Cumulative CO₂ emissions from coal in India
India: Cumulative CO₂ emissions from coal was 42.71 billion tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
42.71 billion tonnes
Change on year
up 5.2%
World rank
6th
of 179 countries
All-time high
42.71 billion tonnes
in 2024
All-time low
394,481 tonnes
in 1858
Years of data
156
1858–2024
Cumulative CO₂ emissions from coal in India, 1858–2024
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
India recorded 42.71 billion tonnes for cumulative co₂ emissions from coal in 2024. That is the highest value across all 156 years on record.
The figure is up 5.2% on the previous year and up 67.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cumulative co₂ emissions from coal in India peaked at 42.71 billion tonnes in 2024 and was at its lowest, 394,481 tonnes, in 1858.
That places India 6th 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.
Cumulative CO₂ emissions from coal in India, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1858 | 394,481 tonnes | — |
| 1859 | 1.03 million tonnes | +161.3% |
| 1860 | 1.67 million tonnes | +62.4% |
| 1861 | 2.17 million tonnes | +29.7% |
| 1862 | 2.72 million tonnes | +25.3% |
| 1863 | 3.33 million tonnes | +22.4% |
| 1864 | 3.91 million tonnes | +17.3% |
| 1865 | 4.48 million tonnes | +14.5% |
| 1866 | 5.12 million tonnes | +14.3% |
| 1878 | 6.88 million tonnes | +34.5% |
| 1879 | 8.49 million tonnes | +23.4% |
| 1880 | 10.27 million tonnes | +20.9% |
| 1881 | 12.01 million tonnes | +16.9% |
| 1882 | 13.98 million tonnes | +16.4% |
| 1883 | 16.27 million tonnes | +16.4% |
| 1884 | 18.70 million tonnes | +15.0% |
| 1885 | 20.96 million tonnes | +12.1% |
| 1886 | 23.37 million tonnes | +11.5% |
| 1887 | 26.10 million tonnes | +11.6% |
| 1888 | 29.07 million tonnes | +11.4% |
| 1889 | 32.46 million tonnes | +11.7% |
| 1890 | 36.23 million tonnes | +11.6% |
| 1891 | 40.29 million tonnes | +11.2% |
| 1892 | 44.70 million tonnes | +11.0% |
| 1893 | 49.16 million tonnes | +10.0% |
| 1894 | 54.07 million tonnes | +10.0% |
| 1895 | 60.23 million tonnes | +11.4% |
| 1896 | 66.94 million tonnes | +11.1% |
| 1897 | 74.02 million tonnes | +10.6% |
| 1898 | 82.04 million tonnes | +10.8% |
| 1899 | 90.91 million tonnes | +10.8% |
| 1900 | 101.56 million tonnes | +11.7% |
| 1901 | 113.12 million tonnes | +11.4% |
| 1902 | 126.04 million tonnes | +11.4% |
| 1903 | 139.00 million tonnes | +10.3% |
| 1904 | 153.30 million tonnes | +10.3% |
| 1905 | 167.96 million tonnes | +9.6% |
| 1906 | 185.00 million tonnes | +10.1% |
| 1907 | 204.41 million tonnes | +10.5% |
| 1908 | 226.65 million tonnes | +10.9% |
| 1909 | 247.31 million tonnes | +9.1% |
| 1910 | 268.29 million tonnes | +8.5% |
| 1911 | 290.44 million tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1912 | 316.04 million tonnes | +8.8% |
| 1913 | 344.27 million tonnes | +8.9% |
| 1914 | 372.94 million tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1915 | 402.72 million tonnes | +8.0% |
| 1916 | 432.77 million tonnes | +7.5% |
| 1917 | 464.48 million tonnes | +7.3% |
| 1918 | 500.57 million tonnes | +7.8% |
| 1919 | 539.97 million tonnes | +7.9% |
| 1920 | 571.25 million tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1921 | 604.86 million tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1922 | 637.97 million tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1923 | 672.20 million tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1924 | 709.07 million tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1925 | 745.47 million tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1926 | 782.04 million tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1927 | 820.49 million tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1928 | 859.75 million tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1929 | 900.53 million tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1930 | 941.98 million tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1931 | 979.79 million tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1932 | 1.01 billion tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1933 | 1.05 billion tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1934 | 1.09 billion tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1935 | 1.13 billion tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1936 | 1.17 billion tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1937 | 1.21 billion tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1938 | 1.26 billion tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1939 | 1.31 billion tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1940 | 1.36 billion tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1941 | 1.41 billion tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1942 | 1.46 billion tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1943 | 1.51 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1944 | 1.55 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1945 | 1.60 billion tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1946 | 1.65 billion tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1947 | 1.70 billion tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1948 | 1.76 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1949 | 1.81 billion tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1950 | 1.86 billion tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1951 | 1.92 billion tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1952 | 1.98 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1953 | 2.03 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1954 | 2.09 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1955 | 2.16 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1956 | 2.22 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1957 | 2.30 billion tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1958 | 2.37 billion tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1959 | 2.45 billion tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1960 | 2.54 billion tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1961 | 2.63 billion tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1962 | 2.74 billion tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1963 | 2.85 billion tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1964 | 2.95 billion tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1965 | 3.07 billion tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1966 | 3.19 billion tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1967 | 3.31 billion tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1968 | 3.43 billion tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1969 | 3.55 billion tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1970 | 3.68 billion tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1971 | 3.80 billion tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1972 | 3.94 billion tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1973 | 4.08 billion tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1974 | 4.22 billion tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1975 | 4.38 billion tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1976 | 4.55 billion tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1977 | 4.73 billion tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1978 | 4.90 billion tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1979 | 5.09 billion tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1980 | 5.28 billion tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1981 | 5.49 billion tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1982 | 5.71 billion tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1983 | 5.94 billion tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1984 | 6.17 billion tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1985 | 6.42 billion tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1986 | 6.70 billion tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1987 | 6.99 billion tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1988 | 7.31 billion tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1989 | 7.65 billion tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1990 | 8.01 billion tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1991 | 8.40 billion tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1992 | 8.82 billion tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1993 | 9.25 billion tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1994 | 9.71 billion tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1995 | 10.18 billion tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1996 | 10.68 billion tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1997 | 11.21 billion tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1998 | 11.73 billion tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1999 | 12.29 billion tonnes | +4.8% |
| 2000 | 12.87 billion tonnes | +4.7% |
| 2001 | 13.45 billion tonnes | +4.5% |
| 2002 | 14.05 billion tonnes | +4.5% |
| 2003 | 14.67 billion tonnes | +4.5% |
| 2004 | 15.34 billion tonnes | +4.6% |
| 2005 | 16.06 billion tonnes | +4.7% |
| 2006 | 16.84 billion tonnes | +4.8% |
| 2007 | 17.68 billion tonnes | +5.0% |
| 2008 | 18.59 billion tonnes | +5.2% |
| 2009 | 19.58 billion tonnes | +5.3% |
| 2010 | 20.59 billion tonnes | +5.2% |
| 2011 | 21.67 billion tonnes | +5.2% |
| 2012 | 22.87 billion tonnes | +5.6% |
| 2013 | 24.15 billion tonnes | +5.6% |
| 2014 | 25.56 billion tonnes | +5.8% |
| 2015 | 27.00 billion tonnes | +5.7% |
| 2016 | 28.50 billion tonnes | +5.6% |
| 2017 | 30.06 billion tonnes | +5.4% |
| 2018 | 31.72 billion tonnes | +5.6% |
| 2019 | 33.39 billion tonnes | +5.2% |
| 2020 | 34.95 billion tonnes | +4.7% |
| 2021 | 36.72 billion tonnes | +5.1% |
| 2022 | 38.57 billion tonnes | +5.1% |
| 2023 | 40.60 billion tonnes | +5.3% |
| 2024 | 42.71 billion tonnes | +5.2% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 42.71 billion tonnes is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 20.26 million tonnes, 2108.4× the median. (40 countries reporting)
- India's 42.71 billion tonnes is above the median for South Asia, which is 80.06 million tonnes, 533.5× the median. (5 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Cumulative CO₂ emissions from coal in India 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1859 | +161.3% | 394,481 tonnes | 1.03 million tonnes |
| 1860 | +62.4% | 1.03 million tonnes | 1.67 million tonnes |
| 1878 | +34.5% | 5.12 million tonnes | 6.88 million tonnes |
| 1861 | +29.7% | 1.67 million tonnes | 2.17 million tonnes |
| 1862 | +25.3% | 2.17 million tonnes | 2.72 million tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 712,720 tonnes | 394,481 tonnes | 1.03 million tonnes | 2 |
| 1860s | 3.34 million tonnes | 1.67 million tonnes | 5.12 million tonnes | 7 |
| 1870s | 7.69 million tonnes | 6.88 million tonnes | 8.49 million tonnes | 2 |
| 1880s | 20.32 million tonnes | 10.27 million tonnes | 32.46 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 59.86 million tonnes | 36.23 million tonnes | 90.91 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 166.44 million tonnes | 101.56 million tonnes | 247.31 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 393.25 million tonnes | 268.29 million tonnes | 539.97 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 730.36 million tonnes | 571.25 million tonnes | 900.53 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 1.11 billion tonnes | 941.98 million tonnes | 1.31 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 1.58 billion tonnes | 1.36 billion tonnes | 1.81 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 2.14 billion tonnes | 1.86 billion tonnes | 2.45 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 3.03 billion tonnes | 2.54 billion tonnes | 3.55 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 4.34 billion tonnes | 3.68 billion tonnes | 5.09 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.36 billion tonnes | 5.28 billion tonnes | 7.65 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 10.03 billion tonnes | 8.01 billion tonnes | 12.29 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 15.91 billion tonnes | 12.87 billion tonnes | 19.58 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 26.55 billion tonnes | 20.59 billion tonnes | 33.39 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 38.71 billion tonnes | 34.95 billion tonnes | 42.71 billion tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near India
More climate change data for India
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 27.69 billion kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 602,760 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 105,678 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 497,082 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 398.78 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 17,753 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 279,594 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 176,015 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 103,578 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 664.21 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is cumulative co₂ emissions from coal in India?
- Cumulative co₂ emissions from coal in India was 42.71 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 India?
- The highest recorded value was 42.71 billion tonnes in 2024.
- What is the lowest cumulative co₂ emissions from coal recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 394,481 tonnes in 1858.
- How does India rank for cumulative co₂ emissions from coal?
- India ranks 6th out of 179 countries with data for 2024.
- Is cumulative co₂ emissions from coal rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 67.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this India 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 — 156 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.