Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in South Korea
South Korea: Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions was 360,360 tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
360,360 tonnes
Change on year
up 5.4%
World rank
32nd
of 220 countries
All-time high
1.46 million tonnes
in 1992
All-time low
1,799 tonnes
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in South Korea, 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 South Korea stood at 360,360 tonnes.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.4% on the previous year and down 53.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in South Korea peaked at 1.46 million tonnes in 1992 and was at its lowest, 1,799 tonnes, in 1750.
That places South Korea 32nd 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 South Korea, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 1,799 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 1,800 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1752 | 1,801 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1753 | 1,802 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1754 | 1,804 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1755 | 1,805 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1756 | 1,806 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1757 | 1,807 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1758 | 1,808 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1759 | 1,810 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1760 | 1,811 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1761 | 1,812 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1762 | 1,813 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1763 | 1,814 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1764 | 1,815 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1765 | 1,817 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1766 | 1,818 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1767 | 1,819 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1768 | 1,820 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1769 | 1,821 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1770 | 1,822 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1771 | 1,823 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1772 | 1,824 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1773 | 1,825 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1774 | 1,827 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1775 | 1,828 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1776 | 1,829 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1777 | 1,830 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1778 | 1,831 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1779 | 1,832 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1780 | 1,833 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1781 | 1,834 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1782 | 1,835 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1783 | 1,836 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1784 | 1,837 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1785 | 1,838 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1786 | 1,839 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1787 | 1,840 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1788 | 1,841 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1789 | 1,842 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1790 | 1,843 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1791 | 1,844 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1792 | 1,845 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1793 | 1,846 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1794 | 1,847 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1795 | 1,848 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1796 | 1,849 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1797 | 1,850 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1798 | 1,851 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1799 | 1,852 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1800 | 1,852 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1801 | 1,853 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1802 | 1,854 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1803 | 1,855 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1804 | 1,856 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1805 | 1,857 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1806 | 1,858 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1807 | 1,858 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1808 | 1,859 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1809 | 1,860 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1810 | 1,861 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1811 | 1,862 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1812 | 1,862 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1813 | 1,863 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1814 | 1,864 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1815 | 1,865 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1816 | 1,865 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1817 | 1,866 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1818 | 1,867 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1819 | 1,868 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1820 | 1,868 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1821 | 1,862 tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1822 | 1,855 tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1823 | 1,848 tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1824 | 1,841 tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1825 | 1,835 tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1826 | 1,828 tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1827 | 1,821 tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1828 | 1,815 tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1829 | 1,808 tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1830 | 1,801 tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1831 | 1,803 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1832 | 1,805 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1833 | 1,807 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1834 | 1,808 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1835 | 1,810 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1836 | 1,812 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1837 | 1,813 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1838 | 1,815 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1839 | 1,817 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1840 | 1,819 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1841 | 1,820 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1842 | 1,822 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1843 | 1,823 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1844 | 1,825 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1845 | 1,827 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1846 | 1,828 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1847 | 1,830 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1848 | 1,831 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1849 | 1,833 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1850 | 1,834 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1851 | 1,836 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1852 | 1,838 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1853 | 1,840 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1854 | 1,842 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1855 | 1,844 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1856 | 1,845 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1857 | 1,847 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1858 | 1,849 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1859 | 1,851 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1860 | 1,853 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1861 | 1,855 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1862 | 1,857 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1863 | 1,859 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1864 | 1,860 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1865 | 1,862 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1866 | 1,864 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1867 | 1,866 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1868 | 1,868 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1869 | 1,870 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1870 | 1,872 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1871 | 1,873 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1872 | 1,874 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1873 | 1,875 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1874 | 1,876 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1875 | 1,877 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1876 | 1,878 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1877 | 1,880 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1878 | 1,881 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1879 | 1,882 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1880 | 1,883 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1881 | 1,884 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1882 | 1,885 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1883 | 1,886 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1884 | 1,888 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1885 | 1,889 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1886 | 1,890 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1887 | 1,891 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1888 | 1,892 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1889 | 1,893 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1890 | 1,894 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1891 | 1,896 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1892 | 1,897 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1893 | 1,898 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1894 | 1,899 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1895 | 1,900 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1896 | 1,902 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1897 | 1,903 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1898 | 1,904 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1899 | 1,905 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1900 | 1,906 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1901 | 1,910 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1902 | 1,914 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1903 | 1,919 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1904 | 1,923 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1905 | 1,972 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1906 | 1,931 tonnes | -2.0% |
| 1907 | 1,935 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1908 | 1,940 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1909 | 2,419 tonnes | +24.7% |
| 1910 | 2,544 tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1911 | 2,685 tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1912 | 2,894 tonnes | +7.8% |
| 1913 | 3,073 tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1914 | 3,574 tonnes | +16.3% |
| 1915 | 3,997 tonnes | +11.8% |
| 1916 | 3,722 tonnes | -6.9% |
| 1917 | 2,163 tonnes | -41.9% |
| 1918 | 3,792 tonnes | +75.3% |
| 1919 | 4,132 tonnes | +9.0% |
| 1920 | 4,744 tonnes | +14.8% |
| 1921 | 4,981 tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1922 | 5,088 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1923 | 5,663 tonnes | +11.3% |
| 1924 | 5,875 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1925 | 7,922 tonnes | +34.8% |
| 1926 | 8,344 tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1927 | 8,578 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1928 | 9,502 tonnes | +10.8% |
| 1929 | 10,534 tonnes | +10.9% |
| 1930 | 10,106 tonnes | -4.1% |
| 1931 | 10,595 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1932 | 12,034 tonnes | +13.6% |
| 1933 | 13,721 tonnes | +14.0% |
| 1934 | 16,982 tonnes | +23.8% |
| 1935 | 19,172 tonnes | +12.9% |
| 1936 | 21,947 tonnes | +14.5% |
| 1937 | 23,195 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1938 | 31,348 tonnes | +35.1% |
| 1939 | 38,069 tonnes | +21.4% |
| 1940 | 50,359 tonnes | +32.3% |
| 1941 | 58,183 tonnes | +15.5% |
| 1942 | 69,016 tonnes | +18.6% |
| 1943 | 70,866 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1944 | 80,034 tonnes | +12.9% |
| 1945 | 3,704 tonnes | -95.4% |
| 1946 | 8,427 tonnes | +127.5% |
| 1947 | 12,324 tonnes | +46.2% |
| 1948 | 19,645 tonnes | +59.4% |
| 1949 | 24,043 tonnes | +22.4% |
| 1950 | 26,875 tonnes | +11.8% |
| 1951 | 31,497 tonnes | +17.2% |
| 1952 | 37,052 tonnes | +17.6% |
| 1953 | 51,755 tonnes | +39.7% |
| 1954 | 54,859 tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1955 | 66,485 tonnes | +21.2% |
| 1956 | 79,012 tonnes | +18.8% |
| 1957 | 84,891 tonnes | +7.4% |
| 1958 | 90,468 tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1959 | 113,035 tonnes | +24.9% |
| 1960 | 123,411 tonnes | +9.2% |
| 1961 | 136,148 tonnes | +10.3% |
| 1962 | 160,793 tonnes | +18.1% |
| 1963 | 195,206 tonnes | +21.4% |
| 1964 | 193,723 tonnes | -0.8% |
| 1965 | 219,403 tonnes | +13.3% |
| 1966 | 263,668 tonnes | +20.2% |
| 1967 | 320,431 tonnes | +21.5% |
| 1968 | 364,379 tonnes | +13.7% |
| 1969 | 427,913 tonnes | +17.4% |
| 1970 | 553,444 tonnes | +29.3% |
| 1971 | 647,734 tonnes | +17.0% |
| 1972 | 674,500 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1973 | 816,555 tonnes | +21.1% |
| 1974 | 848,818 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1975 | 906,871 tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1976 | 993,490 tonnes | +9.6% |
| 1977 | 1.11 million tonnes | +12.0% |
| 1978 | 1.22 million tonnes | +9.4% |
| 1979 | 1.35 million tonnes | +10.8% |
| 1980 | 1.36 million tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1981 | 1.32 million tonnes | -3.1% |
| 1982 | 1.26 million tonnes | -4.9% |
| 1983 | 1.23 million tonnes | -2.1% |
| 1984 | 1.20 million tonnes | -2.6% |
| 1985 | 1.14 million tonnes | -5.1% |
| 1986 | 1.11 million tonnes | -2.3% |
| 1987 | 1.08 million tonnes | -2.5% |
| 1988 | 1.22 million tonnes | +12.5% |
| 1989 | 1.27 million tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1990 | 1.33 million tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1991 | 1.41 million tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1992 | 1.46 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1993 | 1.45 million tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1994 | 1.44 million tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1995 | 1.35 million tonnes | -6.5% |
| 1996 | 1.29 million tonnes | -4.4% |
| 1997 | 1.26 million tonnes | -1.9% |
| 1998 | 1.07 million tonnes | -15.1% |
| 1999 | 1.04 million tonnes | -2.9% |
| 2000 | 1.03 million tonnes | -0.9% |
| 2001 | 1.02 million tonnes | -1.3% |
| 2002 | 973,075 tonnes | -4.4% |
| 2003 | 1.02 million tonnes | +4.9% |
| 2004 | 1.01 million tonnes | -1.1% |
| 2005 | 975,694 tonnes | -3.4% |
| 2006 | 988,969 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 2007 | 866,038 tonnes | -12.4% |
| 2008 | 836,894 tonnes | -3.4% |
| 2009 | 762,644 tonnes | -8.9% |
| 2010 | 807,838 tonnes | +5.9% |
| 2011 | 822,189 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 2012 | 781,627 tonnes | -4.9% |
| 2013 | 745,464 tonnes | -4.6% |
| 2014 | 715,935 tonnes | -4.0% |
| 2015 | 750,628 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 2016 | 842,823 tonnes | +12.3% |
| 2017 | 783,488 tonnes | -7.0% |
| 2018 | 746,788 tonnes | -4.7% |
| 2019 | 633,770 tonnes | -15.1% |
| 2020 | 338,586 tonnes | -46.6% |
| 2021 | 341,805 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 2022 | 360,360 tonnes | +5.4% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 360,360 tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 26,427 tonnes, 13.6× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 360,360 tonnes is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 63,332 tonnes, 5.7× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in South Korea 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | +127.5% | 3,704 tonnes | 8,427 tonnes |
| 1945 | -95.4% | 80,034 tonnes | 3,704 tonnes |
| 1918 | +75.3% | 2,163 tonnes | 3,792 tonnes |
| 1948 | +59.4% | 12,324 tonnes | 19,645 tonnes |
| 2020 | -46.6% | 633,770 tonnes | 338,586 tonnes |
| 1947 | +46.2% | 8,427 tonnes | 12,324 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 1,804 tonnes | 1,799 tonnes | 1,810 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 1,816 tonnes | 1,811 tonnes | 1,821 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 1,827 tonnes | 1,822 tonnes | 1,832 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 1,838 tonnes | 1,833 tonnes | 1,842 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 1,847 tonnes | 1,843 tonnes | 1,852 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 1,856 tonnes | 1,852 tonnes | 1,860 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 1,864 tonnes | 1,861 tonnes | 1,868 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 1,838 tonnes | 1,808 tonnes | 1,868 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 1,809 tonnes | 1,801 tonnes | 1,817 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 1,826 tonnes | 1,819 tonnes | 1,833 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 1,843 tonnes | 1,834 tonnes | 1,851 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 1,861 tonnes | 1,853 tonnes | 1,870 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 1,877 tonnes | 1,872 tonnes | 1,882 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 1,888 tonnes | 1,883 tonnes | 1,893 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 1,900 tonnes | 1,894 tonnes | 1,905 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 1,977 tonnes | 1,906 tonnes | 2,419 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 3,258 tonnes | 2,163 tonnes | 4,132 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 7,123 tonnes | 4,744 tonnes | 10,534 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 19,717 tonnes | 10,106 tonnes | 38,069 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 39,660 tonnes | 3,704 tonnes | 80,034 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 63,593 tonnes | 26,875 tonnes | 113,035 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 240,508 tonnes | 123,411 tonnes | 427,913 tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 912,148 tonnes | 553,444 tonnes | 1.35 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.22 million tonnes | 1.08 million tonnes | 1.36 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.31 million tonnes | 1.04 million tonnes | 1.46 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 948,366 tonnes | 762,644 tonnes | 1.03 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 763,055 tonnes | 633,770 tonnes | 842,823 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 346,917 tonnes | 338,586 tonnes | 360,360 tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More energy & mining data for South Korea
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate -1.55 % 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 0.0001 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 25.7% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in South Korea?
- Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in South Korea was 360,360 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 South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 1.46 million tonnes in 1992.
- What is the lowest coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,799 tonnes in 1750.
- How does South Korea rank for coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions?
- South Korea ranks 32nd out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 53.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea 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.