Annual CO₂ emissions from coal in New Zealand
New Zealand: Annual CO₂ emissions from coal was 5.87 million tonnes in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
5.87 million tonnes
Change on year
up 51.8%
World rank
57th
of 179 countries
All-time high
8.93 million tonnes
in 2005
All-time low
355,408 tonnes
in 1878
Years of data
147
1878–2024
Annual CO₂ emissions from coal in New Zealand, 1878–2024
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
New Zealand recorded 5.87 million tonnes for annual co₂ emissions from coal in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 51.8% on the previous year and up 7.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual co₂ emissions from coal in New Zealand peaked at 8.93 million tonnes in 2005 and was at its lowest, 355,408 tonnes, in 1878.
That places New Zealand 57th out of 179 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 147 years of available data.
Annual CO₂ emissions from coal in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1878 | 355,408 tonnes | — |
| 1879 | 505,632 tonnes | +42.3% |
| 1880 | 655,856 tonnes | +29.7% |
| 1881 | 736,464 tonnes | +12.3% |
| 1882 | 828,064 tonnes | +12.4% |
| 1883 | 926,992 tonnes | +11.9% |
| 1884 | 1.06 million tonnes | +14.2% |
| 1885 | 1.13 million tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1886 | 1.18 million tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1887 | 1.24 million tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1888 | 1.36 million tonnes | +10.1% |
| 1889 | 1.31 million tonnes | -3.8% |
| 1890 | 1.42 million tonnes | +8.4% |
| 1891 | 1.49 million tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1892 | 1.50 million tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1893 | 1.54 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1894 | 1.61 million tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1895 | 1.62 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1896 | 1.77 million tonnes | +9.0% |
| 1897 | 1.88 million tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1898 | 2.02 million tonnes | +7.8% |
| 1899 | 2.18 million tonnes | +7.6% |
| 1900 | 2.44 million tonnes | +12.1% |
| 1901 | 2.74 million tonnes | +12.3% |
| 1902 | 3.04 million tonnes | +11.0% |
| 1903 | 3.17 million tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1904 | 3.43 million tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1905 | 3.54 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1906 | 3.86 million tonnes | +9.1% |
| 1907 | 4.09 million tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1908 | 4.15 million tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1909 | 4.26 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1910 | 4.90 million tonnes | +14.9% |
| 1911 | 4.61 million tonnes | -6.0% |
| 1912 | 4.86 million tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1913 | 4.21 million tonnes | -13.3% |
| 1914 | 5.08 million tonnes | +20.6% |
| 1915 | 4.93 million tonnes | -3.0% |
| 1916 | 5.04 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1917 | 4.62 million tonnes | -8.4% |
| 1918 | 4.54 million tonnes | -1.6% |
| 1919 | 4.13 million tonnes | -9.1% |
| 1920 | 3.56 million tonnes | -13.8% |
| 1921 | 3.50 million tonnes | -1.6% |
| 1922 | 3.56 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1923 | 3.84 million tonnes | +7.7% |
| 1924 | 3.99 million tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1925 | 4.09 million tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1926 | 4.27 million tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1927 | 4.50 million tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1928 | 4.61 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1929 | 4.80 million tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1930 | 4.77 million tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1931 | 4.16 million tonnes | -12.8% |
| 1932 | 3.46 million tonnes | -16.7% |
| 1933 | 3.46 million tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1934 | 3.98 million tonnes | +15.2% |
| 1935 | 4.09 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1936 | 4.10 million tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1937 | 4.29 million tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1938 | 4.13 million tonnes | -3.7% |
| 1939 | 4.35 million tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1940 | 4.65 million tonnes | +7.0% |
| 1941 | 4.89 million tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1942 | 4.99 million tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1943 | 5.26 million tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1944 | 5.36 million tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1945 | 5.50 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1946 | 5.42 million tonnes | -1.5% |
| 1947 | 5.34 million tonnes | -1.4% |
| 1948 | 5.38 million tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1949 | 5.48 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1950 | 5.83 million tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1951 | 5.25 million tonnes | -10.0% |
| 1952 | 5.95 million tonnes | +13.4% |
| 1953 | 5.46 million tonnes | -8.2% |
| 1954 | 5.65 million tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1955 | 5.59 million tonnes | -1.1% |
| 1956 | 5.74 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1957 | 5.73 million tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1958 | 5.94 million tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1959 | 6.14 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1960 | 6.60 million tonnes | +7.5% |
| 1961 | 6.43 million tonnes | -2.4% |
| 1962 | 5.62 million tonnes | -12.6% |
| 1963 | 6.02 million tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1964 | 6.34 million tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1965 | 5.84 million tonnes | -7.8% |
| 1966 | 5.83 million tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1967 | 5.18 million tonnes | -11.0% |
| 1968 | 4.84 million tonnes | -6.7% |
| 1969 | 5.07 million tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1970 | 4.98 million tonnes | -1.9% |
| 1971 | 4.54 million tonnes | -8.8% |
| 1972 | 4.66 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1973 | 5.33 million tonnes | +14.3% |
| 1974 | 5.58 million tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1975 | 5.25 million tonnes | -6.0% |
| 1976 | 5.38 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1977 | 5.21 million tonnes | -3.1% |
| 1978 | 4.36 million tonnes | -16.3% |
| 1979 | 3.76 million tonnes | -13.7% |
| 1980 | 4.01 million tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1981 | 3.98 million tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1982 | 4.01 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1983 | 4.32 million tonnes | +7.7% |
| 1984 | 4.25 million tonnes | -1.5% |
| 1985 | 4.01 million tonnes | -5.6% |
| 1986 | 3.49 million tonnes | -13.0% |
| 1987 | 4.14 million tonnes | +18.7% |
| 1988 | 4.95 million tonnes | +19.5% |
| 1989 | 4.18 million tonnes | -15.5% |
| 1990 | 4.66 million tonnes | +11.4% |
| 1991 | 4.51 million tonnes | -3.2% |
| 1992 | 4.93 million tonnes | +9.3% |
| 1993 | 4.90 million tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1994 | 4.64 million tonnes | -5.3% |
| 1995 | 4.64 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 4.60 million tonnes | -1.0% |
| 1997 | 4.95 million tonnes | +7.6% |
| 1998 | 4.53 million tonnes | -8.4% |
| 1999 | 4.63 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 2000 | 4.42 million tonnes | -4.6% |
| 2001 | 5.42 million tonnes | +22.7% |
| 2002 | 5.43 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 7.75 million tonnes | +42.7% |
| 2004 | 8.02 million tonnes | +3.5% |
| 2005 | 8.93 million tonnes | +11.3% |
| 2006 | 8.81 million tonnes | -1.4% |
| 2007 | 6.74 million tonnes | -23.5% |
| 2008 | 8.30 million tonnes | +23.1% |
| 2009 | 6.33 million tonnes | -23.7% |
| 2010 | 5.47 million tonnes | -13.6% |
| 2011 | 5.55 million tonnes | +1.4% |
| 2012 | 6.87 million tonnes | +23.8% |
| 2013 | 6.03 million tonnes | -12.2% |
| 2014 | 5.46 million tonnes | -9.5% |
| 2015 | 5.49 million tonnes | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 4.48 million tonnes | -18.3% |
| 2017 | 4.69 million tonnes | +4.6% |
| 2018 | 5.27 million tonnes | +12.4% |
| 2019 | 5.62 million tonnes | +6.7% |
| 2020 | 5.34 million tonnes | -5.0% |
| 2021 | 6.19 million tonnes | +15.9% |
| 2022 | 4.30 million tonnes | -30.5% |
| 2023 | 3.86 million tonnes | -10.2% |
| 2024 | 5.87 million tonnes | +51.8% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 5.87 million tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.88 million tonnes, 3.1× the median. (68 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 5.87 million tonnes is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 11.35 million tonnes, 52% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual CO₂ emissions from coal in New Zealand 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | +51.8% | 3.86 million tonnes | 5.87 million tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 430,520 tonnes | 355,408 tonnes | 505,632 tonnes | 2 |
| 1880s | 1.04 million tonnes | 655,856 tonnes | 1.36 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 1.70 million tonnes | 1.42 million tonnes | 2.18 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 3.47 million tonnes | 2.44 million tonnes | 4.26 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 4.69 million tonnes | 4.13 million tonnes | 5.08 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 4.07 million tonnes | 3.50 million tonnes | 4.80 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 4.08 million tonnes | 3.46 million tonnes | 4.77 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 5.23 million tonnes | 4.65 million tonnes | 5.50 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 5.73 million tonnes | 5.25 million tonnes | 6.14 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 5.78 million tonnes | 4.84 million tonnes | 6.60 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 4.91 million tonnes | 3.76 million tonnes | 5.58 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.13 million tonnes | 3.49 million tonnes | 4.95 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.70 million tonnes | 4.51 million tonnes | 4.95 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.02 million tonnes | 4.42 million tonnes | 8.93 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.49 million tonnes | 4.48 million tonnes | 6.87 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.11 million tonnes | 3.86 million tonnes | 6.19 million tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
More climate change data for New Zealand
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 113.13 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 46,323 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 11,983 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 34,340 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 45.22 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 1,226 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 694.4 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 691.2 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 3.2 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 2.61 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual co₂ emissions from coal in New Zealand?
- Annual co₂ emissions from coal in New Zealand was 5.87 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 New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 8.93 million tonnes in 2005.
- What is the lowest annual co₂ emissions from coal recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 355,408 tonnes in 1878.
- How does New Zealand rank for annual co₂ emissions from coal?
- New Zealand ranks 57th out of 179 countries with data for 2024.
- Is annual co₂ emissions from coal rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this New Zealand 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 — 147 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.