Annual CO₂ emissions from coal in Australia
Australia: Annual CO₂ emissions from coal was 142.55 million tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
142.55 million tonnes
Change on year
up 1.1%
World rank
13th
of 179 countries
All-time high
206.07 million tonnes
in 2009
All-time low
236 tonnes
in 1805
Years of data
220
1805–2024
Annual CO₂ emissions from coal in Australia, 1805–2024
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2024, annual co₂ emissions from coal in Australia stood at 142.55 million tonnes.
The figure is up 1.1% on the previous year and down 15.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual co₂ emissions from coal in Australia peaked at 206.07 million tonnes in 2009 and was at its lowest, 236 tonnes, in 1805.
Australia ranks 13th of 179 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual CO₂ emissions from coal in Australia, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1805 | 236 tonnes | — |
| 1806 | 661 tonnes | +180.1% |
| 1807 | 629 tonnes | -4.8% |
| 1808 | 787 tonnes | +25.1% |
| 1809 | 1,259 tonnes | +60.0% |
| 1810 | 1,259 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1811 | 2,203 tonnes | +75.0% |
| 1812 | 2,203 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1813 | 2,832 tonnes | +28.6% |
| 1814 | 3,451 tonnes | +21.9% |
| 1815 | 2,753 tonnes | -20.2% |
| 1816 | 2,281 tonnes | -17.1% |
| 1817 | 2,045 tonnes | -10.3% |
| 1818 | 1,888 tonnes | -7.7% |
| 1819 | 3,540 tonnes | +87.5% |
| 1820 | 6,160 tonnes | +74.0% |
| 1821 | 3,147 tonnes | -48.9% |
| 1822 | 3,934 tonnes | +25.0% |
| 1823 | 4,720 tonnes | +20.0% |
| 1824 | 4,720 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1825 | 2,870 tonnes | -39.2% |
| 1826 | 6,360 tonnes | +121.6% |
| 1827 | 5,902 tonnes | -7.2% |
| 1828 | 3,786 tonnes | -35.9% |
| 1829 | 6,031 tonnes | +59.3% |
| 1830 | 5,748 tonnes | -4.7% |
| 1831 | 1,421 tonnes | -75.3% |
| 1832 | 11,239 tonnes | +690.9% |
| 1833 | 10,718 tonnes | -4.6% |
| 1834 | 13,358 tonnes | +24.6% |
| 1835 | 19,498 tonnes | +46.0% |
| 1836 | 19,897 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1837 | 25,305 tonnes | +27.2% |
| 1838 | 27,094 tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1839 | 33,487 tonnes | +23.6% |
| 1840 | 47,605 tonnes | +42.2% |
| 1841 | 54,819 tonnes | +15.2% |
| 1842 | 62,779 tonnes | +14.5% |
| 1843 | 40,692 tonnes | -35.2% |
| 1844 | 36,374 tonnes | -10.6% |
| 1845 | 35,125 tonnes | -3.4% |
| 1846 | 61,308 tonnes | +74.5% |
| 1847 | 64,088 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1848 | 71,507 tonnes | +11.6% |
| 1849 | 76,336 tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1850 | 112,052 tonnes | +46.8% |
| 1851 | 106,379 tonnes | -5.1% |
| 1852 | 106,055 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1853 | 152,321 tonnes | +43.6% |
| 1854 | 183,526 tonnes | +20.5% |
| 1855 | 215,678 tonnes | +17.5% |
| 1856 | 298,886 tonnes | +38.6% |
| 1857 | 331,100 tonnes | +10.8% |
| 1858 | 340,483 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1859 | 484,948 tonnes | +42.4% |
| 1860 | 599,769 tonnes | +23.7% |
| 1861 | 560,575 tonnes | -6.5% |
| 1862 | 787,635 tonnes | +40.5% |
| 1863 | 720,450 tonnes | -8.5% |
| 1864 | 903,160 tonnes | +25.4% |
| 1865 | 973,508 tonnes | +7.8% |
| 1866 | 1.28 million tonnes | +31.5% |
| 1867 | 1.24 million tonnes | -3.1% |
| 1868 | 1.53 million tonnes | +23.6% |
| 1869 | 1.46 million tonnes | -4.4% |
| 1870 | 1.40 million tonnes | -4.3% |
| 1871 | 1.44 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1872 | 1.64 million tonnes | +13.6% |
| 1873 | 1.93 million tonnes | +18.0% |
| 1874 | 2.13 million tonnes | +10.1% |
| 1875 | 2.14 million tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1876 | 2.16 million tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1877 | 2.37 million tonnes | +9.9% |
| 1878 | 2.56 million tonnes | +8.0% |
| 1879 | 2.58 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1880 | 2.42 million tonnes | -6.2% |
| 1881 | 2.91 million tonnes | +20.2% |
| 1882 | 3.45 million tonnes | +18.7% |
| 1883 | 4.15 million tonnes | +20.2% |
| 1884 | 4.53 million tonnes | +9.3% |
| 1885 | 4.87 million tonnes | +7.5% |
| 1886 | 4.83 million tonnes | -0.9% |
| 1887 | 5.02 million tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1888 | 5.61 million tonnes | +11.7% |
| 1889 | 6.25 million tonnes | +11.4% |
| 1890 | 5.45 million tonnes | -12.8% |
| 1891 | 6.88 million tonnes | +26.3% |
| 1892 | 6.46 million tonnes | -6.2% |
| 1893 | 5.77 million tonnes | -10.6% |
| 1894 | 6.52 million tonnes | +13.0% |
| 1895 | 6.75 million tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1896 | 7.17 million tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1897 | 7.91 million tonnes | +10.3% |
| 1898 | 8.51 million tonnes | +7.7% |
| 1899 | 8.58 million tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1900 | 10.05 million tonnes | +17.2% |
| 1901 | 11.20 million tonnes | +11.5% |
| 1902 | 11.29 million tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1903 | 11.05 million tonnes | -2.1% |
| 1904 | 11.38 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1905 | 11.87 million tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1906 | 14.18 million tonnes | +19.5% |
| 1907 | 15.26 million tonnes | +7.6% |
| 1908 | 16.56 million tonnes | +8.5% |
| 1909 | 14.33 million tonnes | -13.5% |
| 1910 | 17.44 million tonnes | +21.7% |
| 1911 | 19.24 million tonnes | +10.3% |
| 1912 | 20.79 million tonnes | +8.0% |
| 1913 | 22.39 million tonnes | +7.7% |
| 1914 | 24.48 million tonnes | +9.3% |
| 1915 | 21.79 million tonnes | -11.0% |
| 1916 | 19.27 million tonnes | -11.6% |
| 1917 | 20.76 million tonnes | +7.7% |
| 1918 | 22.94 million tonnes | +10.5% |
| 1919 | 21.74 million tonnes | -5.2% |
| 1920 | 25.73 million tonnes | +18.4% |
| 1921 | 23.15 million tonnes | -10.0% |
| 1922 | 24.34 million tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1923 | 24.85 million tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1924 | 27.07 million tonnes | +8.9% |
| 1925 | 28.23 million tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1926 | 27.85 million tonnes | -1.3% |
| 1927 | 28.89 million tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1928 | 25.91 million tonnes | -10.3% |
| 1929 | 23.30 million tonnes | -10.1% |
| 1930 | 21.68 million tonnes | -6.9% |
| 1931 | 19.35 million tonnes | -10.7% |
| 1932 | 20.22 million tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1933 | 21.42 million tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1934 | 22.49 million tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1935 | 24.95 million tonnes | +10.9% |
| 1936 | 26.73 million tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1937 | 28.49 million tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1938 | 27.86 million tonnes | -2.2% |
| 1939 | 31.80 million tonnes | +14.2% |
| 1940 | 28.69 million tonnes | -9.8% |
| 1941 | 34.20 million tonnes | +19.2% |
| 1942 | 36.22 million tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1943 | 34.79 million tonnes | -3.9% |
| 1944 | 33.99 million tonnes | -2.3% |
| 1945 | 32.35 million tonnes | -4.8% |
| 1946 | 35.06 million tonnes | +8.4% |
| 1947 | 37.57 million tonnes | +7.2% |
| 1948 | 37.91 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1949 | 37.12 million tonnes | -2.1% |
| 1950 | 43.97 million tonnes | +18.5% |
| 1951 | 46.03 million tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1952 | 46.99 million tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1953 | 48.20 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1954 | 51.11 million tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1955 | 51.23 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1956 | 51.23 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 51.62 million tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1958 | 52.65 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1959 | 56.69 million tonnes | +7.7% |
| 1960 | 58.92 million tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1961 | 56.48 million tonnes | -4.1% |
| 1962 | 57.57 million tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1963 | 58.79 million tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1964 | 61.80 million tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1965 | 63.81 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1966 | 66.92 million tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1967 | 68.54 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1968 | 70.86 million tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1969 | 72.27 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1970 | 74.67 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1971 | 72.75 million tonnes | -2.6% |
| 1972 | 74.00 million tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1973 | 79.03 million tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1974 | 79.20 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1975 | 84.33 million tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1976 | 84.60 million tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1977 | 90.49 million tonnes | +7.0% |
| 1978 | 93.31 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1979 | 94.77 million tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1980 | 101.83 million tonnes | +7.4% |
| 1981 | 104.82 million tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1982 | 107.58 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1983 | 105.15 million tonnes | -2.3% |
| 1984 | 109.10 million tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1985 | 119.26 million tonnes | +9.3% |
| 1986 | 118.78 million tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1987 | 126.14 million tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1988 | 130.36 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1989 | 141.14 million tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1990 | 141.88 million tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1991 | 146.08 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1992 | 150.05 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1993 | 150.10 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 151.38 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1995 | 155.74 million tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1996 | 160.39 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1997 | 167.68 million tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1998 | 177.61 million tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1999 | 183.23 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 2000 | 185.80 million tonnes | +1.4% |
| 2001 | 190.08 million tonnes | +2.3% |
| 2002 | 191.15 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 2003 | 195.39 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 2004 | 202.22 million tonnes | +3.5% |
| 2005 | 200.72 million tonnes | -0.7% |
| 2006 | 204.40 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 2007 | 203.56 million tonnes | -0.4% |
| 2008 | 204.69 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 206.07 million tonnes | +0.7% |
| 2010 | 200.63 million tonnes | -2.6% |
| 2011 | 192.23 million tonnes | -4.2% |
| 2012 | 189.24 million tonnes | -1.6% |
| 2013 | 176.44 million tonnes | -6.8% |
| 2014 | 168.22 million tonnes | -4.7% |
| 2015 | 174.22 million tonnes | +3.6% |
| 2016 | 179.59 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 2017 | 176.95 million tonnes | -1.5% |
| 2018 | 169.34 million tonnes | -4.3% |
| 2019 | 164.89 million tonnes | -2.6% |
| 2020 | 156.62 million tonnes | -5.0% |
| 2021 | 151.82 million tonnes | -3.1% |
| 2022 | 146.00 million tonnes | -3.8% |
| 2023 | 140.98 million tonnes | -3.4% |
| 2024 | 142.55 million tonnes | +1.1% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 142.55 million tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.88 million tonnes, 76.0× the median. (68 countries reporting)
- Australia's 142.55 million tonnes is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 11.35 million tonnes, 12.6× the median. (25 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual CO₂ emissions from coal in Australia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1832 | +690.9% | 1,421 tonnes | 11,239 tonnes |
| 1806 | +180.1% | 236 tonnes | 661 tonnes |
| 1826 | +121.6% | 2,870 tonnes | 6,360 tonnes |
| 1819 | +87.5% | 1,888 tonnes | 3,540 tonnes |
| 1831 | -75.3% | 5,748 tonnes | 1,421 tonnes |
| 1811 | +75.0% | 1,259 tonnes | 2,203 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1800s | 714.4 tonnes | 236 tonnes | 1,259 tonnes | 5 |
| 1810s | 2,446 tonnes | 1,259 tonnes | 3,540 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 4,763 tonnes | 2,870 tonnes | 6,360 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 16,776 tonnes | 1,421 tonnes | 33,487 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 55,063 tonnes | 35,125 tonnes | 76,336 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 233,143 tonnes | 106,055 tonnes | 484,948 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 1.01 million tonnes | 560,575 tonnes | 1.53 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 2.03 million tonnes | 1.40 million tonnes | 2.58 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 4.40 million tonnes | 2.42 million tonnes | 6.25 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 7.00 million tonnes | 5.45 million tonnes | 8.58 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 12.72 million tonnes | 10.05 million tonnes | 16.56 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 21.08 million tonnes | 17.44 million tonnes | 24.48 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 25.93 million tonnes | 23.15 million tonnes | 28.89 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 24.50 million tonnes | 19.35 million tonnes | 31.80 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 34.79 million tonnes | 28.69 million tonnes | 37.91 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 49.97 million tonnes | 43.97 million tonnes | 56.69 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 63.60 million tonnes | 56.48 million tonnes | 72.27 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 82.71 million tonnes | 72.75 million tonnes | 94.77 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 116.42 million tonnes | 101.83 million tonnes | 141.14 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 158.41 million tonnes | 141.88 million tonnes | 183.23 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 198.41 million tonnes | 185.80 million tonnes | 206.07 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 179.18 million tonnes | 164.89 million tonnes | 200.63 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 147.59 million tonnes | 140.98 million tonnes | 156.62 million tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More climate change data for Australia
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 1.30 billion kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 118,578 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 34,162 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 84,416 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 128.91 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 3,015 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 12,473 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 10,966 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 1,507 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 41.38 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual co₂ emissions from coal in Australia?
- Annual co₂ emissions from coal in Australia was 142.55 million tonnes in 2024, according to Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual co₂ emissions from coal recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 206.07 million tonnes in 2009.
- What is the lowest annual co₂ emissions from coal recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 236 tonnes in 1805.
- How does Australia rank for annual co₂ emissions from coal?
- Australia ranks 13th out of 179 countries with data for 2024.
- Is annual co₂ emissions from coal rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual CO₂ emissions from coal. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 220 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Annual emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from coal, measured in tonnes.