Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in United States
United States: Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions was 2.00 million tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
2.00 million tonnes
Change on year
down 1.5%
World rank
11th
of 220 countries
All-time high
31.14 million tonnes
in 1973
All-time low
2,496 tonnes
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in United States, 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 States stood at 2.00 million tonnes.
The figure is down 1.5% on the previous year and down 64.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in United States peaked at 31.14 million tonnes in 1973 and was at its lowest, 2,496 tonnes, in 1750.
United States ranks 11th of 220 countries on this measure, 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 United States, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 2,496 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 2,539 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1752 | 2,582 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1753 | 2,625 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1754 | 2,668 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1755 | 2,711 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1756 | 2,754 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1757 | 2,797 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1758 | 2,840 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1759 | 2,883 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1760 | 2,926 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1761 | 2,979 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1762 | 3,032 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1763 | 3,084 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1764 | 3,137 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1765 | 3,190 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1766 | 3,242 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1767 | 3,295 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1768 | 3,347 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1769 | 3,400 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1770 | 3,452 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1771 | 3,517 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1772 | 3,582 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1773 | 3,647 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1774 | 3,712 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1775 | 3,777 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1776 | 3,842 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1777 | 3,907 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1778 | 3,972 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1779 | 4,036 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1780 | 4,101 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1781 | 4,182 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1782 | 4,263 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1783 | 4,344 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1784 | 4,425 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1785 | 4,506 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1786 | 4,587 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1787 | 4,667 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1788 | 4,748 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1789 | 4,828 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1790 | 4,909 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1791 | 5,072 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1792 | 5,234 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1793 | 5,396 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1794 | 5,558 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1795 | 5,719 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1796 | 5,881 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1797 | 6,041 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1798 | 6,202 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1799 | 6,362 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1800 | 9,894 tonnes | +55.5% |
| 1801 | 10,312 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1802 | 10,828 tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1803 | 11,148 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1804 | 11,860 tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1805 | 12,178 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1806 | 12,300 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1807 | 13,110 tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1808 | 13,526 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1809 | 13,893 tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1810 | 14,716 tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1811 | 15,377 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1812 | 16,138 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1813 | 16,900 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1814 | 17,711 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1815 | 18,523 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1816 | 19,633 tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1817 | 20,645 tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1818 | 21,757 tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1819 | 21,777 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1820 | 22,443 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1821 | 23,801 tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1822 | 24,772 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1823 | 25,778 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1824 | 27,774 tonnes | +7.7% |
| 1825 | 29,944 tonnes | +7.8% |
| 1826 | 32,892 tonnes | +9.8% |
| 1827 | 35,580 tonnes | +8.2% |
| 1828 | 38,670 tonnes | +8.7% |
| 1829 | 42,090 tonnes | +8.8% |
| 1830 | 46,509 tonnes | +10.5% |
| 1831 | 49,467 tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1832 | 60,868 tonnes | +23.0% |
| 1833 | 68,528 tonnes | +12.6% |
| 1834 | 67,305 tonnes | -1.8% |
| 1835 | 80,840 tonnes | +20.1% |
| 1836 | 87,514 tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1837 | 95,471 tonnes | +9.1% |
| 1838 | 92,729 tonnes | -2.9% |
| 1839 | 100,407 tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1840 | 105,580 tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1841 | 111,480 tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1842 | 122,120 tonnes | +9.5% |
| 1843 | 134,571 tonnes | +10.2% |
| 1844 | 156,540 tonnes | +16.3% |
| 1845 | 183,846 tonnes | +17.4% |
| 1846 | 204,641 tonnes | +11.3% |
| 1847 | 237,605 tonnes | +16.1% |
| 1848 | 263,246 tonnes | +10.8% |
| 1849 | 283,115 tonnes | +7.5% |
| 1850 | 304,843 tonnes | +7.7% |
| 1851 | 369,223 tonnes | +21.1% |
| 1852 | 397,565 tonnes | +7.7% |
| 1853 | 441,744 tonnes | +11.1% |
| 1854 | 482,500 tonnes | +9.2% |
| 1855 | 548,416 tonnes | +13.7% |
| 1856 | 560,260 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1857 | 559,360 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1858 | 552,212 tonnes | -1.3% |
| 1859 | 581,121 tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1860 | 588,570 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1861 | 551,441 tonnes | -6.3% |
| 1862 | 557,270 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1863 | 618,964 tonnes | +11.1% |
| 1864 | 640,727 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1865 | 624,614 tonnes | -2.5% |
| 1866 | 632,207 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1867 | 773,941 tonnes | +22.4% |
| 1868 | 876,251 tonnes | +13.2% |
| 1869 | 989,885 tonnes | +13.0% |
| 1870 | 1.04 million tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1871 | 1.10 million tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1872 | 1.34 million tonnes | +21.8% |
| 1873 | 1.48 million tonnes | +10.5% |
| 1874 | 1.44 million tonnes | -2.6% |
| 1875 | 1.47 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1876 | 1.48 million tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1877 | 1.66 million tonnes | +12.3% |
| 1878 | 1.66 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1879 | 2.04 million tonnes | +23.0% |
| 1880 | 2.34 million tonnes | +14.7% |
| 1881 | 2.47 million tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1882 | 2.75 million tonnes | +11.3% |
| 1883 | 2.98 million tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1884 | 3.13 million tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1885 | 3.15 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1886 | 3.24 million tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1887 | 3.43 million tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1888 | 4.11 million tonnes | +20.0% |
| 1889 | 3.72 million tonnes | -9.6% |
| 1890 | 4.41 million tonnes | +18.6% |
| 1891 | 4.72 million tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1892 | 5.04 million tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1893 | 5.06 million tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1894 | 4.77 million tonnes | -5.7% |
| 1895 | 5.37 million tonnes | +12.5% |
| 1896 | 5.48 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1897 | 5.78 million tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1898 | 6.37 million tonnes | +10.1% |
| 1899 | 7.32 million tonnes | +15.0% |
| 1900 | 7.86 million tonnes | +7.3% |
| 1901 | 8.61 million tonnes | +9.5% |
| 1902 | 9.15 million tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1903 | 10.68 million tonnes | +16.7% |
| 1904 | 10.68 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1905 | 11.99 million tonnes | +12.3% |
| 1906 | 12.72 million tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1907 | 14.54 million tonnes | +14.3% |
| 1908 | 12.76 million tonnes | -12.3% |
| 1909 | 14.33 million tonnes | +12.3% |
| 1910 | 15.52 million tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1911 | 15.05 million tonnes | -3.1% |
| 1912 | 15.87 million tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1913 | 16.58 million tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1914 | 14.81 million tonnes | -10.7% |
| 1915 | 15.23 million tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1916 | 17.31 million tonnes | +13.6% |
| 1917 | 18.82 million tonnes | +8.8% |
| 1918 | 19.39 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1919 | 15.82 million tonnes | -18.4% |
| 1920 | 17.91 million tonnes | +13.2% |
| 1921 | 13.74 million tonnes | -23.3% |
| 1922 | 13.91 million tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1923 | 18.59 million tonnes | +33.7% |
| 1924 | 16.67 million tonnes | -10.3% |
| 1925 | 16.83 million tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1926 | 18.55 million tonnes | +10.2% |
| 1927 | 18.09 million tonnes | -2.5% |
| 1928 | 18.08 million tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1929 | 19.52 million tonnes | +8.0% |
| 1930 | 17.15 million tonnes | -12.1% |
| 1931 | 14.10 million tonnes | -17.8% |
| 1932 | 11.31 million tonnes | -19.8% |
| 1933 | 12.28 million tonnes | +8.7% |
| 1934 | 13.33 million tonnes | +8.5% |
| 1935 | 14.07 million tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1936 | 16.39 million tonnes | +16.5% |
| 1937 | 17.12 million tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1938 | 13.74 million tonnes | -19.7% |
| 1939 | 15.49 million tonnes | +12.7% |
| 1940 | 17.54 million tonnes | +13.3% |
| 1941 | 19.52 million tonnes | +11.3% |
| 1942 | 21.16 million tonnes | +8.4% |
| 1943 | 21.51 million tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1944 | 22.39 million tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1945 | 20.99 million tonnes | -6.3% |
| 1946 | 19.59 million tonnes | -6.6% |
| 1947 | 22.36 million tonnes | +14.1% |
| 1948 | 22.77 million tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1949 | 17.47 million tonnes | -23.3% |
| 1950 | 18.46 million tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1951 | 19.26 million tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1952 | 18.49 million tonnes | -4.0% |
| 1953 | 18.84 million tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1954 | 17.65 million tonnes | -6.3% |
| 1955 | 19.78 million tonnes | +12.0% |
| 1956 | 20.74 million tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1957 | 20.23 million tonnes | -2.5% |
| 1958 | 19.34 million tonnes | -4.4% |
| 1959 | 19.20 million tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1960 | 20.75 million tonnes | +8.0% |
| 1961 | 21.31 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1962 | 21.98 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1963 | 22.76 million tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1964 | 23.68 million tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1965 | 24.89 million tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1966 | 26.23 million tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1967 | 25.36 million tonnes | -3.3% |
| 1968 | 27.03 million tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1969 | 28.34 million tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1970 | 29.47 million tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1971 | 28.56 million tonnes | -3.1% |
| 1972 | 29.39 million tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1973 | 31.14 million tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1974 | 29.16 million tonnes | -6.4% |
| 1975 | 27.30 million tonnes | -6.4% |
| 1976 | 28.61 million tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1977 | 28.82 million tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1978 | 27.06 million tonnes | -6.1% |
| 1979 | 27.13 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1980 | 25.88 million tonnes | -4.6% |
| 1981 | 24.57 million tonnes | -5.1% |
| 1982 | 22.87 million tonnes | -6.9% |
| 1983 | 22.11 million tonnes | -3.3% |
| 1984 | 23.12 million tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1985 | 22.79 million tonnes | -1.4% |
| 1986 | 22.35 million tonnes | -1.9% |
| 1987 | 22.56 million tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1988 | 23.11 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1989 | 23.10 million tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1990 | 22.99 million tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1991 | 22.40 million tonnes | -2.5% |
| 1992 | 22.12 million tonnes | -1.3% |
| 1993 | 21.56 million tonnes | -2.5% |
| 1994 | 21.11 million tonnes | -2.1% |
| 1995 | 18.72 million tonnes | -11.3% |
| 1996 | 18.39 million tonnes | -1.8% |
| 1997 | 18.55 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1998 | 18.57 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 17.38 million tonnes | -6.4% |
| 2000 | 16.52 million tonnes | -5.0% |
| 2001 | 15.65 million tonnes | -5.2% |
| 2002 | 14.59 million tonnes | -6.8% |
| 2003 | 14.80 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 2004 | 14.51 million tonnes | -2.0% |
| 2005 | 14.58 million tonnes | +0.5% |
| 2006 | 12.79 million tonnes | -12.3% |
| 2007 | 12.06 million tonnes | -5.7% |
| 2008 | 10.38 million tonnes | -14.0% |
| 2009 | 8.34 million tonnes | -19.6% |
| 2010 | 7.46 million tonnes | -10.6% |
| 2011 | 6.91 million tonnes | -7.3% |
| 2012 | 5.58 million tonnes | -19.3% |
| 2013 | 5.24 million tonnes | -6.0% |
| 2014 | 4.86 million tonnes | -7.3% |
| 2015 | 3.79 million tonnes | -22.0% |
| 2016 | 3.30 million tonnes | -12.8% |
| 2017 | 3.16 million tonnes | -4.3% |
| 2018 | 2.95 million tonnes | -6.8% |
| 2019 | 2.66 million tonnes | -9.6% |
| 2020 | 1.83 million tonnes | -31.3% |
| 2021 | 2.03 million tonnes | +11.1% |
| 2022 | 2.00 million tonnes | -1.5% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 2.00 million tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 26,427 tonnes, 75.7× the median. (78 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in United States 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1800 | +55.5% | 6,362 tonnes | 9,894 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 2,690 tonnes | 2,496 tonnes | 2,883 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 3,163 tonnes | 2,926 tonnes | 3,400 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 3,745 tonnes | 3,452 tonnes | 4,036 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 4,465 tonnes | 4,101 tonnes | 4,828 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 5,637 tonnes | 4,909 tonnes | 6,362 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 11,905 tonnes | 9,894 tonnes | 13,893 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 18,318 tonnes | 14,716 tonnes | 21,777 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 30,374 tonnes | 22,443 tonnes | 42,090 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 74,964 tonnes | 46,509 tonnes | 100,407 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 180,274 tonnes | 105,580 tonnes | 283,115 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 479,724 tonnes | 304,843 tonnes | 581,121 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 685,387 tonnes | 551,441 tonnes | 989,885 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 1.47 million tonnes | 1.04 million tonnes | 2.04 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 3.13 million tonnes | 2.34 million tonnes | 4.11 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 5.43 million tonnes | 4.41 million tonnes | 7.32 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 11.33 million tonnes | 7.86 million tonnes | 14.54 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 16.44 million tonnes | 14.81 million tonnes | 19.39 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 17.19 million tonnes | 13.74 million tonnes | 19.52 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 14.50 million tonnes | 11.31 million tonnes | 17.15 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 20.53 million tonnes | 17.47 million tonnes | 22.77 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 19.20 million tonnes | 17.65 million tonnes | 20.74 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 24.23 million tonnes | 20.75 million tonnes | 28.34 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 28.67 million tonnes | 27.06 million tonnes | 31.14 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 23.25 million tonnes | 22.11 million tonnes | 25.88 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 20.18 million tonnes | 17.38 million tonnes | 22.99 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 13.42 million tonnes | 8.34 million tonnes | 16.52 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.59 million tonnes | 2.66 million tonnes | 7.46 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.95 million tonnes | 1.83 million tonnes | 2.03 million tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near United States
More energy & mining data for United States
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate 1.94 % 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 7.5% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in United States?
- Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in United States was 2.00 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 United States?
- The highest recorded value was 31.14 million tonnes in 1973.
- What is the lowest coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,496 tonnes in 1750.
- How does United States rank for coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions?
- United States ranks 11th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 64.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States 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.