Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in South Africa
South Africa: Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions was 2.83 million tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
2.83 million tonnes
Change on year
down 3.6%
World rank
7th
of 220 countries
All-time high
3.43 million tonnes
in 2014
All-time low
301.44 tonnes
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in South Africa, 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 Africa stood at 2.83 million tonnes.
The figure is down 3.6% on the previous year and down 13.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in South Africa peaked at 3.43 million tonnes in 2014 and was at its lowest, 301.44 tonnes, in 1750.
That places South Africa 7th out of 220 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in South Africa, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 301.44 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 302.35 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1752 | 303.26 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1753 | 304.16 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1754 | 305.07 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1755 | 305.97 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1756 | 306.87 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1757 | 307.77 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1758 | 308.67 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1759 | 309.56 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1760 | 310.45 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1761 | 311.44 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1762 | 312.42 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1763 | 313.39 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1764 | 314.37 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1765 | 315.34 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1766 | 316.31 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1767 | 317.29 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1768 | 318.25 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1769 | 319.22 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1770 | 320.18 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1771 | 321.25 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1772 | 322.31 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1773 | 323.37 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1774 | 324.43 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1775 | 325.49 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1776 | 326.54 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1777 | 327.59 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1778 | 328.64 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1779 | 329.69 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1780 | 330.73 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1781 | 331.89 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1782 | 333.05 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1783 | 334.2 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1784 | 335.36 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1785 | 336.5 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1786 | 337.65 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1787 | 338.8 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1788 | 339.94 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1789 | 341.07 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1790 | 342.21 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1791 | 343.48 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1792 | 344.74 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1793 | 346.01 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1794 | 347.26 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1795 | 348.52 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1796 | 349.77 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1797 | 351.02 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1798 | 352.26 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1799 | 353.51 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1800 | 354.75 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1801 | 356.14 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1802 | 357.52 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1803 | 358.91 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1804 | 360.29 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1805 | 361.66 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1806 | 363.03 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1807 | 364.4 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1808 | 365.76 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1809 | 367.12 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1810 | 368.48 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1811 | 371.62 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1812 | 374.76 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1813 | 377.89 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1814 | 381.01 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1815 | 384.12 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1816 | 387.22 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1817 | 390.31 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1818 | 393.39 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1819 | 396.46 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1820 | 399.53 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1821 | 403.1 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1822 | 406.65 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1823 | 410.19 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1824 | 413.73 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1825 | 417.25 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1826 | 420.76 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1827 | 424.25 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1828 | 427.74 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1829 | 431.21 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1830 | 434.68 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1831 | 438.73 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1832 | 442.77 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1833 | 446.79 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1834 | 450.8 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1835 | 454.8 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1836 | 458.78 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1837 | 462.74 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1838 | 466.69 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1839 | 470.63 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1840 | 474.55 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1841 | 551.16 tonnes | +16.1% |
| 1842 | 627.76 tonnes | +13.9% |
| 1843 | 704.34 tonnes | +12.2% |
| 1844 | 780.9 tonnes | +10.9% |
| 1845 | 857.44 tonnes | +9.8% |
| 1846 | 933.96 tonnes | +8.9% |
| 1847 | 1,010 tonnes | +8.2% |
| 1848 | 1,087 tonnes | +7.6% |
| 1849 | 1,163 tonnes | +7.0% |
| 1850 | 1,674 tonnes | +43.9% |
| 1851 | 1,734 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1852 | 1,795 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1853 | 1,855 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1854 | 1,916 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1855 | 1,977 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1856 | 2,028 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1857 | 2,090 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1858 | 2,152 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1859 | 2,213 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1860 | 2,276 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1861 | 2,338 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1862 | 2,391 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1863 | 2,454 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1864 | 2,517 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1865 | 2,580 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1866 | 2,644 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1867 | 2,708 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1868 | 2,762 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1869 | 2,826 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1870 | 2,890 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1871 | 3,756 tonnes | +30.0% |
| 1872 | 4,622 tonnes | +23.1% |
| 1873 | 5,479 tonnes | +18.5% |
| 1874 | 6,345 tonnes | +15.8% |
| 1875 | 7,213 tonnes | +13.7% |
| 1876 | 8,080 tonnes | +12.0% |
| 1877 | 8,948 tonnes | +10.7% |
| 1878 | 9,806 tonnes | +9.6% |
| 1879 | 10,675 tonnes | +8.9% |
| 1880 | 11,544 tonnes | +8.1% |
| 1881 | 12,204 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1882 | 12,854 tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1883 | 13,514 tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1884 | 14,415 tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1885 | 15,241 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1886 | 16,026 tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1887 | 16,676 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1888 | 17,708 tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1889 | 18,933 tonnes | +6.9% |
| 1890 | 21,433 tonnes | +13.2% |
| 1891 | 20,707 tonnes | -3.4% |
| 1892 | 22,014 tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1893 | 35,884 tonnes | +63.0% |
| 1894 | 42,098 tonnes | +17.3% |
| 1895 | 51,250 tonnes | +21.7% |
| 1896 | 60,502 tonnes | +18.1% |
| 1897 | 65,337 tonnes | +8.0% |
| 1898 | 78,307 tonnes | +19.9% |
| 1899 | 71,621 tonnes | -8.5% |
| 1900 | 36,224 tonnes | -49.4% |
| 1901 | 53,906 tonnes | +48.8% |
| 1902 | 74,594 tonnes | +38.4% |
| 1903 | 95,092 tonnes | +27.5% |
| 1904 | 105,151 tonnes | +10.6% |
| 1905 | 117,706 tonnes | +11.9% |
| 1906 | 135,328 tonnes | +15.0% |
| 1907 | 150,417 tonnes | +11.1% |
| 1908 | 157,166 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1909 | 179,899 tonnes | +14.5% |
| 1910 | 202,887 tonnes | +12.8% |
| 1911 | 200,327 tonnes | -1.3% |
| 1912 | 213,919 tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1913 | 233,433 tonnes | +9.1% |
| 1914 | 231,509 tonnes | -0.8% |
| 1915 | 236,268 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1916 | 267,949 tonnes | +13.4% |
| 1917 | 282,615 tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1918 | 272,906 tonnes | -3.4% |
| 1919 | 282,351 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1920 | 306,826 tonnes | +8.7% |
| 1921 | 296,052 tonnes | -3.5% |
| 1922 | 254,028 tonnes | -14.2% |
| 1923 | 288,730 tonnes | +13.7% |
| 1924 | 292,563 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1925 | 294,851 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1926 | 299,041 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1927 | 290,516 tonnes | -2.9% |
| 1928 | 285,636 tonnes | -1.7% |
| 1929 | 298,544 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1930 | 274,549 tonnes | -8.0% |
| 1931 | 251,819 tonnes | -8.3% |
| 1932 | 229,610 tonnes | -8.8% |
| 1933 | 243,450 tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1934 | 273,379 tonnes | +12.3% |
| 1935 | 308,209 tonnes | +12.7% |
| 1936 | 326,930 tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1937 | 349,339 tonnes | +6.9% |
| 1938 | 365,014 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1939 | 378,311 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1940 | 395,639 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1941 | 423,111 tonnes | +6.9% |
| 1942 | 468,731 tonnes | +10.8% |
| 1943 | 467,645 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1944 | 516,989 tonnes | +10.6% |
| 1945 | 563,004 tonnes | +8.9% |
| 1946 | 525,691 tonnes | -6.6% |
| 1947 | 520,981 tonnes | -0.9% |
| 1948 | 523,802 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1949 | 546,107 tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1950 | 527,741 tonnes | -3.4% |
| 1951 | 554,713 tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1952 | 600,169 tonnes | +8.2% |
| 1953 | 593,840 tonnes | -1.1% |
| 1954 | 619,760 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1955 | 681,087 tonnes | +9.9% |
| 1956 | 708,040 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1957 | 721,648 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1958 | 763,914 tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1959 | 748,613 tonnes | -2.0% |
| 1960 | 758,761 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1961 | 788,770 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1962 | 788,892 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 822,479 tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1964 | 866,982 tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1965 | 910,636 tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1966 | 946,631 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1967 | 1.02 million tonnes | +7.3% |
| 1968 | 1.08 million tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1969 | 1.14 million tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1970 | 1.19 million tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1971 | 1.48 million tonnes | +24.7% |
| 1972 | 1.44 million tonnes | -2.6% |
| 1973 | 1.54 million tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1974 | 1.55 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1975 | 1.63 million tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1976 | 1.67 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1977 | 1.69 million tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1978 | 1.73 million tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1979 | 1.75 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1980 | 1.86 million tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1981 | 1.95 million tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1982 | 1.90 million tonnes | -2.3% |
| 1983 | 1.84 million tonnes | -3.3% |
| 1984 | 1.95 million tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1985 | 2.02 million tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1986 | 2.00 million tonnes | -1.1% |
| 1987 | 2.18 million tonnes | +8.8% |
| 1988 | 2.18 million tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1989 | 2.24 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1990 | 2.31 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1991 | 2.23 million tonnes | -3.4% |
| 1992 | 2.21 million tonnes | -0.8% |
| 1993 | 2.17 million tonnes | -1.9% |
| 1994 | 2.22 million tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1995 | 2.30 million tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1996 | 2.46 million tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1997 | 2.54 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1998 | 2.64 million tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1999 | 2.46 million tonnes | -6.8% |
| 2000 | 2.42 million tonnes | -1.4% |
| 2001 | 2.76 million tonnes | +13.8% |
| 2002 | 2.76 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 2.87 million tonnes | +4.2% |
| 2004 | 3.04 million tonnes | +5.8% |
| 2005 | 2.97 million tonnes | -2.4% |
| 2006 | 2.93 million tonnes | -1.3% |
| 2007 | 3.05 million tonnes | +3.9% |
| 2008 | 3.33 million tonnes | +9.4% |
| 2009 | 3.05 million tonnes | -8.5% |
| 2010 | 3.30 million tonnes | +8.0% |
| 2011 | 3.11 million tonnes | -5.6% |
| 2012 | 3.25 million tonnes | +4.5% |
| 2013 | 3.29 million tonnes | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 3.43 million tonnes | +4.2% |
| 2015 | 3.19 million tonnes | -7.0% |
| 2016 | 3.19 million tonnes | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 3.17 million tonnes | -0.9% |
| 2018 | 3.22 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 2019 | 3.34 million tonnes | +3.7% |
| 2020 | 2.95 million tonnes | -11.8% |
| 2021 | 2.94 million tonnes | -0.4% |
| 2022 | 2.83 million tonnes | -3.6% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 2.83 million tonnes is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 75,907 tonnes, 37.3× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 2.83 million tonnes is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 13,590 tonnes, 208.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in South Africa 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1893 | +63.0% | 22,014 tonnes | 35,884 tonnes |
| 1900 | -49.4% | 71,621 tonnes | 36,224 tonnes |
| 1901 | +48.8% | 36,224 tonnes | 53,906 tonnes |
| 1850 | +43.9% | 1,163 tonnes | 1,674 tonnes |
| 1902 | +38.4% | 53,906 tonnes | 74,594 tonnes |
| 1871 | +30.0% | 2,890 tonnes | 3,756 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 305.51 tonnes | 301.44 tonnes | 309.56 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 314.85 tonnes | 310.45 tonnes | 319.22 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 324.95 tonnes | 320.18 tonnes | 329.69 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 335.92 tonnes | 330.73 tonnes | 341.07 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 347.88 tonnes | 342.21 tonnes | 353.51 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 360.96 tonnes | 354.75 tonnes | 367.12 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 382.53 tonnes | 368.48 tonnes | 396.46 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 415.44 tonnes | 399.53 tonnes | 431.21 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 452.74 tonnes | 434.68 tonnes | 470.63 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 819.09 tonnes | 474.55 tonnes | 1,163 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 1,944 tonnes | 1,674 tonnes | 2,213 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 2,549 tonnes | 2,276 tonnes | 2,826 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 6,782 tonnes | 2,890 tonnes | 10,675 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 14,911 tonnes | 11,544 tonnes | 18,933 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 46,915 tonnes | 20,707 tonnes | 78,307 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 110,548 tonnes | 36,224 tonnes | 179,899 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 242,416 tonnes | 200,327 tonnes | 282,615 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 290,679 tonnes | 254,028 tonnes | 306,826 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 300,061 tonnes | 229,610 tonnes | 378,311 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 495,170 tonnes | 395,639 tonnes | 563,004 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 651,952 tonnes | 527,741 tonnes | 763,914 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 911,336 tonnes | 758,761 tonnes | 1.14 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.57 million tonnes | 1.19 million tonnes | 1.75 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.01 million tonnes | 1.84 million tonnes | 2.24 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.35 million tonnes | 2.17 million tonnes | 2.64 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.92 million tonnes | 2.42 million tonnes | 3.33 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.25 million tonnes | 3.11 million tonnes | 3.43 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.90 million tonnes | 2.83 million tonnes | 2.95 million tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More energy & mining data for South Africa
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate -0.3095 % 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 17.7% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in South Africa?
- Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in South Africa was 2.83 million 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 Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 3.43 million tonnes in 2014.
- What is the lowest coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 301.44 tonnes in 1750.
- How does South Africa rank for coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions?
- South Africa ranks 7th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa 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.