Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in New Zealand
New Zealand: Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions was 65,892 tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
65,892 tonnes
Change on year
down 8.3%
World rank
78th
of 220 countries
All-time high
112,832 tonnes
in 1974
All-time low
4.63 tonnes
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in New Zealand, 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 New Zealand stood at 65,892 tonnes.
That represents a change of down 8.3% on the previous year and down 21.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in New Zealand peaked at 112,832 tonnes in 1974 and was at its lowest, 4.63 tonnes, in 1750.
New Zealand ranks 78th 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.
Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 4.63 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 4.71 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1752 | 4.78 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1753 | 4.86 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1754 | 4.93 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1755 | 5.01 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1756 | 5.08 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1757 | 5.15 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1758 | 5.23 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1759 | 5.3 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1760 | 5.38 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1761 | 5.46 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1762 | 5.55 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1763 | 5.64 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1764 | 5.72 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1765 | 5.81 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1766 | 5.9 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1767 | 5.98 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1768 | 6.07 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1769 | 6.15 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1770 | 6.24 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1771 | 6.34 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1772 | 6.44 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1773 | 6.54 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1774 | 6.64 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1775 | 6.74 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1776 | 6.84 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1777 | 6.94 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1778 | 7.04 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1779 | 7.14 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1780 | 7.24 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1781 | 7.35 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1782 | 7.47 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1783 | 7.58 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1784 | 7.7 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1785 | 7.81 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1786 | 7.92 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1787 | 8.04 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1788 | 8.15 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1789 | 8.27 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1790 | 8.38 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1791 | 8.51 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1792 | 8.64 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1793 | 8.78 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1794 | 8.91 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1795 | 9.04 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1796 | 9.17 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1797 | 9.3 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1798 | 9.43 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1799 | 9.56 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1800 | 9.69 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1801 | 9.84 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1802 | 9.99 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1803 | 10.15 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1804 | 10.3 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1805 | 10.45 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1806 | 10.6 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1807 | 10.75 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1808 | 10.89 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1809 | 11.04 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1810 | 11.19 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1811 | 11.37 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1812 | 11.54 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1813 | 11.71 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1814 | 11.88 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1815 | 12.05 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1816 | 12.22 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1817 | 12.39 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1818 | 12.56 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1819 | 12.73 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1820 | 12.9 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1821 | 13.1 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1822 | 13.29 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1823 | 13.49 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1824 | 13.68 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1825 | 13.88 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1826 | 14.07 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1827 | 14.26 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1828 | 14.46 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1829 | 14.65 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1830 | 14.84 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1831 | 15.06 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1832 | 15.28 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1833 | 15.5 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1834 | 15.72 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1835 | 15.94 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1836 | 16.16 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1837 | 16.38 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1838 | 16.59 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1839 | 16.81 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1840 | 17.02 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1841 | 17.27 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1842 | 17.52 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1843 | 17.77 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1844 | 18.01 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1845 | 18.26 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1846 | 18.5 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1847 | 18.75 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1848 | 18.99 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1849 | 19.23 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1850 | 18.7 tonnes | -2.8% |
| 1851 | 19.73 tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1852 | 20.78 tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1853 | 21.83 tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1854 | 22.89 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1855 | 23.96 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1856 | 25.36 tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1857 | 26.77 tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1858 | 28.18 tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1859 | 29.59 tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1860 | 31.01 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1861 | 34.03 tonnes | +9.7% |
| 1862 | 37.13 tonnes | +9.1% |
| 1863 | 40.35 tonnes | +8.6% |
| 1864 | 43.67 tonnes | +8.2% |
| 1865 | 47.11 tonnes | +7.9% |
| 1866 | 51.73 tonnes | +9.8% |
| 1867 | 56.48 tonnes | +9.2% |
| 1868 | 61.35 tonnes | +8.6% |
| 1869 | 66.38 tonnes | +8.2% |
| 1870 | 71.56 tonnes | +7.8% |
| 1871 | 76.79 tonnes | +7.3% |
| 1872 | 81.75 tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1873 | 86.76 tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1874 | 94.17 tonnes | +8.5% |
| 1875 | 102.45 tonnes | +8.8% |
| 1876 | 108.08 tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1877 | 111.84 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1878 | 3,358 tonnes | +2902.3% |
| 1879 | 4,770 tonnes | +42.1% |
| 1880 | 6,203 tonnes | +30.1% |
| 1881 | 6,956 tonnes | +12.1% |
| 1882 | 7,810 tonnes | +12.3% |
| 1883 | 8,734 tonnes | +11.8% |
| 1884 | 9,965 tonnes | +14.1% |
| 1885 | 10,617 tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1886 | 11,094 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1887 | 11,638 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1888 | 12,795 tonnes | +9.9% |
| 1889 | 12,318 tonnes | -3.7% |
| 1890 | 13,338 tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1891 | 13,980 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1892 | 14,078 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1893 | 14,449 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1894 | 15,057 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1895 | 15,189 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1896 | 16,556 tonnes | +9.0% |
| 1897 | 17,550 tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1898 | 18,919 tonnes | +7.8% |
| 1899 | 20,357 tonnes | +7.6% |
| 1900 | 22,818 tonnes | +12.1% |
| 1901 | 25,632 tonnes | +12.3% |
| 1902 | 28,447 tonnes | +11.0% |
| 1903 | 29,661 tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1904 | 32,137 tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1905 | 33,149 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1906 | 36,169 tonnes | +9.1% |
| 1907 | 38,269 tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1908 | 38,906 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1909 | 39,986 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1910 | 45,934 tonnes | +14.9% |
| 1911 | 43,212 tonnes | -5.9% |
| 1912 | 45,561 tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1913 | 39,550 tonnes | -13.2% |
| 1914 | 47,604 tonnes | +20.4% |
| 1915 | 46,214 tonnes | -2.9% |
| 1916 | 46,981 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1917 | 42,904 tonnes | -8.7% |
| 1918 | 42,043 tonnes | -2.0% |
| 1919 | 38,106 tonnes | -9.4% |
| 1920 | 32,791 tonnes | -13.9% |
| 1921 | 31,832 tonnes | -2.9% |
| 1922 | 31,947 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1923 | 33,874 tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1924 | 34,705 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1925 | 35,038 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1926 | 36,606 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1927 | 38,510 tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1928 | 39,560 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1929 | 41,098 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1930 | 40,929 tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1931 | 36,008 tonnes | -12.0% |
| 1932 | 30,274 tonnes | -15.9% |
| 1933 | 30,350 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1934 | 34,850 tonnes | +14.8% |
| 1935 | 35,858 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1936 | 35,672 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1937 | 37,028 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1938 | 35,482 tonnes | -4.2% |
| 1939 | 36,928 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1940 | 39,135 tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1941 | 41,360 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1942 | 42,387 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1943 | 44,784 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1944 | 45,790 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1945 | 47,123 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1946 | 46,683 tonnes | -0.9% |
| 1947 | 46,219 tonnes | -1.0% |
| 1948 | 46,669 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1949 | 47,582 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1950 | 60,212 tonnes | +26.5% |
| 1951 | 56,256 tonnes | -6.6% |
| 1952 | 62,698 tonnes | +11.5% |
| 1953 | 57,572 tonnes | -8.2% |
| 1954 | 59,998 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1955 | 60,716 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1956 | 62,279 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1957 | 64,423 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1958 | 64,771 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1959 | 66,106 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1960 | 73,764 tonnes | +11.6% |
| 1961 | 74,604 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1962 | 73,175 tonnes | -1.9% |
| 1963 | 78,424 tonnes | +7.2% |
| 1964 | 85,044 tonnes | +8.4% |
| 1965 | 87,210 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1966 | 87,482 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1967 | 84,629 tonnes | -3.3% |
| 1968 | 84,771 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1969 | 86,797 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1970 | 96,882 tonnes | +11.6% |
| 1971 | 97,049 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1972 | 109,026 tonnes | +12.3% |
| 1973 | 110,514 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1974 | 112,832 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1975 | 102,876 tonnes | -8.8% |
| 1976 | 109,300 tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1977 | 100,190 tonnes | -8.3% |
| 1978 | 92,750 tonnes | -7.4% |
| 1979 | 97,339 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1980 | 93,350 tonnes | -4.1% |
| 1981 | 84,648 tonnes | -9.3% |
| 1982 | 77,593 tonnes | -8.3% |
| 1983 | 73,435 tonnes | -5.4% |
| 1984 | 73,424 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1985 | 74,299 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1986 | 71,462 tonnes | -3.8% |
| 1987 | 82,384 tonnes | +15.3% |
| 1988 | 88,961 tonnes | +8.0% |
| 1989 | 82,920 tonnes | -6.8% |
| 1990 | 74,470 tonnes | -10.2% |
| 1991 | 70,737 tonnes | -5.0% |
| 1992 | 72,485 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1993 | 73,776 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1994 | 76,998 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1995 | 76,358 tonnes | -0.8% |
| 1996 | 75,054 tonnes | -1.7% |
| 1997 | 74,246 tonnes | -1.1% |
| 1998 | 73,603 tonnes | -0.9% |
| 1999 | 72,993 tonnes | -0.8% |
| 2000 | 75,073 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 2001 | 80,651 tonnes | +7.4% |
| 2002 | 82,081 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 2003 | 97,307 tonnes | +18.6% |
| 2004 | 91,816 tonnes | -5.6% |
| 2005 | 100,996 tonnes | +10.0% |
| 2006 | 95,928 tonnes | -5.0% |
| 2007 | 89,714 tonnes | -6.5% |
| 2008 | 98,940 tonnes | +10.3% |
| 2009 | 83,263 tonnes | -15.8% |
| 2010 | 79,457 tonnes | -4.6% |
| 2011 | 81,507 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 2012 | 83,814 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 2013 | 78,917 tonnes | -5.8% |
| 2014 | 82,007 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 2015 | 85,803 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 2016 | 82,489 tonnes | -3.9% |
| 2017 | 82,980 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 85,656 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 2019 | 87,744 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 2020 | 69,425 tonnes | -20.9% |
| 2021 | 71,821 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 2022 | 65,892 tonnes | -8.3% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 65,892 tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 26,427 tonnes, 2.5× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 65,892 tonnes is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 63,332 tonnes, 1.0× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in New Zealand 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1878 | +2902.3% | 111.84 tonnes | 3,358 tonnes |
| 1879 | +42.1% | 3,358 tonnes | 4,770 tonnes |
| 1880 | +30.1% | 4,770 tonnes | 6,203 tonnes |
| 1950 | +26.5% | 47,582 tonnes | 60,212 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 4.97 tonnes | 4.63 tonnes | 5.3 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 5.77 tonnes | 5.38 tonnes | 6.15 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 6.69 tonnes | 6.24 tonnes | 7.14 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 7.75 tonnes | 7.24 tonnes | 8.27 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 8.97 tonnes | 8.38 tonnes | 9.56 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 10.37 tonnes | 9.69 tonnes | 11.04 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 11.97 tonnes | 11.19 tonnes | 12.73 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 13.78 tonnes | 12.9 tonnes | 14.65 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 15.83 tonnes | 14.84 tonnes | 16.81 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 18.13 tonnes | 17.02 tonnes | 19.23 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 23.78 tonnes | 18.7 tonnes | 29.59 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 46.92 tonnes | 31.01 tonnes | 66.38 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 886.13 tonnes | 71.56 tonnes | 4,770 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 9,813 tonnes | 6,203 tonnes | 12,795 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 15,947 tonnes | 13,338 tonnes | 20,357 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 32,518 tonnes | 22,818 tonnes | 39,986 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 43,811 tonnes | 38,106 tonnes | 47,604 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 35,596 tonnes | 31,832 tonnes | 41,098 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 35,338 tonnes | 30,274 tonnes | 40,929 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 44,773 tonnes | 39,135 tonnes | 47,582 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 61,503 tonnes | 56,256 tonnes | 66,106 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 81,590 tonnes | 73,175 tonnes | 87,482 tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 102,876 tonnes | 92,750 tonnes | 112,832 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 80,247 tonnes | 71,462 tonnes | 93,350 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 74,072 tonnes | 70,737 tonnes | 76,998 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 89,577 tonnes | 75,073 tonnes | 100,996 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 83,037 tonnes | 78,917 tonnes | 87,744 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 69,046 tonnes | 65,892 tonnes | 71,821 tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
More energy & mining data for New Zealand
- 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 1.2 % 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)
- Fuel imports 12.0% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in New Zealand?
- Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in New Zealand was 65,892 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 New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 112,832 tonnes in 1974.
- What is the lowest coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.63 tonnes in 1750.
- How does New Zealand rank for coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions?
- New Zealand ranks 78th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this New Zealand 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.