Cumulative CO₂ emissions from coal in Japan
Japan: Cumulative CO₂ emissions from coal was 25.17 billion tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
25.17 billion tonnes
Change on year
up 1.5%
World rank
7th
of 179 countries
All-time high
25.17 billion tonnes
in 2024
All-time low
10,992 tonnes
in 1868
Years of data
157
1868–2024
Cumulative CO₂ emissions from coal in Japan, 1868–2024
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 Japan is 25.17 billion tonnes, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 157 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.5% on the previous year and up 20.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cumulative co₂ emissions from coal in Japan peaked at 25.17 billion tonnes in 2024 and was at its lowest, 10,992 tonnes, in 1868.
Japan ranks 7th 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 Japan, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1868 | 10,992 tonnes | — |
| 1869 | 29,312 tonnes | +166.7% |
| 1870 | 47,632 tonnes | +62.5% |
| 1871 | 70,074 tonnes | +47.1% |
| 1872 | 99,386 tonnes | +41.8% |
| 1873 | 128,698 tonnes | +29.5% |
| 1874 | 703,946 tonnes | +447.0% |
| 1875 | 2.11 million tonnes | +200.4% |
| 1876 | 3.49 million tonnes | +65.0% |
| 1877 | 4.75 million tonnes | +36.1% |
| 1878 | 6.50 million tonnes | +36.8% |
| 1879 | 8.64 million tonnes | +33.1% |
| 1880 | 10.84 million tonnes | +25.4% |
| 1881 | 13.17 million tonnes | +21.5% |
| 1882 | 15.48 million tonnes | +17.6% |
| 1883 | 17.96 million tonnes | +16.0% |
| 1884 | 20.74 million tonnes | +15.5% |
| 1885 | 23.91 million tonnes | +15.3% |
| 1886 | 27.26 million tonnes | +14.0% |
| 1887 | 31.53 million tonnes | +15.6% |
| 1888 | 36.41 million tonnes | +15.5% |
| 1889 | 42.29 million tonnes | +16.2% |
| 1890 | 48.63 million tonnes | +15.0% |
| 1891 | 56.35 million tonnes | +15.9% |
| 1892 | 64.09 million tonnes | +13.7% |
| 1893 | 72.16 million tonnes | +12.6% |
| 1894 | 82.59 million tonnes | +14.5% |
| 1895 | 94.34 million tonnes | +14.2% |
| 1896 | 106.66 million tonnes | +13.0% |
| 1897 | 119.53 million tonnes | +12.1% |
| 1898 | 136.01 million tonnes | +13.8% |
| 1899 | 152.59 million tonnes | +12.2% |
| 1900 | 171.02 million tonnes | +12.1% |
| 1901 | 193.21 million tonnes | +13.0% |
| 1902 | 216.97 million tonnes | +12.3% |
| 1903 | 241.81 million tonnes | +11.4% |
| 1904 | 269.54 million tonnes | +11.5% |
| 1905 | 298.38 million tonnes | +10.7% |
| 1906 | 329.99 million tonnes | +10.6% |
| 1907 | 363.59 million tonnes | +10.2% |
| 1908 | 399.70 million tonnes | +9.9% |
| 1909 | 436.61 million tonnes | +9.2% |
| 1910 | 475.20 million tonnes | +8.8% |
| 1911 | 518.56 million tonnes | +9.1% |
| 1912 | 567.12 million tonnes | +9.4% |
| 1913 | 620.59 million tonnes | +9.4% |
| 1914 | 677.47 million tonnes | +9.2% |
| 1915 | 729.05 million tonnes | +7.6% |
| 1916 | 786.34 million tonnes | +7.9% |
| 1917 | 852.54 million tonnes | +8.4% |
| 1918 | 922.98 million tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1919 | 1.00 billion tonnes | +8.5% |
| 1920 | 1.07 billion tonnes | +7.3% |
| 1921 | 1.14 billion tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1922 | 1.21 billion tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1923 | 1.29 billion tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1924 | 1.36 billion tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1925 | 1.45 billion tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1926 | 1.53 billion tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1927 | 1.62 billion tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1928 | 1.71 billion tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1929 | 1.80 billion tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1930 | 1.88 billion tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1931 | 1.96 billion tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1932 | 2.03 billion tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1933 | 2.12 billion tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1934 | 2.22 billion tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1935 | 2.32 billion tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1936 | 2.43 billion tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1937 | 2.55 billion tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1938 | 2.68 billion tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1939 | 2.81 billion tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1940 | 2.96 billion tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1941 | 3.11 billion tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1942 | 3.25 billion tonnes | +4.7% |
| 1943 | 3.40 billion tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1944 | 3.54 billion tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1945 | 3.61 billion tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1946 | 3.66 billion tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1947 | 3.73 billion tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1948 | 3.82 billion tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1949 | 3.91 billion tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1950 | 4.01 billion tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1951 | 4.12 billion tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1952 | 4.24 billion tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1953 | 4.35 billion tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1954 | 4.47 billion tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1955 | 4.58 billion tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1956 | 4.70 billion tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1957 | 4.83 billion tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1958 | 4.96 billion tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1959 | 5.09 billion tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1960 | 5.22 billion tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1961 | 5.39 billion tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1962 | 5.54 billion tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1963 | 5.70 billion tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1964 | 5.86 billion tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1965 | 6.02 billion tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1966 | 6.19 billion tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1967 | 6.37 billion tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1968 | 6.57 billion tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1969 | 6.79 billion tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1970 | 7.02 billion tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1971 | 7.23 billion tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1972 | 7.43 billion tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1973 | 7.64 billion tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1974 | 7.87 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1975 | 8.09 billion tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1976 | 8.30 billion tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1977 | 8.50 billion tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1978 | 8.68 billion tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1979 | 8.87 billion tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1980 | 9.09 billion tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1981 | 9.34 billion tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1982 | 9.58 billion tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1983 | 9.81 billion tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1984 | 10.07 billion tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1985 | 10.34 billion tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1986 | 10.60 billion tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1987 | 10.85 billion tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1988 | 11.13 billion tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1989 | 11.41 billion tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1990 | 11.72 billion tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1991 | 12.03 billion tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1992 | 12.33 billion tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1993 | 12.65 billion tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1994 | 12.96 billion tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1995 | 13.29 billion tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1996 | 13.63 billion tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1997 | 13.97 billion tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1998 | 14.30 billion tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1999 | 14.63 billion tonnes | +2.4% |
| 2000 | 15.00 billion tonnes | +2.5% |
| 2001 | 15.38 billion tonnes | +2.5% |
| 2002 | 15.77 billion tonnes | +2.5% |
| 2003 | 16.17 billion tonnes | +2.6% |
| 2004 | 16.59 billion tonnes | +2.6% |
| 2005 | 17.01 billion tonnes | +2.6% |
| 2006 | 17.43 billion tonnes | +2.5% |
| 2007 | 17.87 billion tonnes | +2.5% |
| 2008 | 18.29 billion tonnes | +2.4% |
| 2009 | 18.70 billion tonnes | +2.2% |
| 2010 | 19.14 billion tonnes | +2.4% |
| 2011 | 19.56 billion tonnes | +2.2% |
| 2012 | 20.01 billion tonnes | +2.3% |
| 2013 | 20.48 billion tonnes | +2.4% |
| 2014 | 20.95 billion tonnes | +2.3% |
| 2015 | 21.41 billion tonnes | +2.2% |
| 2016 | 21.86 billion tonnes | +2.1% |
| 2017 | 22.31 billion tonnes | +2.1% |
| 2018 | 22.75 billion tonnes | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 23.18 billion tonnes | +1.9% |
| 2020 | 23.57 billion tonnes | +1.7% |
| 2021 | 23.99 billion tonnes | +1.8% |
| 2022 | 24.40 billion tonnes | +1.7% |
| 2023 | 24.79 billion tonnes | +1.6% |
| 2024 | 25.17 billion tonnes | +1.5% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 25.17 billion tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 374.74 million tonnes, 67.2× the median. (68 countries reporting)
- Japan's 25.17 billion tonnes is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 646.78 million tonnes, 38.9× the median. (25 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Cumulative CO₂ emissions from coal in Japan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1874 | +447.0% | 128,698 tonnes | 703,946 tonnes |
| 1875 | +200.4% | 703,946 tonnes | 2.11 million tonnes |
| 1869 | +166.7% | 10,992 tonnes | 29,312 tonnes |
| 1876 | +65.0% | 2.11 million tonnes | 3.49 million tonnes |
| 1870 | +62.5% | 29,312 tonnes | 47,632 tonnes |
| 1871 | +47.1% | 47,632 tonnes | 70,074 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1860s | 20,152 tonnes | 10,992 tonnes | 29,312 tonnes | 2 |
| 1870s | 2.65 million tonnes | 47,632 tonnes | 8.64 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 23.96 million tonnes | 10.84 million tonnes | 42.29 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 93.29 million tonnes | 48.63 million tonnes | 152.59 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 292.08 million tonnes | 171.02 million tonnes | 436.61 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 715.10 million tonnes | 475.20 million tonnes | 1.00 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 1.42 billion tonnes | 1.07 billion tonnes | 1.80 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 2.30 billion tonnes | 1.88 billion tonnes | 2.81 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 3.50 billion tonnes | 2.96 billion tonnes | 3.91 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 4.53 billion tonnes | 4.01 billion tonnes | 5.09 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 5.97 billion tonnes | 5.22 billion tonnes | 6.79 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 7.96 billion tonnes | 7.02 billion tonnes | 8.87 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 10.22 billion tonnes | 9.09 billion tonnes | 11.41 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 13.15 billion tonnes | 11.72 billion tonnes | 14.63 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 16.82 billion tonnes | 15.00 billion tonnes | 18.70 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 21.16 billion tonnes | 19.14 billion tonnes | 23.18 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 24.38 billion tonnes | 23.57 billion tonnes | 25.17 billion tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near Japan
More climate change data for Japan
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 337.64 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 12,181 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 3,633 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 8,547 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 13.71 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 305.27 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 9,462 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 2,401 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 7,061 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 9.06 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is cumulative co₂ emissions from coal in Japan?
- Cumulative co₂ emissions from coal in Japan was 25.17 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 Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 25.17 billion tonnes in 2024.
- What is the lowest cumulative co₂ emissions from coal recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 10,992 tonnes in 1868.
- How does Japan rank for cumulative co₂ emissions from coal?
- Japan ranks 7th out of 179 countries with data for 2024.
- Is cumulative co₂ emissions from coal rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Japan 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 — 157 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.