Cumulative CO₂ emissions from coal in Australia
Australia: Cumulative CO₂ emissions from coal was 10.56 billion tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
10.56 billion tonnes
Change on year
up 1.4%
World rank
12th
of 179 countries
All-time high
10.56 billion tonnes
in 2024
All-time low
236 tonnes
in 1805
Years of data
220
1805–2024
Cumulative 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
The most recent figure for cumulative co₂ emissions from coal in Australia is 10.56 billion tonnes, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 220 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.4% on the previous year and up 17.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cumulative co₂ emissions from coal in Australia peaked at 10.56 billion tonnes in 2024 and was at its lowest, 236 tonnes, in 1805.
Australia ranks 12th 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.
Cumulative CO₂ emissions from coal in Australia, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1805 | 236 tonnes | — |
| 1806 | 897 tonnes | +280.1% |
| 1807 | 1,526 tonnes | +70.1% |
| 1808 | 2,313 tonnes | +51.6% |
| 1809 | 3,572 tonnes | +54.4% |
| 1810 | 4,831 tonnes | +35.2% |
| 1811 | 7,034 tonnes | +45.6% |
| 1812 | 9,237 tonnes | +31.3% |
| 1813 | 12,069 tonnes | +30.7% |
| 1814 | 15,520 tonnes | +28.6% |
| 1815 | 18,273 tonnes | +17.7% |
| 1816 | 20,554 tonnes | +12.5% |
| 1817 | 22,599 tonnes | +9.9% |
| 1818 | 24,487 tonnes | +8.4% |
| 1819 | 28,027 tonnes | +14.5% |
| 1820 | 34,187 tonnes | +22.0% |
| 1821 | 37,334 tonnes | +9.2% |
| 1822 | 41,268 tonnes | +10.5% |
| 1823 | 45,988 tonnes | +11.4% |
| 1824 | 50,708 tonnes | +10.3% |
| 1825 | 53,578 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1826 | 59,938 tonnes | +11.9% |
| 1827 | 65,840 tonnes | +9.8% |
| 1828 | 69,626 tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1829 | 75,657 tonnes | +8.7% |
| 1830 | 81,405 tonnes | +7.6% |
| 1831 | 82,826 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1832 | 94,065 tonnes | +13.6% |
| 1833 | 104,783 tonnes | +11.4% |
| 1834 | 118,141 tonnes | +12.7% |
| 1835 | 137,639 tonnes | +16.5% |
| 1836 | 157,536 tonnes | +14.5% |
| 1837 | 182,841 tonnes | +16.1% |
| 1838 | 209,935 tonnes | +14.8% |
| 1839 | 243,422 tonnes | +16.0% |
| 1840 | 291,027 tonnes | +19.6% |
| 1841 | 345,846 tonnes | +18.8% |
| 1842 | 408,625 tonnes | +18.2% |
| 1843 | 449,317 tonnes | +10.0% |
| 1844 | 485,691 tonnes | +8.1% |
| 1845 | 520,816 tonnes | +7.2% |
| 1846 | 582,124 tonnes | +11.8% |
| 1847 | 646,212 tonnes | +11.0% |
| 1848 | 717,719 tonnes | +11.1% |
| 1849 | 794,055 tonnes | +10.6% |
| 1850 | 906,107 tonnes | +14.1% |
| 1851 | 1.01 million tonnes | +11.7% |
| 1852 | 1.12 million tonnes | +10.5% |
| 1853 | 1.27 million tonnes | +13.6% |
| 1854 | 1.45 million tonnes | +14.4% |
| 1855 | 1.67 million tonnes | +14.8% |
| 1856 | 1.97 million tonnes | +17.9% |
| 1857 | 2.30 million tonnes | +16.8% |
| 1858 | 2.64 million tonnes | +14.8% |
| 1859 | 3.13 million tonnes | +18.4% |
| 1860 | 3.73 million tonnes | +19.2% |
| 1861 | 4.29 million tonnes | +15.0% |
| 1862 | 5.07 million tonnes | +18.4% |
| 1863 | 5.79 million tonnes | +14.2% |
| 1864 | 6.70 million tonnes | +15.6% |
| 1865 | 7.67 million tonnes | +14.5% |
| 1866 | 8.95 million tonnes | +16.7% |
| 1867 | 10.19 million tonnes | +13.9% |
| 1868 | 11.72 million tonnes | +15.0% |
| 1869 | 13.19 million tonnes | +12.5% |
| 1870 | 14.59 million tonnes | +10.6% |
| 1871 | 16.03 million tonnes | +9.9% |
| 1872 | 17.67 million tonnes | +10.2% |
| 1873 | 19.60 million tonnes | +10.9% |
| 1874 | 21.72 million tonnes | +10.8% |
| 1875 | 23.87 million tonnes | +9.9% |
| 1876 | 26.02 million tonnes | +9.0% |
| 1877 | 28.40 million tonnes | +9.1% |
| 1878 | 30.96 million tonnes | +9.0% |
| 1879 | 33.54 million tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1880 | 35.95 million tonnes | +7.2% |
| 1881 | 38.86 million tonnes | +8.1% |
| 1882 | 42.31 million tonnes | +8.9% |
| 1883 | 46.46 million tonnes | +9.8% |
| 1884 | 50.99 million tonnes | +9.8% |
| 1885 | 55.86 million tonnes | +9.6% |
| 1886 | 60.69 million tonnes | +8.6% |
| 1887 | 65.71 million tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1888 | 71.32 million tonnes | +8.5% |
| 1889 | 77.57 million tonnes | +8.8% |
| 1890 | 83.02 million tonnes | +7.0% |
| 1891 | 89.91 million tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1892 | 96.37 million tonnes | +7.2% |
| 1893 | 102.14 million tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1894 | 108.66 million tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1895 | 115.41 million tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1896 | 122.58 million tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1897 | 130.49 million tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1898 | 139.00 million tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1899 | 147.57 million tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1900 | 157.62 million tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1901 | 168.82 million tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1902 | 180.11 million tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1903 | 191.16 million tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1904 | 202.54 million tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1905 | 214.41 million tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1906 | 228.59 million tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1907 | 243.85 million tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1908 | 260.42 million tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1909 | 274.74 million tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1910 | 292.18 million tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1911 | 311.42 million tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1912 | 332.21 million tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1913 | 354.60 million tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1914 | 379.08 million tonnes | +6.9% |
| 1915 | 400.87 million tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1916 | 420.14 million tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1917 | 440.90 million tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1918 | 463.84 million tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1919 | 485.58 million tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1920 | 511.31 million tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1921 | 534.47 million tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1922 | 558.81 million tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1923 | 583.66 million tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1924 | 610.73 million tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1925 | 638.96 million tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1926 | 666.82 million tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1927 | 695.71 million tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1928 | 721.62 million tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1929 | 744.92 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1930 | 766.60 million tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1931 | 785.95 million tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1932 | 806.16 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1933 | 827.58 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1934 | 850.07 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1935 | 875.02 million tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1936 | 901.75 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1937 | 930.24 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1938 | 958.10 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1939 | 989.90 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1940 | 1.02 billion tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1941 | 1.05 billion tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1942 | 1.09 billion tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1943 | 1.12 billion tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1944 | 1.16 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1945 | 1.19 billion tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1946 | 1.23 billion tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1947 | 1.26 billion tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1948 | 1.30 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1949 | 1.34 billion tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1950 | 1.38 billion tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1951 | 1.43 billion tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1952 | 1.47 billion tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1953 | 1.52 billion tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1954 | 1.57 billion tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1955 | 1.63 billion tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1956 | 1.68 billion tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1957 | 1.73 billion tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1958 | 1.78 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1959 | 1.84 billion tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1960 | 1.90 billion tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1961 | 1.95 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1962 | 2.01 billion tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1963 | 2.07 billion tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1964 | 2.13 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1965 | 2.19 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1966 | 2.26 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1967 | 2.33 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1968 | 2.40 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1969 | 2.47 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1970 | 2.55 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1971 | 2.62 billion tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1972 | 2.69 billion tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1973 | 2.77 billion tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1974 | 2.85 billion tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1975 | 2.94 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1976 | 3.02 billion tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1977 | 3.11 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1978 | 3.21 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1979 | 3.30 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1980 | 3.40 billion tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1981 | 3.51 billion tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1982 | 3.61 billion tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1983 | 3.72 billion tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1984 | 3.83 billion tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1985 | 3.95 billion tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1986 | 4.07 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1987 | 4.19 billion tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1988 | 4.32 billion tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1989 | 4.46 billion tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1990 | 4.61 billion tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1991 | 4.75 billion tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1992 | 4.90 billion tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1993 | 5.05 billion tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1994 | 5.20 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1995 | 5.36 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1996 | 5.52 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1997 | 5.69 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1998 | 5.87 billion tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1999 | 6.05 billion tonnes | +3.1% |
| 2000 | 6.23 billion tonnes | +3.1% |
| 2001 | 6.42 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 2002 | 6.62 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 2003 | 6.81 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 2004 | 7.01 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 2005 | 7.21 billion tonnes | +2.9% |
| 2006 | 7.42 billion tonnes | +2.8% |
| 2007 | 7.62 billion tonnes | +2.7% |
| 2008 | 7.83 billion tonnes | +2.7% |
| 2009 | 8.03 billion tonnes | +2.6% |
| 2010 | 8.23 billion tonnes | +2.5% |
| 2011 | 8.43 billion tonnes | +2.3% |
| 2012 | 8.62 billion tonnes | +2.2% |
| 2013 | 8.79 billion tonnes | +2.0% |
| 2014 | 8.96 billion tonnes | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 9.13 billion tonnes | +1.9% |
| 2016 | 9.31 billion tonnes | +2.0% |
| 2017 | 9.49 billion tonnes | +1.9% |
| 2018 | 9.66 billion tonnes | +1.8% |
| 2019 | 9.82 billion tonnes | +1.7% |
| 2020 | 9.98 billion tonnes | +1.6% |
| 2021 | 10.13 billion tonnes | +1.5% |
| 2022 | 10.28 billion tonnes | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 10.42 billion tonnes | +1.4% |
| 2024 | 10.56 billion tonnes | +1.4% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 10.56 billion tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 374.74 million tonnes, 28.2× the median. (68 countries reporting)
- Australia's 10.56 billion tonnes is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 646.78 million tonnes, 16.3× the median. (25 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Cumulative 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1806 | +280.1% | 236 tonnes | 897 tonnes |
| 1807 | +70.1% | 897 tonnes | 1,526 tonnes |
| 1809 | +54.4% | 2,313 tonnes | 3,572 tonnes |
| 1808 | +51.6% | 1,526 tonnes | 2,313 tonnes |
| 1811 | +45.6% | 4,831 tonnes | 7,034 tonnes |
| 1810 | +35.2% | 3,572 tonnes | 4,831 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1800s | 1,709 tonnes | 236 tonnes | 3,572 tonnes | 5 |
| 1810s | 16,263 tonnes | 4,831 tonnes | 28,027 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 53,412 tonnes | 34,187 tonnes | 75,657 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 141,259 tonnes | 81,405 tonnes | 243,422 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 524,143 tonnes | 291,027 tonnes | 794,055 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 1.75 million tonnes | 906,107 tonnes | 3.13 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 7.73 million tonnes | 3.73 million tonnes | 13.19 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 23.24 million tonnes | 14.59 million tonnes | 33.54 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 54.57 million tonnes | 35.95 million tonnes | 77.57 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 113.51 million tonnes | 83.02 million tonnes | 147.57 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 212.23 million tonnes | 157.62 million tonnes | 274.74 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 388.08 million tonnes | 292.18 million tonnes | 485.58 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 626.70 million tonnes | 511.31 million tonnes | 744.92 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 869.14 million tonnes | 766.60 million tonnes | 989.90 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 1.18 billion tonnes | 1.02 billion tonnes | 1.34 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 1.60 billion tonnes | 1.38 billion tonnes | 1.84 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 2.17 billion tonnes | 1.90 billion tonnes | 2.47 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.91 billion tonnes | 2.55 billion tonnes | 3.30 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.91 billion tonnes | 3.40 billion tonnes | 4.46 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.30 billion tonnes | 4.61 billion tonnes | 6.05 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.12 billion tonnes | 6.23 billion tonnes | 8.03 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.04 billion tonnes | 8.23 billion tonnes | 9.82 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.28 billion tonnes | 9.98 billion tonnes | 10.56 billion 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 cumulative co₂ emissions from coal in Australia?
- Cumulative co₂ emissions from coal in Australia was 10.56 billion tonnes in 2024, according to Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest cumulative co₂ emissions from coal recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 10.56 billion tonnes in 2024.
- What is the lowest cumulative co₂ emissions from coal recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 236 tonnes in 1805.
- How does Australia rank for cumulative co₂ emissions from coal?
- Australia ranks 12th out of 179 countries with data for 2024.
- Is cumulative co₂ emissions from coal rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.9%. 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 Cumulative 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
Cumulative emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from coal since the first year of available data, measured in tonnes.