CO2 emissions from coal — all countries

CO2 emissions from coal — World

CO2 emissions from coal in the world in 2011 — 14,697.81 Mt. Since 1950, the indicator has risen by 281.3%.

2011 14,697.81 Mt +5.65% vs 2010
World rank
Period maximum 14,697.81 Mt2011
Period minimum 3,854.91 Mt1950

Trend over time

1950–2011 · million tonnes

CO2 emissions from coal — World, 1950–201105,00010,00015,00019501957196419711978198519921999200620111950: 3,854.91 Mt1951: 4,057.92 Mt1952: 4,007.27 Mt1953: 4,042.23 Mt1954: 4,038.26 Mt1955: 4,371.7 Mt1956: 4,596.44 Mt1957: 4,681.25 Mt1958: 4,754 Mt1970: 5,697.92 Mt1971: 5,699.43 Mt1972: 5,690.8 Mt1973: 5,860.47 Mt1974: 5,857.4 Mt1975: 6,018.11 Mt1976: 6,226.31 Mt1977: 6,374.97 Mt1978: 6,510.08 Mt1979: 6,799.88 Mt1980: 6,984.96 Mt1981: 6,942.94 Mt1982: 7,067 Mt1983: 7,269.24 Mt1984: 7,586.11 Mt1985: 8,144.83 Mt1986: 8,261.47 Mt1987: 8,549.23 Mt1988: 8,836.43 Mt1989: 8,827.8 Mt2010: 13,911.61 Mt2011: 14,697.81 Mt
Change over the period: +10,842.91 (+281.28%) Average annual rate: 2.22 %

Comparison, 2011

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: World

World 14,697.81 Mt
World computed 14,697.81 Mt
CO2 emissions from coal — World, by year World All countries CSV XLSX
Year Mt Change Change, %
2011 14,697.81 +786.2 +5.65%
2010 13,911.61
1989 8,827.8 −8.63 −0.1%
1988 8,836.43 +287.2 +3.36%
1987 8,549.23 +287.77 +3.48%
1986 8,261.47 +116.64 +1.43%
1985 8,144.83 +558.71 +7.36%
1984 7,586.11 +316.88 +4.36%
1983 7,269.24 +202.23 +2.86%
1982 7,067 +124.06 +1.79%
1981 6,942.94 −42.02 −0.6%
1980 6,984.96 +185.09 +2.72%
1979 6,799.88 +289.8 +4.45%
1978 6,510.08 +135.11 +2.12%
1977 6,374.97 +148.67 +2.39%
1976 6,226.31 +208.2 +3.46%
1975 6,018.11 +160.71 +2.74%
1974 5,857.4 −3.07 −0.05%
1973 5,860.47 +169.67 +2.98%
1972 5,690.8 −8.63 −0.15%
1971 5,699.43 +1.51 +0.03%
1970 5,697.92
1958 4,754 +72.74 +1.55%
1957 4,681.25 +84.81 +1.85%
1956 4,596.44 +224.74 +5.14%
1955 4,371.7 +333.44 +8.26%
1954 4,038.26 −3.97 −0.1%
1953 4,042.23 +34.97 +0.87%
1952 4,007.27 −50.66 −1.25%
1951 4,057.92 +203.01 +5.27%
1950 3,854.91

About the indicator

Carbon dioxide emissions from burning coal. Coal releases more emissions per unit of energy obtained than any other fuel — roughly twice as much as gas — so its share of emissions is always above its share of energy consumption. The series shows that global emissions from coal are not declining despite the closure of coal plants in Europe and North America: growth in Asia outweighs the reduction.

Important: Combustion only. Methane emissions from coal mines are not included here — they are counted under methane emissions.

Source: CO₂ and GHG Emissions (Our World in Data), license CC BY 4.0.