Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in Hong Kong
Hong Kong: Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions was 172,497 tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
172,497 tonnes
Change on year
up 6.5%
World rank
44th
of 220 countries
All-time high
595,143 tonnes
in 2010
All-time low
1.12 tonnes
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in Hong Kong, 1750–2022
Source: Hoesly et al. (2024) – Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Hong Kong recorded 172,497 tonnes for coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in 2022.
The figure is up 6.5% on the previous year and down 64.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in Hong Kong peaked at 595,143 tonnes in 2010 and was at its lowest, 1.12 tonnes, in 1750.
That places Hong Kong 44th 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 Hong Kong, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 1.12 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 1.12 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1752 | 1.13 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1753 | 1.13 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1754 | 1.14 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1755 | 1.14 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1756 | 1.15 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1757 | 1.15 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1758 | 1.15 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1759 | 1.16 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1760 | 1.16 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1761 | 1.17 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1762 | 1.17 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1763 | 1.18 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1764 | 1.18 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1765 | 1.19 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1766 | 1.19 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1767 | 1.2 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1768 | 1.2 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1769 | 1.21 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1770 | 1.21 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1771 | 1.22 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1772 | 1.22 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1773 | 1.23 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1774 | 1.23 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1775 | 1.24 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1776 | 1.24 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1777 | 1.25 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1778 | 1.25 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1779 | 1.26 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1780 | 1.26 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1781 | 1.27 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1782 | 1.27 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1783 | 1.28 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1784 | 1.28 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1785 | 1.29 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1786 | 1.29 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1787 | 1.3 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1788 | 1.31 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1789 | 1.31 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1790 | 1.32 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1791 | 1.32 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1792 | 1.33 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1793 | 1.33 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1794 | 1.34 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1795 | 1.34 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1796 | 1.35 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1797 | 1.35 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1798 | 1.36 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1799 | 1.36 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1800 | 1.37 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1801 | 1.38 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1802 | 1.38 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1803 | 1.39 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1804 | 1.39 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1805 | 1.4 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1806 | 1.4 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1807 | 1.41 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1808 | 1.42 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1809 | 1.42 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1810 | 1.43 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1811 | 1.43 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1812 | 1.44 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1813 | 1.45 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1814 | 1.45 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1815 | 1.46 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1816 | 1.46 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1817 | 1.47 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1818 | 1.48 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1819 | 1.48 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1820 | 1.49 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1821 | 1.52 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1822 | 1.55 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1823 | 1.58 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1824 | 1.61 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1825 | 1.64 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1826 | 1.67 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1827 | 1.7 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1828 | 1.72 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1829 | 1.75 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1830 | 1.78 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1831 | 1.82 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1832 | 1.86 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1833 | 1.9 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1834 | 1.93 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1835 | 1.97 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1836 | 2.01 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1837 | 2.04 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1838 | 2.08 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1839 | 2.12 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1840 | 2.16 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1841 | 2.19 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1842 | 2.22 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1843 | 2.25 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1844 | 2.28 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1845 | 2.3 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1846 | 2.33 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1847 | 2.36 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1848 | 2.39 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1849 | 2.42 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1850 | 2.45 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1851 | 2.68 tonnes | +9.3% |
| 1852 | 3.02 tonnes | +12.5% |
| 1853 | 3.37 tonnes | +11.6% |
| 1854 | 3.73 tonnes | +10.9% |
| 1855 | 4.12 tonnes | +10.4% |
| 1856 | 4.53 tonnes | +9.9% |
| 1857 | 4.96 tonnes | +9.6% |
| 1858 | 5.43 tonnes | +9.3% |
| 1859 | 5.92 tonnes | +9.1% |
| 1860 | 6.46 tonnes | +9.0% |
| 1861 | 7.03 tonnes | +8.9% |
| 1862 | 7.25 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1863 | 7.46 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1864 | 7.68 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1865 | 7.9 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1866 | 8.11 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1867 | 8.37 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1868 | 8.63 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1869 | 8.89 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1870 | 9.15 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1871 | 9.4 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1872 | 9.7 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1873 | 10 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1874 | 10.3 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1875 | 10.6 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1876 | 10.9 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1877 | 11.23 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1878 | 11.56 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1879 | 11.89 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1880 | 12.22 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1881 | 12.56 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1882 | 12.97 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1883 | 13.38 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1884 | 13.81 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1885 | 14.24 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1886 | 14.68 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1887 | 14.99 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1888 | 15.3 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1889 | 15.6 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1890 | 15.91 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1891 | 16.49 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1892 | 17.07 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1893 | 17.66 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1894 | 18.24 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1895 | 18.83 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1896 | 19.43 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1897 | 20.23 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1898 | 21.05 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1899 | 21.89 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1900 | 22.75 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1901 | 23.04 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1902 | 23.62 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1903 | 24.15 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1904 | 24.63 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1905 | 25.08 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1906 | 25.49 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1907 | 25.95 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1908 | 26.38 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1909 | 26.77 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1910 | 27.12 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1911 | 27.37 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1912 | 27.99 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1913 | 30.24 tonnes | +8.0% |
| 1914 | 30.63 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1915 | 31 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1916 | 31.36 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1917 | 31.71 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1918 | 32.04 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1919 | 32.35 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1920 | 32.65 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1921 | 31.75 tonnes | -2.8% |
| 1922 | 31.68 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1923 | 31.98 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1924 | 33.2 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1925 | 16.57 tonnes | -50.1% |
| 1926 | 16.06 tonnes | -3.1% |
| 1927 | 15.51 tonnes | -3.4% |
| 1928 | 14.91 tonnes | -3.8% |
| 1929 | 14.28 tonnes | -4.3% |
| 1930 | 13.6 tonnes | -4.7% |
| 1931 | 14.1 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1932 | 14.37 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1933 | 14.41 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1934 | 14.22 tonnes | -1.3% |
| 1935 | 13.79 tonnes | -3.0% |
| 1936 | 13.14 tonnes | -4.8% |
| 1937 | 12.25 tonnes | -6.8% |
| 1938 | 11.13 tonnes | -9.1% |
| 1939 | 9.78 tonnes | -12.1% |
| 1940 | 12.26 tonnes | +25.3% |
| 1941 | 12.48 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1942 | 12.71 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1943 | 12.93 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1944 | 13.16 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1945 | 13.39 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1946 | 13.62 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1947 | 13.86 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1948 | 14.1 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1949 | 14.33 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1950 | 6,441 tonnes | +44837.6% |
| 1951 | 7,056 tonnes | +9.5% |
| 1952 | 7,162 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1953 | 6,929 tonnes | -3.3% |
| 1954 | 7,055 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1955 | 7,547 tonnes | +7.0% |
| 1956 | 8,509 tonnes | +12.7% |
| 1957 | 8,915 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1958 | 8,564 tonnes | -3.9% |
| 1959 | 9,622 tonnes | +12.3% |
| 1960 | 10,432 tonnes | +8.4% |
| 1961 | 11,746 tonnes | +12.6% |
| 1962 | 12,492 tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1963 | 14,086 tonnes | +12.8% |
| 1964 | 13,873 tonnes | -1.5% |
| 1965 | 15,601 tonnes | +12.5% |
| 1966 | 16,588 tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1967 | 19,270 tonnes | +16.2% |
| 1968 | 19,259 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1969 | 24,013 tonnes | +24.7% |
| 1970 | 25,844 tonnes | +7.6% |
| 1971 | 65,343 tonnes | +152.8% |
| 1972 | 93,837 tonnes | +43.6% |
| 1973 | 98,922 tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1974 | 80,394 tonnes | -18.7% |
| 1975 | 65,344 tonnes | -18.7% |
| 1976 | 82,465 tonnes | +26.2% |
| 1977 | 79,120 tonnes | -4.1% |
| 1978 | 79,225 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1979 | 91,695 tonnes | +15.7% |
| 1980 | 94,690 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1981 | 95,684 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1982 | 114,603 tonnes | +19.8% |
| 1983 | 128,386 tonnes | +12.0% |
| 1984 | 96,615 tonnes | -24.7% |
| 1985 | 141,076 tonnes | +46.0% |
| 1986 | 145,296 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1987 | 148,865 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1988 | 171,274 tonnes | +15.1% |
| 1989 | 186,622 tonnes | +9.0% |
| 1990 | 191,845 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1991 | 190,430 tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1992 | 222,978 tonnes | +17.1% |
| 1993 | 229,015 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1994 | 207,754 tonnes | -9.3% |
| 1995 | 230,730 tonnes | +11.1% |
| 1996 | 213,626 tonnes | -7.4% |
| 1997 | 191,067 tonnes | -10.6% |
| 1998 | 218,047 tonnes | +14.1% |
| 1999 | 236,886 tonnes | +8.6% |
| 2000 | 210,285 tonnes | -11.2% |
| 2001 | 251,383 tonnes | +19.5% |
| 2002 | 269,540 tonnes | +7.2% |
| 2003 | 304,403 tonnes | +12.9% |
| 2004 | 384,800 tonnes | +26.4% |
| 2005 | 368,658 tonnes | -4.2% |
| 2006 | 414,311 tonnes | +12.4% |
| 2007 | 469,222 tonnes | +13.3% |
| 2008 | 422,017 tonnes | -10.1% |
| 2009 | 477,163 tonnes | +13.1% |
| 2010 | 595,143 tonnes | +24.7% |
| 2011 | 498,995 tonnes | -16.2% |
| 2012 | 485,956 tonnes | -2.6% |
| 2013 | 500,107 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 2014 | 449,080 tonnes | -10.2% |
| 2015 | 450,559 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 457,634 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 2017 | 534,337 tonnes | +16.8% |
| 2018 | 510,263 tonnes | -4.5% |
| 2019 | 447,587 tonnes | -12.3% |
| 2020 | 148,419 tonnes | -66.8% |
| 2021 | 161,985 tonnes | +9.1% |
| 2022 | 172,497 tonnes | +6.5% |
Hong Kong compared with similar countries
- Hong Kong's 172,497 tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 26,427 tonnes, 6.5× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- Hong Kong's 172,497 tonnes is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 63,332 tonnes, 2.7× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in Hong Kong 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | +44837.6% | 14.33 tonnes | 6,441 tonnes |
| 1971 | +152.8% | 25,844 tonnes | 65,343 tonnes |
| 2020 | -66.8% | 447,587 tonnes | 148,419 tonnes |
| 1925 | -50.1% | 33.2 tonnes | 16.57 tonnes |
| 1985 | +46.0% | 96,615 tonnes | 141,076 tonnes |
| 1972 | +43.6% | 65,343 tonnes | 93,837 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 1.14 tonnes | 1.12 tonnes | 1.16 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 1.19 tonnes | 1.16 tonnes | 1.21 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 1.24 tonnes | 1.21 tonnes | 1.26 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 1.29 tonnes | 1.26 tonnes | 1.31 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 1.34 tonnes | 1.32 tonnes | 1.36 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 1.4 tonnes | 1.37 tonnes | 1.42 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 1.45 tonnes | 1.43 tonnes | 1.48 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 1.62 tonnes | 1.49 tonnes | 1.75 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 1.95 tonnes | 1.78 tonnes | 2.12 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 2.29 tonnes | 2.16 tonnes | 2.42 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 4.02 tonnes | 2.45 tonnes | 5.92 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 7.78 tonnes | 6.46 tonnes | 8.89 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 10.47 tonnes | 9.15 tonnes | 11.89 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 13.98 tonnes | 12.22 tonnes | 15.6 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 18.68 tonnes | 15.91 tonnes | 21.89 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 24.78 tonnes | 22.75 tonnes | 26.77 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 30.18 tonnes | 27.12 tonnes | 32.35 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 23.86 tonnes | 14.28 tonnes | 33.2 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 13.08 tonnes | 9.78 tonnes | 14.41 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 13.28 tonnes | 12.26 tonnes | 14.33 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 7,780 tonnes | 6,441 tonnes | 9,622 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 15,736 tonnes | 10,432 tonnes | 24,013 tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 76,219 tonnes | 25,844 tonnes | 98,922 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 132,311 tonnes | 94,690 tonnes | 186,622 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 213,238 tonnes | 190,430 tonnes | 236,886 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 357,178 tonnes | 210,285 tonnes | 477,163 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 492,966 tonnes | 447,587 tonnes | 595,143 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 160,967 tonnes | 148,419 tonnes | 172,497 tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Hong Kong
More energy & mining data for Hong Kong
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate 0.6559 % 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 (2024)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Fuel imports 1.6% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in Hong Kong?
- Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in Hong Kong was 172,497 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 Hong Kong?
- The highest recorded value was 595,143 tonnes in 2010.
- What is the lowest coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions recorded in Hong Kong?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.12 tonnes in 1750.
- How does Hong Kong rank for coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions?
- Hong Kong ranks 44th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions rising or falling in Hong Kong?
- Over the last ten years it is down 64.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Hong Kong 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.