Annual CO₂ emissions from coal in China
China: Annual CO₂ emissions from coal was 8.89 billion tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
8.89 billion tonnes
Change on year
up 1.7%
World rank
1st
of 179 countries
All-time high
8.89 billion tonnes
in 2024
All-time low
17.03 million tonnes
in 1912
Years of data
118
1907–2024
Annual CO₂ emissions from coal in China, 1907–2024
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
The most recent figure for annual co₂ emissions from coal in China is 8.89 billion tonnes, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 118 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.7% on the previous year and up 19.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual co₂ emissions from coal in China peaked at 8.89 billion tonnes in 2024 and was at its lowest, 17.03 million tonnes, in 1912.
That places China 1st out of 179 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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 China, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1907 | 19.89 million tonnes | — |
| 1908 | 22.74 million tonnes | +14.3% |
| 1909 | 24.25 million tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1910 | 25.01 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1911 | 24.63 million tonnes | -1.5% |
| 1912 | 17.03 million tonnes | -30.9% |
| 1913 | 24.25 million tonnes | +42.4% |
| 1914 | 26.72 million tonnes | +10.2% |
| 1915 | 25.42 million tonnes | -4.9% |
| 1916 | 30.13 million tonnes | +18.5% |
| 1917 | 32.02 million tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1918 | 34.75 million tonnes | +8.5% |
| 1919 | 38.00 million tonnes | +9.4% |
| 1920 | 40.28 million tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1921 | 38.76 million tonnes | -3.8% |
| 1922 | 39.97 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1923 | 46.52 million tonnes | +16.4% |
| 1924 | 48.85 million tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1925 | 45.95 million tonnes | -5.9% |
| 1926 | 43.65 million tonnes | -5.0% |
| 1927 | 45.80 million tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1928 | 47.54 million tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1929 | 48.19 million tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1930 | 49.33 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1931 | 51.62 million tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1932 | 49.97 million tonnes | -3.2% |
| 1933 | 53.73 million tonnes | +7.5% |
| 1934 | 62.00 million tonnes | +15.4% |
| 1935 | 72.06 million tonnes | +16.2% |
| 1936 | 74.54 million tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1937 | 69.94 million tonnes | -6.2% |
| 1938 | 60.52 million tonnes | -13.5% |
| 1939 | 73.02 million tonnes | +20.7% |
| 1940 | 88.72 million tonnes | +21.5% |
| 1941 | 111.45 million tonnes | +25.6% |
| 1942 | 124.45 million tonnes | +11.7% |
| 1943 | 107.40 million tonnes | -13.7% |
| 1944 | 101.90 million tonnes | -5.1% |
| 1945 | 55.34 million tonnes | -45.7% |
| 1946 | 35.81 million tonnes | -35.3% |
| 1947 | 41.50 million tonnes | +15.9% |
| 1948 | 38.09 million tonnes | -8.2% |
| 1949 | 61.44 million tonnes | +61.3% |
| 1950 | 77.61 million tonnes | +26.3% |
| 1951 | 100.13 million tonnes | +29.0% |
| 1952 | 125.45 million tonnes | +25.3% |
| 1953 | 130.24 million tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1954 | 155.59 million tonnes | +19.5% |
| 1955 | 183.20 million tonnes | +17.7% |
| 1956 | 205.03 million tonnes | +11.9% |
| 1957 | 243.81 million tonnes | +18.9% |
| 1958 | 508.18 million tonnes | +108.4% |
| 1959 | 695.45 million tonnes | +36.9% |
| 1960 | 748.39 million tonnes | +7.6% |
| 1961 | 522.49 million tonnes | -30.2% |
| 1962 | 411.93 million tonnes | -21.2% |
| 1963 | 406.14 million tonnes | -1.4% |
| 1964 | 401.58 million tonnes | -1.1% |
| 1965 | 433.00 million tonnes | +7.8% |
| 1966 | 469.77 million tonnes | +8.5% |
| 1967 | 383.61 million tonnes | -18.3% |
| 1968 | 412.73 million tonnes | +7.6% |
| 1969 | 501.19 million tonnes | +21.4% |
| 1970 | 665.88 million tonnes | +32.9% |
| 1971 | 736.43 million tonnes | +10.6% |
| 1972 | 770.74 million tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1973 | 783.75 million tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1974 | 776.12 million tonnes | -1.0% |
| 1975 | 906.66 million tonnes | +16.8% |
| 1976 | 910.40 million tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1977 | 998.63 million tonnes | +9.7% |
| 1978 | 1.12 billion tonnes | +11.9% |
| 1979 | 1.15 billion tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1980 | 1.12 billion tonnes | -2.2% |
| 1981 | 1.13 billion tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1982 | 1.25 billion tonnes | +11.0% |
| 1983 | 1.32 billion tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1984 | 1.45 billion tonnes | +10.0% |
| 1985 | 1.58 billion tonnes | +9.0% |
| 1986 | 1.66 billion tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1987 | 1.77 billion tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1988 | 1.89 billion tonnes | +6.9% |
| 1989 | 1.92 billion tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1990 | 1.98 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1991 | 2.05 billion tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1992 | 2.11 billion tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1993 | 2.23 billion tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1994 | 2.38 billion tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1995 | 2.57 billion tonnes | +7.9% |
| 1996 | 2.66 billion tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1997 | 2.61 billion tonnes | -1.9% |
| 1998 | 2.44 billion tonnes | -6.3% |
| 1999 | 2.58 billion tonnes | +5.6% |
| 2000 | 2.60 billion tonnes | +0.8% |
| 2001 | 2.64 billion tonnes | +1.4% |
| 2002 | 3.02 billion tonnes | +14.4% |
| 2003 | 3.60 billion tonnes | +19.3% |
| 2004 | 3.84 billion tonnes | +6.5% |
| 2005 | 4.42 billion tonnes | +15.4% |
| 2006 | 4.91 billion tonnes | +10.9% |
| 2007 | 5.29 billion tonnes | +7.8% |
| 2008 | 5.73 billion tonnes | +8.3% |
| 2009 | 6.03 billion tonnes | +5.2% |
| 2010 | 6.57 billion tonnes | +9.0% |
| 2011 | 7.31 billion tonnes | +11.3% |
| 2012 | 7.46 billion tonnes | +2.1% |
| 2013 | 7.49 billion tonnes | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 7.43 billion tonnes | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 7.27 billion tonnes | -2.1% |
| 2016 | 7.07 billion tonnes | -2.7% |
| 2017 | 7.16 billion tonnes | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 7.32 billion tonnes | +2.1% |
| 2019 | 7.52 billion tonnes | +2.8% |
| 2020 | 7.68 billion tonnes | +2.1% |
| 2021 | 8.00 billion tonnes | +4.2% |
| 2022 | 8.47 billion tonnes | +5.8% |
| 2023 | 8.74 billion tonnes | +3.2% |
| 2024 | 8.89 billion tonnes | +1.7% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 8.89 billion tonnes is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 2.03 million tonnes, 4374.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
- China's 8.89 billion tonnes is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 11.35 million tonnes, 783.1× the median. (25 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual CO₂ emissions from coal in China 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | +108.4% | 243.81 million tonnes | 508.18 million tonnes |
| 1949 | +61.3% | 38.09 million tonnes | 61.44 million tonnes |
| 1945 | -45.7% | 101.90 million tonnes | 55.34 million tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 22.29 million tonnes | 19.89 million tonnes | 24.25 million tonnes | 3 |
| 1910s | 27.80 million tonnes | 17.03 million tonnes | 38.00 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 44.55 million tonnes | 38.76 million tonnes | 48.85 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 61.67 million tonnes | 49.33 million tonnes | 74.54 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 76.61 million tonnes | 35.81 million tonnes | 124.45 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 242.47 million tonnes | 77.61 million tonnes | 695.45 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 469.08 million tonnes | 383.61 million tonnes | 748.39 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 881.35 million tonnes | 665.88 million tonnes | 1.15 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.51 billion tonnes | 1.12 billion tonnes | 1.92 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.36 billion tonnes | 1.98 billion tonnes | 2.66 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.21 billion tonnes | 2.60 billion tonnes | 6.03 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.26 billion tonnes | 6.57 billion tonnes | 7.52 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.36 billion tonnes | 7.68 billion tonnes | 8.89 billion tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
More climate change data for China
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 31.25 billion kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 604,831 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 191,478 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 413,353 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 722.56 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 14,763 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 342,069 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 200,605 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 141,464 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 757 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual co₂ emissions from coal in China?
- Annual co₂ emissions from coal in China was 8.89 billion 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 China?
- The highest recorded value was 8.89 billion tonnes in 2024.
- What is the lowest annual co₂ emissions from coal recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.03 million tonnes in 1912.
- How does China rank for annual co₂ emissions from coal?
- China ranks 1st out of 179 countries with data for 2024.
- Is annual co₂ emissions from coal rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 19.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China 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 — 118 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.