Coal — Emissions in China

China: Coal — Emissions was 32,461 kt in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
32,461 kt
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
1st
of 36 countries
All-time high
55,202 kt
in 2017
All-time low
27,221 kt
in 2002
Years of data
34
1990–2023

Coal — Emissions in China, 1990–2023

020.0k40.0k60.0k1990200620231990: 42.5k kt1991: 43.1k kt1992: 35.9k kt1993: 32.5k kt1994: 36.2k kt1995: 41.4k kt1996: 42.5k kt1997: 42.8k kt1998: 43.9k kt1999: 39.6k kt2000: 35.4k kt2001: 34.3k kt2002: 27.2k kt2003: 31.6k kt2004: 32.7k kt2005: 35.7k kt2006: 37.0k kt2007: 38.7k kt2008: 41.2k kt2009: 40.7k kt2010: 41.4k kt2011: 43.1k kt2012: 42.1k kt2013: 45.5k kt2014: 46.9k kt2015: 50.3k kt2016: 54.1k kt2017: 55.2k kt2018: 46.0k kt2019: 42.8k kt2020: 43.6k kt2021: 34.0k kt2022: 32.5k kt2023: 32.5k kt

Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in kt.

Analysis

The most recent figure for coal — emissions in China is 32,461 kt, measured in 2023.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 28.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, coal — emissions in China peaked at 55,202 kt in 2017 and was at its lowest, 27,221 kt, in 2002.

China ranks 1st of 36 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.

Coal — Emissions in China, year by year

Annual values for Coal — Emissions (CO2) in China, 1990 to 2023.
Year kt Change
1990 42,474 kt —
1991 43,090 kt +1.5%
1992 35,858 kt -16.8%
1993 32,497 kt -9.4%
1994 36,178 kt +11.3%
1995 41,436 kt +14.5%
1996 42,477 kt +2.5%
1997 42,777 kt +0.7%
1998 43,918 kt +2.7%
1999 39,631 kt -9.8%
2000 35,368 kt -10.8%
2001 34,338 kt -2.9%
2002 27,221 kt -20.7%
2003 31,610 kt +16.1%
2004 32,749 kt +3.6%
2005 35,665 kt +8.9%
2006 37,032 kt +3.8%
2007 38,724 kt +4.6%
2008 41,152 kt +6.3%
2009 40,699 kt -1.1%
2010 41,441 kt +1.8%
2011 43,083 kt +4.0%
2012 42,086 kt -2.3%
2013 45,546 kt +8.2%
2014 46,882 kt +2.9%
2015 50,338 kt +7.4%
2016 54,126 kt +7.5%
2017 55,202 kt +2.0%
2018 45,997 kt -16.7%
2019 42,805 kt -6.9%
2020 43,620 kt +1.9%
2021 34,021 kt -22.0%
2022 32,461 kt -4.6%
2023 32,461 kt +0.0%

China compared with similar countries

  • China's 32,461 kt is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 15.76 kt, 2059.3× the median. (9 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 40,034 kt 32,497 kt 43,918 kt 10
2000s 35,456 kt 27,221 kt 41,152 kt 10
2010s 46,751 kt 41,441 kt 55,202 kt 10
2020s 35,641 kt 32,461 kt 43,620 kt 4

Countries ranked near China

  1. 1 China, mainland 32,461 kt compare
  2. 2 Democratic People's Republic of Korea 882.49 kt compare
  3. 3 Viet Nam 67.41 kt compare
  4. 3 OECD 3,984 kt compare
  5. 4 Poland 3,747 kt compare
  6. 4 Republic of Moldova 10.49 kt compare

See the full ranking of 63 places →

More climate change data for China

All data for China →

Frequently asked questions

What is coal — emissions in China?
Coal — emissions in China was 32,461 kt in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
What is the highest coal — emissions recorded in China?
The highest recorded value was 55,202 kt in 2017.
What is the lowest coal — emissions recorded in China?
The lowest recorded value was 27,221 kt in 2002.
How does China rank for coal — emissions?
China ranks 1st out of 36 countries with data for 2023.
Is coal — emissions rising or falling in China?
Over the last ten years it is down 28.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this China data come from?
The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, published as part of Coal — Emissions (CO2). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Coal — Emissions in China. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 27 September 2026, from https://climate.statizoid.com/stat/coal-emissions-co2/china/

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About this data

Indicator
Coal — Emissions (CO2)
Unit
kt
Source
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Licence
CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (FAO)
Coverage
63 places, 1,553 data points, 1990–2023
Last refreshed

The FAOSTAT domain on Emissions from Energy use in agriculture contains data on energy used in agriculture (including forestry, aquaculture and fisheries), for instance to operate machinery, irrigate, heat stables, operate aquaculture ponds and fishing vessels, and related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It also includes on-farm use of, and related GHG emissions from, electricity and heat generated off-farm. Data are available by country and regional groups with global coverage and are updated annually.