Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions was 140,141 tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
140,141 tonnes
Change on year
up 0.3%
World rank
50th
of 220 countries
All-time high
6.32 million tonnes
in 1970
All-time low
92,530 tonnes
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in United Kingdom, 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 United Kingdom stood at 140,141 tonnes.
The figure is up 0.3% on the previous year and down 74.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in United Kingdom peaked at 6.32 million tonnes in 1970 and was at its lowest, 92,530 tonnes, in 1750.
That places United Kingdom 50th 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 United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 92,530 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 92,914 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1752 | 93,230 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1753 | 93,442 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1754 | 93,724 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1755 | 93,815 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1756 | 100,470 tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1757 | 100,752 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1758 | 100,273 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1759 | 100,762 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1760 | 100,525 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1761 | 110,013 tonnes | +9.4% |
| 1762 | 109,811 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1763 | 110,318 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1764 | 111,239 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1765 | 110,121 tonnes | -1.0% |
| 1766 | 123,429 tonnes | +12.1% |
| 1767 | 122,778 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1768 | 124,097 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1769 | 124,881 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1770 | 125,941 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1771 | 138,052 tonnes | +9.6% |
| 1772 | 138,127 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1773 | 138,082 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1774 | 138,762 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1775 | 139,182 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1776 | 153,607 tonnes | +10.4% |
| 1777 | 154,080 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1778 | 153,931 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1779 | 156,218 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1780 | 155,793 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1781 | 173,462 tonnes | +11.3% |
| 1782 | 173,832 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1783 | 176,104 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1784 | 176,543 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1785 | 177,000 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1786 | 199,783 tonnes | +12.9% |
| 1787 | 199,463 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1788 | 198,178 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1789 | 198,553 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1790 | 200,121 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1791 | 220,884 tonnes | +10.4% |
| 1792 | 221,571 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1793 | 221,826 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1794 | 221,942 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1795 | 221,868 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1796 | 230,720 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1797 | 241,901 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1798 | 251,448 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1799 | 261,620 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1800 | 269,900 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1801 | 270,531 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1802 | 271,450 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1803 | 304,112 tonnes | +12.0% |
| 1804 | 304,772 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1805 | 317,235 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1806 | 335,566 tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1807 | 335,216 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1808 | 335,351 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1809 | 335,417 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1810 | 333,081 tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1811 | 355,816 tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1812 | 370,341 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1813 | 375,026 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1814 | 380,813 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1815 | 389,076 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1816 | 413,689 tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1817 | 417,969 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1818 | 419,606 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1819 | 422,672 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1820 | 426,044 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1821 | 431,551 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1822 | 448,731 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1823 | 468,785 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1824 | 489,872 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1825 | 495,689 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1826 | 504,310 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1827 | 528,948 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1828 | 533,087 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1829 | 541,395 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1830 | 685,186 tonnes | +26.6% |
| 1831 | 669,378 tonnes | -2.3% |
| 1832 | 669,021 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1833 | 667,728 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1834 | 669,789 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1835 | 671,169 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1836 | 778,777 tonnes | +16.0% |
| 1837 | 752,922 tonnes | -3.3% |
| 1838 | 775,658 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1839 | 798,330 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1840 | 827,322 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1841 | 835,224 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1842 | 870,307 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1843 | 909,883 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1844 | 954,283 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1845 | 1.02 million tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1846 | 977,544 tonnes | -4.4% |
| 1847 | 1.06 million tonnes | +8.1% |
| 1848 | 1.11 million tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1849 | 1.18 million tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1850 | 1.24 million tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1851 | 1.17 million tonnes | -5.9% |
| 1852 | 1.15 million tonnes | -1.8% |
| 1853 | 1.13 million tonnes | -2.0% |
| 1854 | 1.33 million tonnes | +17.5% |
| 1855 | 1.23 million tonnes | -7.4% |
| 1856 | 1.35 million tonnes | +9.7% |
| 1857 | 1.35 million tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1858 | 1.36 million tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1859 | 1.53 million tonnes | +12.9% |
| 1860 | 1.74 million tonnes | +13.8% |
| 1861 | 1.83 million tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1862 | 1.78 million tonnes | -2.4% |
| 1863 | 1.91 million tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1864 | 2.07 million tonnes | +8.2% |
| 1865 | 2.21 million tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1866 | 2.28 million tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1867 | 2.36 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1868 | 2.33 million tonnes | -1.2% |
| 1869 | 2.46 million tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1870 | 2.53 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1871 | 2.72 million tonnes | +7.5% |
| 1872 | 2.90 million tonnes | +6.9% |
| 1873 | 3.06 million tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1874 | 3.02 million tonnes | -1.3% |
| 1875 | 3.23 million tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1876 | 3.23 million tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1877 | 3.29 million tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1878 | 3.24 million tonnes | -1.6% |
| 1879 | 3.26 million tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1880 | 3.56 million tonnes | +9.1% |
| 1881 | 3.75 million tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1882 | 3.82 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1883 | 3.99 million tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1884 | 3.91 million tonnes | -2.1% |
| 1885 | 3.87 million tonnes | -0.9% |
| 1886 | 3.84 million tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1887 | 3.95 million tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1888 | 4.12 million tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1889 | 4.28 million tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1890 | 4.39 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1891 | 4.51 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1892 | 4.44 million tonnes | -1.5% |
| 1893 | 4.01 million tonnes | -9.7% |
| 1894 | 4.60 million tonnes | +14.8% |
| 1895 | 4.66 million tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1896 | 4.81 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1897 | 4.96 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1898 | 5.00 million tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1899 | 5.37 million tonnes | +7.3% |
| 1900 | 5.45 million tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1901 | 5.29 million tonnes | -3.0% |
| 1902 | 5.43 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1903 | 5.43 million tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1904 | 5.39 million tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1905 | 5.41 million tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1906 | 5.61 million tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1907 | 5.87 million tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1908 | 5.72 million tonnes | -2.5% |
| 1909 | 5.78 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1910 | 5.84 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1911 | 6.01 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1912 | 5.71 million tonnes | -5.0% |
| 1913 | 5.64 million tonnes | -1.2% |
| 1914 | 5.54 million tonnes | -1.8% |
| 1915 | 5.77 million tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1916 | 6.04 million tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1917 | 6.02 million tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1918 | 5.62 million tonnes | -6.8% |
| 1919 | 5.41 million tonnes | -3.7% |
| 1920 | 5.61 million tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1921 | 3.81 million tonnes | -32.1% |
| 1922 | 4.90 million tonnes | +28.5% |
| 1923 | 4.09 million tonnes | -16.4% |
| 1924 | 4.33 million tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1925 | 4.19 million tonnes | -3.3% |
| 1926 | 3.06 million tonnes | -26.8% |
| 1927 | 4.42 million tonnes | +44.3% |
| 1928 | 4.08 million tonnes | -7.7% |
| 1929 | 4.29 million tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1930 | 4.08 million tonnes | -4.9% |
| 1931 | 3.84 million tonnes | -6.1% |
| 1932 | 3.77 million tonnes | -1.6% |
| 1933 | 3.78 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1934 | 4.01 million tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1935 | 4.15 million tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1936 | 4.33 million tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1937 | 4.46 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1938 | 4.24 million tonnes | -5.0% |
| 1939 | 4.43 million tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1940 | 4.65 million tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1941 | 4.68 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1942 | 4.67 million tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1943 | 4.46 million tonnes | -4.5% |
| 1944 | 4.41 million tonnes | -1.3% |
| 1945 | 4.17 million tonnes | -5.5% |
| 1946 | 4.37 million tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1947 | 4.29 million tonnes | -1.8% |
| 1948 | 4.56 million tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1949 | 4.63 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1950 | 5.02 million tonnes | +8.5% |
| 1951 | 5.23 million tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1952 | 5.14 million tonnes | -1.7% |
| 1953 | 5.18 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1954 | 5.39 million tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1955 | 5.49 million tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1956 | 5.50 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1957 | 5.40 million tonnes | -1.8% |
| 1958 | 5.24 million tonnes | -2.8% |
| 1959 | 5.17 million tonnes | -1.4% |
| 1960 | 5.55 million tonnes | +7.5% |
| 1961 | 5.56 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1962 | 5.78 million tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1963 | 5.92 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1964 | 5.86 million tonnes | -1.0% |
| 1965 | 6.02 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1966 | 5.89 million tonnes | -2.1% |
| 1967 | 5.86 million tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1968 | 5.80 million tonnes | -1.0% |
| 1969 | 6.06 million tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1970 | 6.32 million tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1971 | 6.28 million tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1972 | 5.79 million tonnes | -7.8% |
| 1973 | 5.91 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1974 | 5.51 million tonnes | -6.9% |
| 1975 | 5.06 million tonnes | -8.1% |
| 1976 | 4.93 million tonnes | -2.6% |
| 1977 | 4.98 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1978 | 4.97 million tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1979 | 5.25 million tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1980 | 4.67 million tonnes | -11.1% |
| 1981 | 4.25 million tonnes | -9.0% |
| 1982 | 4.05 million tonnes | -4.5% |
| 1983 | 3.74 million tonnes | -7.8% |
| 1984 | 3.59 million tonnes | -4.0% |
| 1985 | 3.60 million tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1986 | 3.74 million tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1987 | 3.71 million tonnes | -0.8% |
| 1988 | 3.65 million tonnes | -1.5% |
| 1989 | 3.55 million tonnes | -2.9% |
| 1990 | 3.61 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1991 | 3.55 million tonnes | -1.7% |
| 1992 | 3.46 million tonnes | -2.5% |
| 1993 | 3.14 million tonnes | -9.2% |
| 1994 | 2.83 million tonnes | -9.8% |
| 1995 | 2.56 million tonnes | -9.5% |
| 1996 | 2.19 million tonnes | -14.6% |
| 1997 | 1.81 million tonnes | -17.4% |
| 1998 | 1.80 million tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1999 | 1.37 million tonnes | -23.8% |
| 2000 | 1.29 million tonnes | -5.4% |
| 2001 | 1.22 million tonnes | -5.8% |
| 2002 | 1.09 million tonnes | -10.6% |
| 2003 | 1.07 million tonnes | -1.5% |
| 2004 | 927,247 tonnes | -13.6% |
| 2005 | 824,144 tonnes | -11.1% |
| 2006 | 800,769 tonnes | -2.8% |
| 2007 | 724,829 tonnes | -9.5% |
| 2008 | 657,230 tonnes | -9.3% |
| 2009 | 556,601 tonnes | -15.3% |
| 2010 | 552,782 tonnes | -0.7% |
| 2011 | 542,403 tonnes | -1.9% |
| 2012 | 556,073 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 482,422 tonnes | -13.2% |
| 2014 | 394,163 tonnes | -18.3% |
| 2015 | 313,120 tonnes | -20.6% |
| 2016 | 247,382 tonnes | -21.0% |
| 2017 | 224,724 tonnes | -9.2% |
| 2018 | 223,168 tonnes | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 196,581 tonnes | -11.9% |
| 2020 | 144,341 tonnes | -26.6% |
| 2021 | 139,696 tonnes | -3.2% |
| 2022 | 140,141 tonnes | +0.3% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 140,141 tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 26,427 tonnes, 5.3× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 140,141 tonnes is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 40,466 tonnes, 3.5× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in United Kingdom 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1927 | +44.3% | 3.06 million tonnes | 4.42 million tonnes |
| 1921 | -32.1% | 5.61 million tonnes | 3.81 million tonnes |
| 1922 | +28.5% | 3.81 million tonnes | 4.90 million tonnes |
| 1926 | -26.8% | 4.19 million tonnes | 3.06 million tonnes |
| 2020 | -26.6% | 196,581 tonnes | 144,341 tonnes |
| 1830 | +26.6% | 541,395 tonnes | 685,186 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 96,191 tonnes | 92,530 tonnes | 100,762 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 114,721 tonnes | 100,525 tonnes | 124,881 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 143,598 tonnes | 125,941 tonnes | 156,218 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 182,871 tonnes | 155,793 tonnes | 199,783 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 229,390 tonnes | 200,121 tonnes | 261,620 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 307,955 tonnes | 269,900 tonnes | 335,566 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 387,809 tonnes | 333,081 tonnes | 422,672 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 486,841 tonnes | 426,044 tonnes | 541,395 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 713,796 tonnes | 667,728 tonnes | 798,330 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 974,552 tonnes | 827,322 tonnes | 1.18 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 1.28 million tonnes | 1.13 million tonnes | 1.53 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 2.10 million tonnes | 1.74 million tonnes | 2.46 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 3.05 million tonnes | 2.53 million tonnes | 3.29 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 3.91 million tonnes | 3.56 million tonnes | 4.28 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 4.68 million tonnes | 4.01 million tonnes | 5.37 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 5.54 million tonnes | 5.29 million tonnes | 5.87 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 5.76 million tonnes | 5.41 million tonnes | 6.04 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 4.28 million tonnes | 3.06 million tonnes | 5.61 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 4.11 million tonnes | 3.77 million tonnes | 4.46 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 4.49 million tonnes | 4.17 million tonnes | 4.68 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 5.28 million tonnes | 5.02 million tonnes | 5.50 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 5.83 million tonnes | 5.55 million tonnes | 6.06 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 5.50 million tonnes | 4.93 million tonnes | 6.32 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.85 million tonnes | 3.55 million tonnes | 4.67 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.63 million tonnes | 1.37 million tonnes | 3.61 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 916,817 tonnes | 556,601 tonnes | 1.29 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 373,282 tonnes | 196,581 tonnes | 556,073 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 141,393 tonnes | 139,696 tonnes | 144,341 tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More energy & mining data for United Kingdom
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate -1.3 % 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 8.2% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in United Kingdom?
- Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in United Kingdom was 140,141 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 6.32 million tonnes in 1970.
- What is the lowest coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 92,530 tonnes in 1750.
- How does United Kingdom rank for coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions?
- United Kingdom ranks 50th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 74.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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.