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

Ireland ranks 139th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.

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

Over the last ten years it is down 59.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this Ireland 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 Ireland

Name: Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in Ireland
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)

Ireland: Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions was 10,673 tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2022)

10,673 tonnes

Change on year

down 15.0%

World rank

139th

of 220 countries

All-time high

239,753 tonnes

in 1979

All-time low

1,912 tonnes

in 1923

Years of data

273

1750–2022

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

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

Analysis

Ireland recorded 10,673 tonnes for coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in 2022.

That represents a change of down 15.0% on the previous year and down 59.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in Ireland peaked at 239,753 tonnes in 1979 and was at its lowest, 1,912 tonnes, in 1923.

Ireland ranks 139th of 220 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

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	2,774 tonnes	2,764 tonnes	2,783 tonnes	10
1760s	2,752 tonnes	2,743 tonnes	2,762 tonnes	10
1770s	2,877 tonnes	2,740 tonnes	3,012 tonnes	10
1780s	3,292 tonnes	3,041 tonnes	3,540 tonnes	10
1790s	3,702 tonnes	3,594 tonnes	3,810 tonnes	10
1800s	4,069 tonnes	3,833 tonnes	4,302 tonnes	10
1810s	4,678 tonnes	4,353 tonnes	5,000 tonnes	10
1820s	5,264 tonnes	5,070 tonnes	5,456 tonnes	10
1830s	5,620 tonnes	5,498 tonnes	5,741 tonnes	10
1840s	5,272 tonnes	4,780 tonnes	5,768 tonnes	10
1850s	4,724 tonnes	4,100 tonnes	9,290 tonnes	10
1860s	3,977 tonnes	3,883 tonnes	4,079 tonnes	10
1870s	3,814 tonnes	3,786 tonnes	3,867 tonnes	10
1880s	4,436 tonnes	3,483 tonnes	7,872 tonnes	10
1890s	3,378 tonnes	3,322 tonnes	3,459 tonnes	10
1900s	3,252 tonnes	3,190 tonnes	3,301 tonnes	10
1910s	5,203 tonnes	3,094 tonnes	5,924 tonnes	10
1920s	54,152 tonnes	1,912 tonnes	118,906 tonnes	10
1930s	113,916 tonnes	76,855 tonnes	134,974 tonnes	10
1940s	92,746 tonnes	73,110 tonnes	134,765 tonnes	10
1950s	96,093 tonnes	84,469 tonnes	109,698 tonnes	10
1960s	113,606 tonnes	73,478 tonnes	153,747 tonnes	10
1970s	200,497 tonnes	166,479 tonnes	239,753 tonnes	10
1980s	165,827 tonnes	135,564 tonnes	216,974 tonnes	10
1990s	172,859 tonnes	154,662 tonnes	185,100 tonnes	10
2000s	86,051 tonnes	36,275 tonnes	147,759 tonnes	10
2010s	21,081 tonnes	12,609 tonnes	30,843 tonnes	10
2020s	11,569 tonnes	10,673 tonnes	12,550 tonnes	3

Countries ranked near Ireland

136 Mali 12,162 tonnes compare
137 Denmark 12,102 tonnes compare
138 Austria 11,554 tonnes compare
140 Malawi 10,657 tonnes compare
141 Paraguay 10,574 tonnes compare
142 Costa Rica 9,892 tonnes compare

See the full ranking of 220 places →

More energy & mining data for Ireland

Fuel imports 6.2% (2024)
Ores and metals imports 1.0% (2024)
Ores and metals exports 0.6% (2024)
Gas production 11.53 terawatt-hours (2024)
Fossil fuel production per person, by fuel 2,195 kilowatt-hours per person (2024)
Fossil fuel production by fuel 11.53 terawatt-hours (2024)
Gas production per person 2,195 kilowatt-hours per person (2024)
Fuel exports 0.4% (2024)
Electric power transmission and distribution losses 8.2% (2024)
Share of dietary energy supply from carbohydrates vs. GDP per capita 50.7% (2023)

All data for Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in Ireland?: Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in Ireland was 10,673 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 Ireland?: The highest recorded value was 239,753 tonnes in 1979.
What is the lowest coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions recorded in Ireland?: The lowest recorded value was 1,912 tonnes in 1923.
How does Ireland rank for coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions?: Ireland ranks 139th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
Is coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions rising or falling in Ireland?: Over the last ten years it is down 59.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Ireland 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.