Annual CO₂ emissions from coal in South Korea
South Korea: Annual CO₂ emissions from coal was 247.47 million tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
247.47 million tonnes
Change on year
down 6.2%
World rank
8th
of 179 countries
All-time high
340.35 million tonnes
in 2018
All-time low
771 tonnes
in 1905
Years of data
115
1905–2024
Annual CO₂ emissions from coal in South Korea, 1905–2024
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 247.47 million tonnes for annual co₂ emissions from coal in 2024.
The figure is down 6.2% on the previous year and down 25.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual co₂ emissions from coal in South Korea peaked at 340.35 million tonnes in 2018 and was at its lowest, 771 tonnes, in 1905.
South Korea ranks 8th 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 South Korea, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1905 | 771 tonnes | — |
| 1909 | 8,292 tonnes | +975.5% |
| 1910 | 10,413 tonnes | +25.6% |
| 1911 | 12,342 tonnes | +18.5% |
| 1912 | 15,427 tonnes | +25.0% |
| 1913 | 17,934 tonnes | +16.3% |
| 1914 | 25,648 tonnes | +43.0% |
| 1915 | 32,012 tonnes | +24.8% |
| 1916 | 26,612 tonnes | -16.9% |
| 1918 | 26,227 tonnes | -1.4% |
| 1919 | 31,048 tonnes | +18.4% |
| 1920 | 40,304 tonnes | +29.8% |
| 1921 | 43,389 tonnes | +7.7% |
| 1922 | 44,354 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1923 | 53,032 tonnes | +19.6% |
| 1924 | 55,731 tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1925 | 88,900 tonnes | +59.5% |
| 1926 | 95,457 tonnes | +7.4% |
| 1927 | 98,928 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1928 | 113,970 tonnes | +15.2% |
| 1929 | 130,940 tonnes | +14.9% |
| 1930 | 123,419 tonnes | -5.7% |
| 1931 | 130,747 tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1932 | 154,081 tonnes | +17.8% |
| 1933 | 181,657 tonnes | +17.9% |
| 1934 | 235,846 tonnes | +29.8% |
| 1935 | 272,100 tonnes | +15.4% |
| 1936 | 318,759 tonnes | +17.1% |
| 1937 | 339,586 tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1938 | 477,477 tonnes | +40.6% |
| 1939 | 592,016 tonnes | +24.0% |
| 1940 | 801,645 tonnes | +35.4% |
| 1941 | 859,883 tonnes | +7.3% |
| 1942 | 956,111 tonnes | +11.2% |
| 1943 | 920,042 tonnes | -3.8% |
| 1944 | 984,454 tonnes | +7.0% |
| 1946 | 483,620 tonnes | -50.9% |
| 1947 | 890,322 tonnes | +84.1% |
| 1948 | 1.66 million tonnes | +86.8% |
| 1949 | 2.17 million tonnes | +30.2% |
| 1950 | 1.68 million tonnes | -22.5% |
| 1951 | 2.36 million tonnes | +40.8% |
| 1952 | 2.78 million tonnes | +17.7% |
| 1953 | 3.66 million tonnes | +31.7% |
| 1954 | 4.07 million tonnes | +11.0% |
| 1955 | 5.29 million tonnes | +30.2% |
| 1956 | 6.10 million tonnes | +15.2% |
| 1957 | 6.70 million tonnes | +9.9% |
| 1958 | 7.17 million tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1959 | 8.89 million tonnes | +24.0% |
| 1960 | 10.24 million tonnes | +15.2% |
| 1961 | 11.90 million tonnes | +16.2% |
| 1962 | 13.92 million tonnes | +17.0% |
| 1963 | 16.77 million tonnes | +20.5% |
| 1964 | 18.33 million tonnes | +9.3% |
| 1965 | 19.64 million tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1966 | 22.53 million tonnes | +14.7% |
| 1967 | 23.41 million tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1968 | 20.05 million tonnes | -14.4% |
| 1969 | 20.03 million tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1970 | 23.28 million tonnes | +16.2% |
| 1971 | 23.54 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1972 | 24.52 million tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1973 | 28.76 million tonnes | +17.3% |
| 1974 | 29.54 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1975 | 30.68 million tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1976 | 33.80 million tonnes | +10.2% |
| 1977 | 37.06 million tonnes | +9.7% |
| 1978 | 36.35 million tonnes | -1.9% |
| 1979 | 46.00 million tonnes | +26.5% |
| 1980 | 49.42 million tonnes | +7.4% |
| 1981 | 59.93 million tonnes | +21.3% |
| 1982 | 60.57 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1983 | 64.56 million tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1984 | 77.64 million tonnes | +20.3% |
| 1985 | 87.83 million tonnes | +13.1% |
| 1986 | 91.15 million tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1987 | 92.28 million tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1988 | 98.92 million tonnes | +7.2% |
| 1989 | 96.03 million tonnes | -2.9% |
| 1990 | 94.31 million tonnes | -1.8% |
| 1991 | 94.09 million tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1992 | 91.32 million tonnes | -2.9% |
| 1993 | 99.62 million tonnes | +9.1% |
| 1994 | 101.80 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1995 | 105.30 million tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1996 | 122.69 million tonnes | +16.5% |
| 1997 | 133.31 million tonnes | +8.7% |
| 1998 | 137.60 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1999 | 145.63 million tonnes | +5.8% |
| 2000 | 163.88 million tonnes | +12.5% |
| 2001 | 174.63 million tonnes | +6.6% |
| 2002 | 187.64 million tonnes | +7.5% |
| 2003 | 195.32 million tonnes | +4.1% |
| 2004 | 203.14 million tonnes | +4.0% |
| 2005 | 209.29 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 2006 | 216.43 million tonnes | +3.4% |
| 2007 | 228.43 million tonnes | +5.5% |
| 2008 | 253.04 million tonnes | +10.8% |
| 2009 | 262.39 million tonnes | +3.7% |
| 2010 | 295.05 million tonnes | +12.4% |
| 2011 | 320.17 million tonnes | +8.5% |
| 2012 | 316.99 million tonnes | -1.0% |
| 2013 | 320.64 million tonnes | +1.2% |
| 2014 | 331.30 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 2015 | 335.41 million tonnes | +1.2% |
| 2016 | 320.70 million tonnes | -4.4% |
| 2017 | 337.67 million tonnes | +5.3% |
| 2018 | 340.35 million tonnes | +0.8% |
| 2019 | 321.61 million tonnes | -5.5% |
| 2020 | 282.88 million tonnes | -12.0% |
| 2021 | 283.91 million tonnes | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 272.88 million tonnes | -3.9% |
| 2023 | 263.89 million tonnes | -3.3% |
| 2024 | 247.47 million tonnes | -6.2% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 247.47 million tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.88 million tonnes, 132.0× the median. (68 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 247.47 million tonnes is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 11.35 million tonnes, 21.8× the median. (25 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual CO₂ emissions from coal in South Korea 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1909 | +975.5% | 771 tonnes | 8,292 tonnes |
| 1948 | +86.8% | 890,322 tonnes | 1.66 million tonnes |
| 1947 | +84.1% | 483,620 tonnes | 890,322 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 4,532 tonnes | 771 tonnes | 8,292 tonnes | 2 |
| 1910s | 21,963 tonnes | 10,413 tonnes | 32,012 tonnes | 9 |
| 1920s | 76,500 tonnes | 40,304 tonnes | 130,940 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 282,569 tonnes | 123,419 tonnes | 592,016 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 1.08 million tonnes | 483,620 tonnes | 2.17 million tonnes | 9 |
| 1950s | 4.87 million tonnes | 1.68 million tonnes | 8.89 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 17.68 million tonnes | 10.24 million tonnes | 23.41 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 31.35 million tonnes | 23.28 million tonnes | 46.00 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 77.83 million tonnes | 49.42 million tonnes | 98.92 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 112.57 million tonnes | 91.32 million tonnes | 145.63 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 209.42 million tonnes | 163.88 million tonnes | 262.39 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 323.99 million tonnes | 295.05 million tonnes | 340.35 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 270.21 million tonnes | 247.47 million tonnes | 283.91 million tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More climate change data for South Korea
- Spring temperature anomalies 1.1 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.7164 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month -0.8996 °C (2026)
- Share of global CO₂ emissions and population 0.2% (2100)
- Population, total, annual growth rate -0.1285 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population, total, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban population, annual growth rate -0.1214 % change on previous year (2025)
- Urban population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban population, per capita 0.8117 units per person (2025)
- Precipitation anomalies, annual growth rate -78.08 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual co₂ emissions from coal in South Korea?
- Annual co₂ emissions from coal in South Korea was 247.47 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 South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 340.35 million tonnes in 2018.
- What is the lowest annual co₂ emissions from coal recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 771 tonnes in 1905.
- How does South Korea rank for annual co₂ emissions from coal?
- South Korea ranks 8th out of 179 countries with data for 2024.
- Is annual co₂ emissions from coal rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea 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 — 115 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.