Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in Japan
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.
Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in Japan, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 2,017 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 2,018 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1752 | 2,020 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1753 | 2,021 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1754 | 2,022 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1755 | 2,023 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1756 | 2,024 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1757 | 2,025 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1758 | 2,027 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1759 | 2,028 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1760 | 2,029 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1761 | 2,030 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1762 | 2,031 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1763 | 2,032 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1764 | 2,033 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1765 | 2,035 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1766 | 2,036 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1767 | 2,037 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1768 | 2,038 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1769 | 2,039 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1770 | 2,040 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1771 | 2,041 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1772 | 2,042 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1773 | 2,043 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1774 | 2,044 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1775 | 2,045 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1776 | 2,046 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1777 | 2,047 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1778 | 2,048 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1779 | 2,049 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1780 | 2,050 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1781 | 2,051 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1782 | 2,052 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1783 | 2,053 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1784 | 2,054 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1785 | 2,054 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1786 | 2,055 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1787 | 2,056 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1788 | 2,057 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1789 | 2,058 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1790 | 2,059 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1791 | 2,060 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1792 | 2,060 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1793 | 2,061 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1794 | 2,062 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1795 | 2,063 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1796 | 2,064 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1797 | 2,064 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1798 | 2,065 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1799 | 2,066 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1800 | 2,067 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1801 | 2,067 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1802 | 2,068 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1803 | 2,069 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1804 | 2,069 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1805 | 2,070 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1806 | 2,071 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1807 | 2,071 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1808 | 2,072 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1809 | 2,072 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1810 | 2,073 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1811 | 2,074 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1812 | 2,074 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1813 | 2,075 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1814 | 2,075 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1815 | 2,076 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1816 | 2,076 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1817 | 2,077 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1818 | 2,077 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1819 | 2,078 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1820 | 2,078 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1821 | 2,078 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1822 | 2,078 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1823 | 2,078 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1824 | 2,078 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1825 | 2,078 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1826 | 2,078 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1827 | 2,078 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1828 | 2,078 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1829 | 2,078 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1830 | 2,078 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1831 | 2,078 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1832 | 2,078 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1833 | 2,078 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1834 | 2,078 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1835 | 2,079 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1836 | 2,079 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1837 | 2,079 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1838 | 2,079 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1839 | 2,079 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1840 | 2,079 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1841 | 2,192 tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1842 | 2,304 tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1843 | 2,417 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1844 | 2,529 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1845 | 2,641 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1846 | 2,754 tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1847 | 2,866 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1848 | 2,979 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1849 | 3,091 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1850 | 3,963 tonnes | +28.2% |
| 1851 | 3,963 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1852 | 3,963 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1853 | 3,963 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1854 | 3,963 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1855 | 3,963 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1856 | 3,960 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1857 | 3,957 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1858 | 3,954 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1859 | 3,951 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1860 | 3,948 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1861 | 3,943 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1862 | 3,937 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1863 | 3,931 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1864 | 3,926 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1865 | 3,921 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1866 | 3,913 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1867 | 3,906 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1868 | 3,966 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1869 | 4,003 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1870 | 3,974 tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1871 | 4,215 tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1872 | 4,368 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1873 | 4,581 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1874 | 8,006 tonnes | +74.8% |
| 1875 | 13,390 tonnes | +67.2% |
| 1876 | 13,304 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1877 | 12,750 tonnes | -4.2% |
| 1878 | 16,774 tonnes | +31.6% |
| 1879 | 20,030 tonnes | +19.4% |
| 1880 | 20,238 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1881 | 20,978 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1882 | 22,978 tonnes | +9.5% |
| 1883 | 25,047 tonnes | +9.0% |
| 1884 | 26,980 tonnes | +7.7% |
| 1885 | 31,080 tonnes | +15.2% |
| 1886 | 32,530 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1887 | 38,002 tonnes | +16.8% |
| 1888 | 43,010 tonnes | +13.2% |
| 1889 | 50,216 tonnes | +16.8% |
| 1890 | 53,818 tonnes | +7.2% |
| 1891 | 61,874 tonnes | +15.0% |
| 1892 | 61,662 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1893 | 65,858 tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1894 | 80,461 tonnes | +22.2% |
| 1895 | 86,801 tonnes | +7.9% |
| 1896 | 92,279 tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1897 | 97,047 tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1898 | 119,450 tonnes | +23.1% |
| 1899 | 120,092 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1900 | 134,879 tonnes | +12.3% |
| 1901 | 159,084 tonnes | +17.9% |
| 1902 | 170,959 tonnes | +7.5% |
| 1903 | 176,175 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1904 | 198,601 tonnes | +12.7% |
| 1905 | 204,092 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1906 | 224,736 tonnes | +10.1% |
| 1907 | 241,480 tonnes | +7.5% |
| 1908 | 259,252 tonnes | +7.4% |
| 1909 | 265,053 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1910 | 271,460 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1911 | 302,754 tonnes | +11.5% |
| 1912 | 334,035 tonnes | +10.3% |
| 1913 | 366,425 tonnes | +9.7% |
| 1914 | 392,481 tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1915 | 368,736 tonnes | -6.0% |
| 1916 | 404,202 tonnes | +9.6% |
| 1917 | 454,917 tonnes | +12.5% |
| 1918 | 467,677 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1919 | 498,145 tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1920 | 467,460 tonnes | -6.2% |
| 1921 | 428,638 tonnes | -8.3% |
| 1922 | 455,505 tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1923 | 481,418 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1924 | 502,725 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1925 | 520,119 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1926 | 521,956 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1927 | 562,148 tonnes | +7.7% |
| 1928 | 569,317 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1929 | 578,905 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1930 | 535,411 tonnes | -7.5% |
| 1931 | 488,129 tonnes | -8.8% |
| 1932 | 483,478 tonnes | -1.0% |
| 1933 | 547,392 tonnes | +13.2% |
| 1934 | 597,296 tonnes | +9.1% |
| 1935 | 623,099 tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1936 | 679,473 tonnes | +9.0% |
| 1937 | 726,728 tonnes | +7.0% |
| 1938 | 766,098 tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1939 | 727,955 tonnes | -5.0% |
| 1940 | 867,988 tonnes | +19.2% |
| 1941 | 828,206 tonnes | -4.6% |
| 1942 | 762,512 tonnes | -7.9% |
| 1943 | 758,308 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1944 | 674,004 tonnes | -11.1% |
| 1945 | 359,669 tonnes | -46.6% |
| 1946 | 271,658 tonnes | -24.5% |
| 1947 | 357,223 tonnes | +31.5% |
| 1948 | 449,289 tonnes | +25.8% |
| 1949 | 515,381 tonnes | +14.7% |
| 1950 | 585,970 tonnes | +13.7% |
| 1951 | 713,793 tonnes | +21.8% |
| 1952 | 754,854 tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1953 | 901,468 tonnes | +19.4% |
| 1954 | 912,522 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1955 | 949,934 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1956 | 1.08 million tonnes | +13.5% |
| 1957 | 1.29 million tonnes | +19.7% |
| 1958 | 1.28 million tonnes | -0.9% |
| 1959 | 1.44 million tonnes | +12.2% |
| 1960 | 1.95 million tonnes | +35.7% |
| 1961 | 2.33 million tonnes | +19.5% |
| 1962 | 2.62 million tonnes | +12.6% |
| 1963 | 3.17 million tonnes | +20.7% |
| 1964 | 3.71 million tonnes | +17.2% |
| 1965 | 3.65 million tonnes | -1.7% |
| 1966 | 4.12 million tonnes | +12.9% |
| 1967 | 4.51 million tonnes | +9.5% |
| 1968 | 4.56 million tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1969 | 4.92 million tonnes | +7.7% |
| 1970 | 5.38 million tonnes | +9.4% |
| 1971 | 4.86 million tonnes | -9.6% |
| 1972 | 4.25 million tonnes | -12.6% |
| 1973 | 4.17 million tonnes | -1.9% |
| 1974 | 3.64 million tonnes | -12.6% |
| 1975 | 3.32 million tonnes | -9.0% |
| 1976 | 2.71 million tonnes | -18.3% |
| 1977 | 2.46 million tonnes | -9.1% |
| 1978 | 2.45 million tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1979 | 2.48 million tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1980 | 2.36 million tonnes | -4.8% |
| 1981 | 2.12 million tonnes | -10.3% |
| 1982 | 1.81 million tonnes | -14.5% |
| 1983 | 1.79 million tonnes | -1.2% |
| 1984 | 1.81 million tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1985 | 1.67 million tonnes | -7.7% |
| 1986 | 1.57 million tonnes | -6.4% |
| 1987 | 1.55 million tonnes | -0.8% |
| 1988 | 1.61 million tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1989 | 1.64 million tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1990 | 1.64 million tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1991 | 1.64 million tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 1.34 million tonnes | -18.4% |
| 1993 | 1.36 million tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1994 | 1.36 million tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 1.39 million tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1996 | 1.24 million tonnes | -10.6% |
| 1997 | 1.17 million tonnes | -6.2% |
| 1998 | 1.14 million tonnes | -2.7% |
| 1999 | 1.12 million tonnes | -1.5% |
| 2000 | 1.12 million tonnes | -0.0% |
| 2001 | 1.07 million tonnes | -4.3% |
| 2002 | 1.07 million tonnes | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 1.09 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 2004 | 1.09 million tonnes | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 1.10 million tonnes | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 1.09 million tonnes | -1.4% |
| 2007 | 1.03 million tonnes | -5.4% |
| 2008 | 966,916 tonnes | -5.8% |
| 2009 | 854,883 tonnes | -11.6% |
| 2010 | 1.07 million tonnes | +24.6% |
| 2011 | 1.08 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 2012 | 1.07 million tonnes | -1.1% |
| 2013 | 1.00 million tonnes | -6.2% |
| 2014 | 941,302 tonnes | -6.1% |
| 2015 | 901,584 tonnes | -4.2% |
| 2016 | 882,387 tonnes | -2.1% |
| 2017 | 853,213 tonnes | -3.3% |
| 2018 | 833,935 tonnes | -2.3% |
| 2019 | 818,186 tonnes | -1.9% |
| 2020 | 551,328 tonnes | -32.6% |
| 2021 | 579,852 tonnes | +5.2% |
| 2022 | 617,600 tonnes | +6.5% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 617,600 tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 26,427 tonnes, 23.4× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- Japan's 617,600 tonnes is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 63,332 tonnes, 9.8× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in Japan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1874 | +74.8% | 4,581 tonnes | 8,006 tonnes |
| 1875 | +67.2% | 8,006 tonnes | 13,390 tonnes |
| 1945 | -46.6% | 674,004 tonnes | 359,669 tonnes |
| 1960 | +35.7% | 1.44 million tonnes | 1.95 million tonnes |
| 2020 | -32.6% | 818,186 tonnes | 551,328 tonnes |
| 1878 | +31.6% | 12,750 tonnes | 16,774 tonnes |
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
More energy & mining data for Japan
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate -0.7535 % 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 19.6% (2025)
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
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.