea 360,360 tonnes compare
34 Cuba 268,354 tonnes compare
35 Laos 256,495 tonnes compare
36 Turkmenistan 249,083 tonnes compare

See the full ranking of 220 places →

More energy & mining data for Germany

Fuel imports 8.0% (2024)
Ores and metals imports 4.0% (2024)
Ores and metals exports 2.7% (2024)
Gas production 37.37 terawatt-hours (2025)
Fossil fuel production per person, by fuel 444.51 kilowatt-hours per person (2025)
Fossil fuel production by fuel 37.37 terawatt-hours (2025)
Gas production per person 444.51 kilowatt-hours per person (2025)
Fuel exports 2.1% (2024)
Electric power transmission and distribution losses 5.1% (2024)
Share of dietary energy supply from carbohydrates vs. GDP per capita 46.3% (2023)

All data for Germany →

Frequently asked questions

What is coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in Germany?: Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in Germany was 281,794 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 Germany?: The highest recorded value was 8.64 million tonnes in 1973.
What is the lowest coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions recorded in Germany?: The lowest recorded value was 11,967 tonnes in 1750.
How does Germany rank for coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions?: Germany ranks 33rd out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
Is coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions rising or falling in Germany?: Over the last ten years it is down 42.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Germany 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

Indicator: Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions
Unit: tonnes
Source: Hoesly et al. (2024) - Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 220 places, 60,060 data points, 1750–2022
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

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.