Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in Spain
Spain: Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions was 236,196 tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
236,196 tonnes
Change on year
up 9.3%
World rank
38th
of 220 countries
All-time high
3.00 million tonnes
in 1981
All-time low
3,075 tonnes
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in Spain, 1750–2022
Source: Hoesly et al. (2024) – Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Spain recorded 236,196 tonnes for coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 9.3% on the previous year and down 64.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in Spain peaked at 3.00 million tonnes in 1981 and was at its lowest, 3,075 tonnes, in 1750.
Spain ranks 38th 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 Spain, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 3,075 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 3,078 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1752 | 3,081 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1753 | 3,084 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1754 | 3,087 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1755 | 3,090 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1756 | 3,094 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1757 | 3,097 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1758 | 3,100 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1759 | 3,103 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1760 | 3,105 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1761 | 3,109 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1762 | 3,112 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1763 | 3,115 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1764 | 3,118 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1765 | 3,121 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1766 | 3,124 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1767 | 3,127 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1768 | 3,130 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1769 | 3,133 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1770 | 3,136 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1771 | 3,139 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1772 | 3,142 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1773 | 3,145 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1774 | 3,148 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1775 | 3,151 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1776 | 3,154 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1777 | 3,157 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1778 | 3,159 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1779 | 3,162 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1780 | 3,165 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1781 | 3,168 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1782 | 3,171 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1783 | 3,174 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1784 | 3,177 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1785 | 3,180 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1786 | 3,183 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1787 | 3,186 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1788 | 3,188 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1789 | 3,191 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1790 | 3,194 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1791 | 3,197 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1792 | 3,200 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1793 | 3,202 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1794 | 3,205 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1795 | 3,208 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1796 | 3,211 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1797 | 3,214 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1798 | 3,216 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1799 | 3,219 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1800 | 3,222 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1801 | 3,224 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1802 | 3,227 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1803 | 3,230 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1804 | 3,233 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1805 | 3,235 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1806 | 3,238 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1807 | 3,241 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1808 | 3,243 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1809 | 3,246 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1810 | 3,248 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1811 | 3,251 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1812 | 3,254 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1813 | 3,257 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1814 | 3,259 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1815 | 3,262 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1816 | 3,264 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1817 | 3,267 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1818 | 3,270 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1819 | 3,272 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1820 | 3,274 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1821 | 3,290 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1822 | 3,306 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1823 | 3,322 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1824 | 3,338 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1825 | 3,354 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1826 | 3,369 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1827 | 3,385 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1828 | 3,400 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1829 | 3,415 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1830 | 3,468 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1831 | 3,703 tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1832 | 3,935 tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1833 | 4,170 tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1834 | 4,402 tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1835 | 4,637 tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1836 | 5,055 tonnes | +9.0% |
| 1837 | 5,439 tonnes | +7.6% |
| 1838 | 5,560 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1839 | 6,018 tonnes | +8.2% |
| 1840 | 6,139 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1841 | 7,127 tonnes | +16.1% |
| 1842 | 7,852 tonnes | +10.2% |
| 1843 | 8,468 tonnes | +7.8% |
| 1844 | 9,081 tonnes | +7.2% |
| 1845 | 10,140 tonnes | +11.7% |
| 1846 | 10,533 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1847 | 10,624 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1848 | 11,277 tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1849 | 11,926 tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1850 | 13,573 tonnes | +13.8% |
| 1851 | 14,132 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1852 | 14,796 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1853 | 16,371 tonnes | +10.6% |
| 1854 | 15,749 tonnes | -3.8% |
| 1855 | 16,187 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1856 | 18,520 tonnes | +14.4% |
| 1857 | 19,776 tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1858 | 22,948 tonnes | +16.0% |
| 1859 | 27,709 tonnes | +20.7% |
| 1860 | 30,703 tonnes | +10.8% |
| 1861 | 31,482 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1862 | 33,209 tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1863 | 35,406 tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1864 | 34,590 tonnes | -2.3% |
| 1865 | 34,384 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1866 | 34,875 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1867 | 37,752 tonnes | +8.2% |
| 1868 | 39,262 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1869 | 39,736 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1870 | 44,186 tonnes | +11.2% |
| 1871 | 46,115 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1872 | 51,011 tonnes | +10.6% |
| 1873 | 51,998 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1874 | 54,057 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1875 | 57,928 tonnes | +7.2% |
| 1876 | 62,155 tonnes | +7.3% |
| 1877 | 65,420 tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1878 | 66,707 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1879 | 70,290 tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1880 | 76,139 tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1881 | 82,746 tonnes | +8.7% |
| 1882 | 87,146 tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1883 | 92,231 tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1884 | 91,782 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1885 | 91,749 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1886 | 95,484 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1887 | 97,280 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1888 | 101,183 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1889 | 109,885 tonnes | +8.6% |
| 1890 | 120,539 tonnes | +9.7% |
| 1891 | 128,635 tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1892 | 134,469 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1893 | 135,994 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1894 | 143,730 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1895 | 145,731 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1896 | 154,736 tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1897 | 159,752 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1898 | 161,193 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1899 | 168,662 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1900 | 171,543 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1901 | 175,330 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1902 | 181,275 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1903 | 178,887 tonnes | -1.3% |
| 1904 | 187,960 tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1905 | 192,727 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1906 | 196,820 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1907 | 199,695 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1908 | 207,636 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1909 | 210,857 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1910 | 211,790 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1911 | 209,799 tonnes | -0.9% |
| 1912 | 229,110 tonnes | +9.2% |
| 1913 | 234,834 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1914 | 223,781 tonnes | -4.7% |
| 1915 | 211,903 tonnes | -5.3% |
| 1916 | 229,474 tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1917 | 217,142 tonnes | -5.4% |
| 1918 | 224,392 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1919 | 212,237 tonnes | -5.4% |
| 1920 | 202,616 tonnes | -4.5% |
| 1921 | 206,367 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1922 | 203,667 tonnes | -1.3% |
| 1923 | 220,703 tonnes | +8.4% |
| 1924 | 228,309 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1925 | 230,316 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1926 | 221,979 tonnes | -3.6% |
| 1927 | 249,615 tonnes | +12.4% |
| 1928 | 241,838 tonnes | -3.1% |
| 1929 | 267,528 tonnes | +10.6% |
| 1930 | 259,427 tonnes | -3.0% |
| 1931 | 254,759 tonnes | -1.8% |
| 1932 | 237,447 tonnes | -6.8% |
| 1933 | 214,067 tonnes | -9.8% |
| 1934 | 230,730 tonnes | +7.8% |
| 1935 | 248,253 tonnes | +7.6% |
| 1936 | 93,298 tonnes | -62.4% |
| 1937 | 65,151 tonnes | -30.2% |
| 1938 | 141,604 tonnes | +117.3% |
| 1939 | 156,835 tonnes | +10.8% |
| 1940 | 209,061 tonnes | +33.3% |
| 1941 | 211,075 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1942 | 224,954 tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1943 | 229,757 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1944 | 244,891 tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1945 | 276,347 tonnes | +12.8% |
| 1946 | 268,525 tonnes | -2.8% |
| 1947 | 317,446 tonnes | +18.2% |
| 1948 | 328,449 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1949 | 362,261 tonnes | +10.3% |
| 1950 | 331,493 tonnes | -8.5% |
| 1951 | 333,012 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1952 | 378,508 tonnes | +13.7% |
| 1953 | 391,775 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1954 | 401,350 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1955 | 412,568 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1956 | 448,758 tonnes | +8.8% |
| 1957 | 543,580 tonnes | +21.1% |
| 1958 | 602,710 tonnes | +10.9% |
| 1959 | 556,823 tonnes | -7.6% |
| 1960 | 543,281 tonnes | -2.4% |
| 1961 | 638,989 tonnes | +17.6% |
| 1962 | 698,136 tonnes | +9.3% |
| 1963 | 671,888 tonnes | -3.8% |
| 1964 | 804,785 tonnes | +19.8% |
| 1965 | 824,585 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1966 | 927,815 tonnes | +12.5% |
| 1967 | 1.08 million tonnes | +16.9% |
| 1968 | 1.27 million tonnes | +17.4% |
| 1969 | 1.38 million tonnes | +8.4% |
| 1970 | 1.51 million tonnes | +9.5% |
| 1971 | 1.64 million tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1972 | 1.69 million tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1973 | 1.89 million tonnes | +12.4% |
| 1974 | 2.21 million tonnes | +16.9% |
| 1975 | 2.30 million tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1976 | 2.72 million tonnes | +18.3% |
| 1977 | 2.24 million tonnes | -17.7% |
| 1978 | 2.29 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1979 | 2.44 million tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1980 | 2.85 million tonnes | +16.9% |
| 1981 | 3.00 million tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1982 | 2.73 million tonnes | -8.9% |
| 1983 | 2.73 million tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1984 | 2.32 million tonnes | -14.9% |
| 1985 | 2.20 million tonnes | -5.2% |
| 1986 | 2.16 million tonnes | -2.0% |
| 1987 | 2.11 million tonnes | -2.2% |
| 1988 | 1.92 million tonnes | -9.0% |
| 1989 | 2.23 million tonnes | +16.1% |
| 1990 | 2.21 million tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1991 | 2.25 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1992 | 2.23 million tonnes | -0.9% |
| 1993 | 2.13 million tonnes | -4.6% |
| 1994 | 2.07 million tonnes | -2.9% |
| 1995 | 1.93 million tonnes | -6.7% |
| 1996 | 1.78 million tonnes | -7.5% |
| 1997 | 1.90 million tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1998 | 1.81 million tonnes | -4.7% |
| 1999 | 1.81 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 2000 | 1.71 million tonnes | -5.6% |
| 2001 | 1.69 million tonnes | -0.9% |
| 2002 | 1.83 million tonnes | +8.4% |
| 2003 | 1.60 million tonnes | -12.5% |
| 2004 | 1.65 million tonnes | +2.9% |
| 2005 | 1.64 million tonnes | -0.3% |
| 2006 | 1.52 million tonnes | -7.3% |
| 2007 | 1.47 million tonnes | -3.5% |
| 2008 | 800,716 tonnes | -45.6% |
| 2009 | 696,133 tonnes | -13.1% |
| 2010 | 635,051 tonnes | -8.8% |
| 2011 | 696,736 tonnes | +9.7% |
| 2012 | 673,509 tonnes | -3.3% |
| 2013 | 536,533 tonnes | -20.3% |
| 2014 | 586,546 tonnes | +9.3% |
| 2015 | 565,891 tonnes | -3.5% |
| 2016 | 550,249 tonnes | -2.8% |
| 2017 | 535,831 tonnes | -2.6% |
| 2018 | 531,516 tonnes | -0.8% |
| 2019 | 476,273 tonnes | -10.4% |
| 2020 | 199,593 tonnes | -58.1% |
| 2021 | 216,036 tonnes | +8.2% |
| 2022 | 236,196 tonnes | +9.3% |
Spain compared with similar countries
- Spain's 236,196 tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 26,427 tonnes, 8.9× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- Spain's 236,196 tonnes is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 40,466 tonnes, 5.8× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in Spain 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1938 | +117.3% | 65,151 tonnes | 141,604 tonnes |
| 1936 | -62.4% | 248,253 tonnes | 93,298 tonnes |
| 2020 | -58.1% | 476,273 tonnes | 199,593 tonnes |
| 2008 | -45.6% | 1.47 million tonnes | 800,716 tonnes |
| 1940 | +33.3% | 156,835 tonnes | 209,061 tonnes |
| 1937 | -30.2% | 93,298 tonnes | 65,151 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 3,089 tonnes | 3,075 tonnes | 3,103 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 3,119 tonnes | 3,105 tonnes | 3,133 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 3,149 tonnes | 3,136 tonnes | 3,162 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 3,178 tonnes | 3,165 tonnes | 3,191 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 3,207 tonnes | 3,194 tonnes | 3,219 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 3,234 tonnes | 3,222 tonnes | 3,246 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 3,260 tonnes | 3,248 tonnes | 3,272 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 3,345 tonnes | 3,274 tonnes | 3,415 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 4,639 tonnes | 3,468 tonnes | 6,018 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 9,317 tonnes | 6,139 tonnes | 11,926 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 17,976 tonnes | 13,573 tonnes | 27,709 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 35,140 tonnes | 30,703 tonnes | 39,736 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 56,987 tonnes | 44,186 tonnes | 70,290 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 92,562 tonnes | 76,139 tonnes | 109,885 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 145,344 tonnes | 120,539 tonnes | 168,662 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 190,273 tonnes | 171,543 tonnes | 210,857 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 220,446 tonnes | 209,799 tonnes | 234,834 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 227,294 tonnes | 202,616 tonnes | 267,528 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 190,157 tonnes | 65,151 tonnes | 259,427 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 267,277 tonnes | 209,061 tonnes | 362,261 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 440,058 tonnes | 331,493 tonnes | 602,710 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 884,816 tonnes | 543,281 tonnes | 1.38 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.09 million tonnes | 1.51 million tonnes | 2.72 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.42 million tonnes | 1.92 million tonnes | 3.00 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.01 million tonnes | 1.78 million tonnes | 2.25 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.46 million tonnes | 696,133 tonnes | 1.83 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 578,814 tonnes | 476,273 tonnes | 696,736 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 217,275 tonnes | 199,593 tonnes | 236,196 tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Spain
- 35 Laos 256,495 tonnes compare
- 36 Turkmenistan 249,083 tonnes compare
- 37 Zambia 239,970 tonnes compare
- 39 Bosnia and Herzegovina 232,714 tonnes compare
- 40 Netherlands 213,298 tonnes compare
- 41 Qatar 195,356 tonnes compare
More energy & mining data for Spain
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate 2.17 % 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 13.4% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in Spain?
- Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in Spain was 236,196 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 Spain?
- The highest recorded value was 3.00 million tonnes in 1981.
- What is the lowest coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions recorded in Spain?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,075 tonnes in 1750.
- How does Spain rank for coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions?
- Spain ranks 38th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions rising or falling in Spain?
- Over the last ten years it is down 64.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Spain 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.