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

Japan ranks 26th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.

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

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

Where does this Japan 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 Japan

Name: Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in Japan
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)

Japan: Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions was 617,600 tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2022)

617,600 tonnes

Change on year

up 6.5%

World rank

26th

of 220 countries

All-time high

5.38 million tonnes

in 1970

All-time low

2,017 tonnes

in 1750

Years of data

273

1750–2022

Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in Japan, 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 Japan stood at 617,600 tonnes.

That represents a change of up 6.5% on the previous year and down 42.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in Japan peaked at 5.38 million tonnes in 1970 and was at its lowest, 2,017 tonnes, in 1750.

Japan ranks 26th of 220 countries on this measure, 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	2,023 tonnes	2,017 tonnes	2,028 tonnes	10
1760s	2,034 tonnes	2,029 tonnes	2,039 tonnes	10
1770s	2,044 tonnes	2,040 tonnes	2,049 tonnes	10
1780s	2,054 tonnes	2,050 tonnes	2,058 tonnes	10
1790s	2,062 tonnes	2,059 tonnes	2,066 tonnes	10
1800s	2,070 tonnes	2,067 tonnes	2,072 tonnes	10
1810s	2,075 tonnes	2,073 tonnes	2,078 tonnes	10
1820s	2,078 tonnes	2,078 tonnes	2,078 tonnes	10
1830s	2,078 tonnes	2,078 tonnes	2,079 tonnes	10
1840s	2,585 tonnes	2,079 tonnes	3,091 tonnes	10
1850s	3,960 tonnes	3,951 tonnes	3,963 tonnes	10
1860s	3,939 tonnes	3,906 tonnes	4,003 tonnes	10
1870s	10,139 tonnes	3,974 tonnes	20,030 tonnes	10
1880s	31,106 tonnes	20,238 tonnes	50,216 tonnes	10
1890s	83,934 tonnes	53,818 tonnes	120,092 tonnes	10
1900s	203,431 tonnes	134,879 tonnes	265,053 tonnes	10
1910s	386,083 tonnes	271,460 tonnes	498,145 tonnes	10
1920s	508,819 tonnes	428,638 tonnes	578,905 tonnes	10
1930s	617,506 tonnes	483,478 tonnes	766,098 tonnes	10
1940s	584,424 tonnes	271,658 tonnes	867,988 tonnes	10
1950s	990,527 tonnes	585,970 tonnes	1.44 million tonnes	10
1960s	3.55 million tonnes	1.95 million tonnes	4.92 million tonnes	10
1970s	3.57 million tonnes	2.45 million tonnes	5.38 million tonnes	10
1980s	1.79 million tonnes	1.55 million tonnes	2.36 million tonnes	10
1990s	1.34 million tonnes	1.12 million tonnes	1.64 million tonnes	10
2000s	1.05 million tonnes	854,883 tonnes	1.12 million tonnes	10
2010s	944,815 tonnes	818,186 tonnes	1.08 million tonnes	10
2020s	582,927 tonnes	551,328 tonnes	617,600 tonnes	3

Countries ranked near Japan

23 Serbia 642,734 tonnes compare
24 Canada 629,055 tonnes compare
25 Malaysia 620,594 tonnes compare
27 Thailand 597,814 tonnes compare
28 Egypt 563,150 tonnes compare
29 Kuwait 448,963 tonnes compare

See the full ranking of 220 places →

More energy & mining data for Japan

Fuel imports 19.6% (2025)
Ores and metals imports 7.0% (2025)
Ores and metals exports 3.6% (2025)
Gas production 22.04 terawatt-hours (2024)
Fossil fuel production per person, by fuel 178.13 kilowatt-hours per person (2024)
Fossil fuel production by fuel 22.04 terawatt-hours (2024)
Gas production per person 178.13 kilowatt-hours per person (2024)
Fuel exports 1.2% (2025)
Electric power transmission and distribution losses 4.9% (2024)
Share of dietary energy supply from carbohydrates vs. GDP per capita 55.1% (2022)

All data for Japan →

Frequently asked questions

What is coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in Japan?: Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in Japan was 617,600 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 Japan?: The highest recorded value was 5.38 million tonnes in 1970.
What is the lowest coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions recorded in Japan?: The lowest recorded value was 2,017 tonnes in 1750.
How does Japan rank for coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions?: Japan ranks 26th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
Is coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions rising or falling in Japan?: Over the last ten years it is down 42.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Japan 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.