Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in Germany
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.
Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in Germany, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 11,967 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 11,982 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1752 | 11,996 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1753 | 12,010 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1754 | 12,023 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1755 | 12,036 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1756 | 12,049 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1757 | 12,062 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1758 | 12,074 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1759 | 12,086 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1760 | 12,098 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1761 | 12,109 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1762 | 12,120 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1763 | 12,131 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1764 | 12,141 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1765 | 12,152 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1766 | 12,161 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1767 | 12,171 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1768 | 12,180 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1769 | 12,188 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1770 | 12,197 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1771 | 12,205 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1772 | 12,213 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1773 | 12,220 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1774 | 12,228 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1775 | 12,234 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1776 | 12,241 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1777 | 12,247 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1778 | 12,253 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1779 | 12,259 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1780 | 12,264 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1781 | 12,269 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1782 | 12,274 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1783 | 12,278 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1784 | 12,282 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1785 | 12,286 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1786 | 12,289 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1787 | 12,292 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1788 | 12,295 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1789 | 12,297 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1790 | 12,299 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1791 | 12,301 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1792 | 18,164 tonnes | +47.7% |
| 1793 | 18,287 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1794 | 17,816 tonnes | -2.6% |
| 1795 | 17,847 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1796 | 18,920 tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1797 | 19,082 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1798 | 19,379 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1799 | 19,988 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1800 | 20,197 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1801 | 19,402 tonnes | -3.9% |
| 1802 | 20,304 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1803 | 20,943 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1804 | 25,202 tonnes | +20.3% |
| 1805 | 26,181 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1806 | 26,178 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1807 | 38,020 tonnes | +45.2% |
| 1808 | 26,824 tonnes | -29.4% |
| 1809 | 27,227 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1810 | 27,731 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1811 | 27,567 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1812 | 27,644 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1813 | 27,674 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1814 | 27,800 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1815 | 28,914 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1816 | 38,743 tonnes | +34.0% |
| 1817 | 44,801 tonnes | +15.6% |
| 1818 | 46,610 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1819 | 45,005 tonnes | -3.4% |
| 1820 | 46,433 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1821 | 48,335 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1822 | 49,812 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1823 | 53,823 tonnes | +8.1% |
| 1824 | 50,414 tonnes | -6.3% |
| 1825 | 57,529 tonnes | +14.1% |
| 1826 | 56,887 tonnes | -1.1% |
| 1827 | 60,318 tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1828 | 60,881 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1829 | 56,920 tonnes | -6.5% |
| 1830 | 63,820 tonnes | +12.1% |
| 1831 | 62,596 tonnes | -1.9% |
| 1832 | 56,896 tonnes | -9.1% |
| 1833 | 66,436 tonnes | +16.8% |
| 1834 | 67,340 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1835 | 71,208 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1836 | 76,834 tonnes | +7.9% |
| 1837 | 85,017 tonnes | +10.6% |
| 1838 | 92,556 tonnes | +8.9% |
| 1839 | 99,182 tonnes | +7.2% |
| 1840 | 111,899 tonnes | +12.8% |
| 1841 | 117,460 tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1842 | 128,341 tonnes | +9.3% |
| 1843 | 128,813 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1844 | 134,692 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1845 | 145,531 tonnes | +8.0% |
| 1846 | 152,134 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1847 | 158,429 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1848 | 155,128 tonnes | -2.1% |
| 1849 | 160,843 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1850 | 173,932 tonnes | +8.1% |
| 1851 | 195,512 tonnes | +12.4% |
| 1852 | 219,707 tonnes | +12.4% |
| 1853 | 240,390 tonnes | +9.4% |
| 1854 | 270,409 tonnes | +12.5% |
| 1855 | 303,064 tonnes | +12.1% |
| 1856 | 321,391 tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1857 | 338,332 tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1858 | 358,064 tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1859 | 357,790 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1860 | 371,965 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1861 | 413,193 tonnes | +11.1% |
| 1862 | 452,403 tonnes | +9.5% |
| 1863 | 488,649 tonnes | +8.0% |
| 1864 | 548,390 tonnes | +12.2% |
| 1865 | 607,682 tonnes | +10.8% |
| 1866 | 601,467 tonnes | -1.0% |
| 1867 | 653,670 tonnes | +8.7% |
| 1868 | 704,624 tonnes | +7.8% |
| 1869 | 733,451 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1870 | 725,840 tonnes | -1.0% |
| 1871 | 817,796 tonnes | +12.7% |
| 1872 | 894,595 tonnes | +9.4% |
| 1873 | 954,442 tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1874 | 846,962 tonnes | -11.3% |
| 1875 | 993,407 tonnes | +17.3% |
| 1876 | 1.01 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1877 | 993,498 tonnes | -1.8% |
| 1878 | 1.02 million tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1879 | 1.08 million tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1880 | 1.18 million tonnes | +9.8% |
| 1881 | 1.25 million tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1882 | 1.33 million tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1883 | 1.40 million tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1884 | 1.44 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1885 | 1.47 million tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1886 | 1.49 million tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1887 | 1.54 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1888 | 1.70 million tonnes | +10.3% |
| 1889 | 1.83 million tonnes | +7.6% |
| 1890 | 1.92 million tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1891 | 2.04 million tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1892 | 2.02 million tonnes | -1.2% |
| 1893 | 2.09 million tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1894 | 2.18 million tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1895 | 2.29 million tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1896 | 2.46 million tonnes | +7.6% |
| 1897 | 2.63 million tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1898 | 2.76 million tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1899 | 2.93 million tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1900 | 3.15 million tonnes | +7.4% |
| 1901 | 3.16 million tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1902 | 3.09 million tonnes | -2.1% |
| 1903 | 3.30 million tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1904 | 3.39 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1905 | 3.55 million tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1906 | 3.66 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1907 | 4.11 million tonnes | +12.3% |
| 1908 | 4.13 million tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1909 | 4.11 million tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1910 | 4.11 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1911 | 4.25 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1912 | 4.66 million tonnes | +9.7% |
| 1913 | 4.98 million tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1914 | 4.55 million tonnes | -8.6% |
| 1915 | 4.33 million tonnes | -4.9% |
| 1916 | 4.69 million tonnes | +8.5% |
| 1917 | 4.75 million tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1918 | 4.71 million tonnes | -0.9% |
| 1919 | 3.68 million tonnes | -21.8% |
| 1920 | 3.95 million tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1921 | 4.28 million tonnes | +8.5% |
| 1922 | 4.34 million tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1923 | 2.89 million tonnes | -33.4% |
| 1924 | 4.08 million tonnes | +41.1% |
| 1925 | 4.28 million tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1926 | 4.07 million tonnes | -4.9% |
| 1927 | 4.64 million tonnes | +14.0% |
| 1928 | 4.87 million tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1929 | 5.15 million tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1930 | 4.36 million tonnes | -15.4% |
| 1931 | 3.60 million tonnes | -17.5% |
| 1932 | 3.24 million tonnes | -9.8% |
| 1933 | 3.31 million tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1934 | 3.76 million tonnes | +13.4% |
| 1935 | 4.21 million tonnes | +12.0% |
| 1936 | 4.63 million tonnes | +10.0% |
| 1937 | 5.33 million tonnes | +15.2% |
| 1938 | 5.72 million tonnes | +7.3% |
| 1939 | 6.18 million tonnes | +8.0% |
| 1940 | 6.53 million tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1941 | 6.77 million tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1942 | 6.79 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1943 | 6.81 million tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1944 | 6.19 million tonnes | -9.2% |
| 1945 | 2.06 million tonnes | -66.7% |
| 1946 | 2.28 million tonnes | +10.8% |
| 1947 | 2.56 million tonnes | +12.3% |
| 1948 | 3.07 million tonnes | +19.8% |
| 1949 | 3.75 million tonnes | +22.2% |
| 1950 | 4.46 million tonnes | +18.9% |
| 1951 | 4.95 million tonnes | +10.9% |
| 1952 | 5.10 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1953 | 5.32 million tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1954 | 5.57 million tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1955 | 6.03 million tonnes | +8.4% |
| 1956 | 6.28 million tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1957 | 6.36 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1958 | 6.23 million tonnes | -2.0% |
| 1959 | 6.23 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 6.80 million tonnes | +9.1% |
| 1961 | 6.92 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1962 | 7.24 million tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1963 | 7.55 million tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1964 | 7.83 million tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1965 | 7.74 million tonnes | -1.2% |
| 1966 | 7.51 million tonnes | -3.0% |
| 1967 | 7.11 million tonnes | -5.2% |
| 1968 | 7.26 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1969 | 7.66 million tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1970 | 7.89 million tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1971 | 7.80 million tonnes | -1.1% |
| 1972 | 8.20 million tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1973 | 8.64 million tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1974 | 8.19 million tonnes | -5.2% |
| 1975 | 7.82 million tonnes | -4.6% |
| 1976 | 8.54 million tonnes | +9.3% |
| 1977 | 8.27 million tonnes | -3.2% |
| 1978 | 8.16 million tonnes | -1.3% |
| 1979 | 8.34 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1980 | 7.85 million tonnes | -5.9% |
| 1981 | 7.68 million tonnes | -2.1% |
| 1982 | 7.41 million tonnes | -3.6% |
| 1983 | 7.23 million tonnes | -2.4% |
| 1984 | 7.35 million tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1985 | 7.43 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1986 | 7.30 million tonnes | -1.7% |
| 1987 | 6.95 million tonnes | -4.8% |
| 1988 | 6.57 million tonnes | -5.4% |
| 1989 | 6.14 million tonnes | -6.6% |
| 1990 | 5.64 million tonnes | -8.1% |
| 1991 | 4.11 million tonnes | -27.3% |
| 1992 | 3.34 million tonnes | -18.6% |
| 1993 | 3.02 million tonnes | -9.6% |
| 1994 | 2.52 million tonnes | -16.5% |
| 1995 | 1.85 million tonnes | -26.9% |
| 1996 | 1.57 million tonnes | -15.1% |
| 1997 | 1.32 million tonnes | -15.5% |
| 1998 | 1.07 million tonnes | -18.9% |
| 1999 | 898,842 tonnes | -16.3% |
| 2000 | 749,507 tonnes | -16.6% |
| 2001 | 733,304 tonnes | -2.2% |
| 2002 | 673,928 tonnes | -8.1% |
| 2003 | 664,112 tonnes | -1.5% |
| 2004 | 632,653 tonnes | -4.7% |
| 2005 | 605,291 tonnes | -4.3% |
| 2006 | 603,291 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 2007 | 602,845 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 593,356 tonnes | -1.6% |
| 2009 | 520,891 tonnes | -12.2% |
| 2010 | 532,824 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 2011 | 518,547 tonnes | -2.7% |
| 2012 | 487,499 tonnes | -6.0% |
| 2013 | 460,217 tonnes | -5.6% |
| 2014 | 436,697 tonnes | -5.1% |
| 2015 | 414,279 tonnes | -5.1% |
| 2016 | 416,534 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 388,584 tonnes | -6.7% |
| 2018 | 352,156 tonnes | -9.4% |
| 2019 | 306,176 tonnes | -13.1% |
| 2020 | 259,379 tonnes | -15.3% |
| 2021 | 274,180 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 2022 | 281,794 tonnes | +2.8% |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's 281,794 tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 26,427 tonnes, 10.7× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- Germany's 281,794 tonnes is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 40,466 tonnes, 7.0× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in Germany 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1945 | -66.7% | 6.19 million tonnes | 2.06 million tonnes |
| 1792 | +47.7% | 12,301 tonnes | 18,164 tonnes |
| 1807 | +45.2% | 26,178 tonnes | 38,020 tonnes |
| 1924 | +41.1% | 2.89 million tonnes | 4.08 million tonnes |
| 1923 | -33.4% | 4.34 million tonnes | 2.89 million tonnes |
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
More energy & mining data for Germany
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate -0.1985 % 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 8.0% (2024)
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
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.