Share of global cumulative CO₂ emissions from coal in United States
United States: Share of global cumulative CO₂ emissions from coal was 20.7% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
20.7%
Change on year
down 1.4%
World rank
2nd
of 179 countries
All-time high
35.3%
in 1948
All-time low
0.0%
in 1800
Years of data
225
1800–2024
Share of global cumulative CO₂ emissions from coal in United States, 1800–2024
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
United States recorded 20.7% for share of global cumulative co₂ emissions from coal in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.4% on the previous year and down 12.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of global cumulative co₂ emissions from coal in United States peaked at 35.3% in 1948 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1800.
United States ranks 2nd 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.
Share of global cumulative CO₂ emissions from coal in United States, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1800 | 0.0% | — |
| 1801 | 0.1% | +97.8% |
| 1802 | 0.1% | +48.4% |
| 1803 | 0.1% | +32.1% |
| 1804 | 0.2% | +25.7% |
| 1805 | 0.2% | +19.6% |
| 1806 | 0.2% | +14.8% |
| 1807 | 0.2% | +13.7% |
| 1808 | 0.3% | +11.9% |
| 1809 | 0.3% | +10.2% |
| 1810 | 0.3% | +8.8% |
| 1811 | 0.4% | +8.2% |
| 1812 | 0.4% | +7.9% |
| 1813 | 0.4% | +7.6% |
| 1814 | 0.4% | +7.3% |
| 1815 | 0.5% | +6.9% |
| 1816 | 0.5% | +6.9% |
| 1817 | 0.5% | +6.5% |
| 1818 | 0.6% | +6.3% |
| 1819 | 0.6% | +5.4% |
| 1820 | 0.6% | +5.1% |
| 1821 | 0.7% | +4.8% |
| 1822 | 0.7% | +4.5% |
| 1823 | 0.7% | +4.2% |
| 1824 | 0.8% | +4.6% |
| 1825 | 0.8% | +4.8% |
| 1826 | 0.8% | +5.4% |
| 1827 | 0.9% | +5.4% |
| 1828 | 0.9% | +5.6% |
| 1829 | 1.0% | +6.0% |
| 1830 | 1.0% | +5.6% |
| 1831 | 1.1% | +5.9% |
| 1832 | 1.2% | +8.1% |
| 1833 | 1.3% | +8.7% |
| 1834 | 1.4% | +6.8% |
| 1835 | 1.5% | +8.1% |
| 1836 | 1.6% | +7.6% |
| 1837 | 1.7% | +7.8% |
| 1838 | 1.8% | +6.2% |
| 1839 | 1.9% | +6.2% |
| 1840 | 2.1% | +5.7% |
| 1841 | 2.2% | +5.4% |
| 1842 | 2.3% | +5.5% |
| 1843 | 2.4% | +5.8% |
| 1844 | 2.6% | +6.5% |
| 1845 | 2.8% | +7.2% |
| 1846 | 3.0% | +7.5% |
| 1847 | 3.2% | +8.0% |
| 1848 | 3.5% | +8.0% |
| 1849 | 3.7% | +7.5% |
| 1850 | 4.0% | +7.0% |
| 1851 | 4.3% | +8.4% |
| 1852 | 4.7% | +8.0% |
| 1853 | 5.0% | +8.0% |
| 1854 | 5.4% | +7.1% |
| 1855 | 5.8% | +7.6% |
| 1856 | 6.2% | +6.7% |
| 1857 | 6.6% | +5.9% |
| 1858 | 6.9% | +5.2% |
| 1859 | 7.2% | +5.0% |
| 1860 | 7.6% | +4.3% |
| 1861 | 7.8% | +3.2% |
| 1862 | 8.0% | +2.9% |
| 1863 | 8.3% | +3.4% |
| 1864 | 8.6% | +3.2% |
| 1865 | 8.8% | +2.6% |
| 1866 | 9.0% | +2.2% |
| 1867 | 9.3% | +3.1% |
| 1868 | 9.6% | +3.6% |
| 1869 | 10.0% | +3.9% |
| 1870 | 10.3% | +3.7% |
| 1871 | 10.7% | +3.3% |
| 1872 | 11.1% | +4.1% |
| 1873 | 11.6% | +4.1% |
| 1874 | 12.0% | +3.5% |
| 1875 | 12.3% | +2.9% |
| 1876 | 12.6% | +2.3% |
| 1877 | 12.9% | +2.6% |
| 1878 | 13.2% | +2.1% |
| 1879 | 13.6% | +2.9% |
| 1880 | 14.0% | +2.9% |
| 1881 | 14.4% | +2.8% |
| 1882 | 14.8% | +3.1% |
| 1883 | 15.3% | +3.1% |
| 1884 | 15.8% | +3.1% |
| 1885 | 16.2% | +2.8% |
| 1886 | 16.7% | +2.7% |
| 1887 | 17.1% | +2.6% |
| 1888 | 17.6% | +3.3% |
| 1889 | 18.0% | +2.1% |
| 1890 | 18.5% | +2.8% |
| 1891 | 19.0% | +2.7% |
| 1892 | 19.6% | +2.8% |
| 1893 | 20.1% | +2.7% |
| 1894 | 20.5% | +1.8% |
| 1895 | 20.9% | +2.2% |
| 1896 | 21.3% | +1.8% |
| 1897 | 21.6% | +1.7% |
| 1898 | 22.0% | +1.8% |
| 1899 | 22.5% | +2.1% |
| 1900 | 23.0% | +2.0% |
| 1901 | 23.5% | +2.2% |
| 1902 | 24.0% | +2.2% |
| 1903 | 24.6% | +2.7% |
| 1904 | 25.2% | +2.2% |
| 1905 | 25.8% | +2.4% |
| 1906 | 26.4% | +2.3% |
| 1907 | 27.0% | +2.5% |
| 1908 | 27.4% | +1.5% |
| 1909 | 27.9% | +1.8% |
| 1910 | 28.4% | +1.9% |
| 1911 | 28.9% | +1.6% |
| 1912 | 29.3% | +1.6% |
| 1913 | 29.8% | +1.5% |
| 1914 | 30.1% | +1.2% |
| 1915 | 30.5% | +1.3% |
| 1916 | 31.0% | +1.5% |
| 1917 | 31.5% | +1.7% |
| 1918 | 32.1% | +1.8% |
| 1919 | 32.5% | +1.3% |
| 1920 | 32.9% | +1.4% |
| 1921 | 33.2% | +0.8% |
| 1922 | 33.4% | +0.6% |
| 1923 | 33.8% | +1.3% |
| 1924 | 34.0% | +0.7% |
| 1925 | 34.3% | +0.7% |
| 1926 | 34.6% | +1.1% |
| 1927 | 34.8% | +0.5% |
| 1928 | 34.9% | +0.4% |
| 1929 | 35.1% | +0.4% |
| 1930 | 35.2% | +0.2% |
| 1931 | 35.2% | +0.1% |
| 1932 | 35.1% | -0.1% |
| 1933 | 35.1% | -0.1% |
| 1934 | 35.1% | -0.1% |
| 1935 | 35.0% | -0.1% |
| 1936 | 35.0% | -0.0% |
| 1937 | 35.0% | -0.1% |
| 1938 | 34.8% | -0.4% |
| 1939 | 34.7% | -0.3% |
| 1940 | 34.6% | -0.3% |
| 1941 | 34.6% | -0.1% |
| 1942 | 34.7% | +0.2% |
| 1943 | 34.7% | +0.2% |
| 1944 | 34.8% | +0.3% |
| 1945 | 35.1% | +0.6% |
| 1946 | 35.1% | +0.3% |
| 1947 | 35.2% | +0.3% |
| 1948 | 35.3% | +0.2% |
| 1949 | 35.2% | -0.3% |
| 1950 | 35.1% | -0.2% |
| 1951 | 35.0% | -0.3% |
| 1952 | 34.9% | -0.5% |
| 1953 | 34.7% | -0.5% |
| 1954 | 34.5% | -0.7% |
| 1955 | 34.3% | -0.6% |
| 1956 | 34.0% | -0.7% |
| 1957 | 33.8% | -0.7% |
| 1958 | 33.5% | -0.9% |
| 1959 | 33.2% | -0.9% |
| 1960 | 32.8% | -1.0% |
| 1961 | 32.5% | -0.9% |
| 1962 | 32.3% | -0.8% |
| 1963 | 32.0% | -0.8% |
| 1964 | 31.8% | -0.7% |
| 1965 | 31.5% | -0.7% |
| 1966 | 31.3% | -0.6% |
| 1967 | 31.2% | -0.6% |
| 1968 | 31.0% | -0.6% |
| 1969 | 30.8% | -0.6% |
| 1970 | 30.6% | -0.6% |
| 1971 | 30.4% | -0.7% |
| 1972 | 30.2% | -0.6% |
| 1973 | 30.0% | -0.6% |
| 1974 | 29.8% | -0.6% |
| 1975 | 29.6% | -0.6% |
| 1976 | 29.5% | -0.6% |
| 1977 | 29.3% | -0.6% |
| 1978 | 29.1% | -0.6% |
| 1979 | 28.9% | -0.6% |
| 1980 | 28.8% | -0.6% |
| 1981 | 28.6% | -0.5% |
| 1982 | 28.5% | -0.6% |
| 1983 | 28.3% | -0.6% |
| 1984 | 28.2% | -0.5% |
| 1985 | 28.0% | -0.6% |
| 1986 | 27.8% | -0.7% |
| 1987 | 27.6% | -0.6% |
| 1988 | 27.5% | -0.6% |
| 1989 | 27.3% | -0.6% |
| 1990 | 27.2% | -0.5% |
| 1991 | 27.0% | -0.5% |
| 1992 | 26.9% | -0.4% |
| 1993 | 26.8% | -0.3% |
| 1994 | 26.7% | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 26.6% | -0.4% |
| 1996 | 26.6% | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 26.5% | -0.3% |
| 1998 | 26.4% | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 26.4% | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 26.3% | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 26.2% | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 26.2% | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 26.0% | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 25.9% | -0.5% |
| 2005 | 25.8% | -0.6% |
| 2006 | 25.6% | -0.7% |
| 2007 | 25.4% | -0.7% |
| 2008 | 25.2% | -0.8% |
| 2009 | 25.0% | -0.9% |
| 2010 | 24.7% | -1.0% |
| 2011 | 24.5% | -1.1% |
| 2012 | 24.2% | -1.2% |
| 2013 | 23.9% | -1.2% |
| 2014 | 23.6% | -1.1% |
| 2015 | 23.3% | -1.2% |
| 2016 | 23.1% | -1.2% |
| 2017 | 22.8% | -1.2% |
| 2018 | 22.5% | -1.2% |
| 2019 | 22.2% | -1.3% |
| 2020 | 21.9% | -1.3% |
| 2021 | 21.6% | -1.3% |
| 2022 | 21.3% | -1.4% |
| 2023 | 21.0% | -1.4% |
| 2024 | 20.7% | -1.4% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 20.7% is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.0%, 469.7× the median. (68 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Share of global cumulative CO₂ emissions from coal in United States 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1801 | +97.8% | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| 1802 | +48.4% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 1803 | +32.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 1804 | +25.7% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1800s | 0.2% | 0.0% | 0.3% | 10 |
| 1810s | 0.5% | 0.3% | 0.6% | 10 |
| 1820s | 0.8% | 0.6% | 1.0% | 10 |
| 1830s | 1.5% | 1.0% | 1.9% | 10 |
| 1840s | 2.8% | 2.1% | 3.7% | 10 |
| 1850s | 5.6% | 4.0% | 7.2% | 10 |
| 1860s | 8.7% | 7.6% | 10.0% | 10 |
| 1870s | 12.0% | 10.3% | 13.6% | 10 |
| 1880s | 16.0% | 14.0% | 18.0% | 10 |
| 1890s | 20.6% | 18.5% | 22.5% | 10 |
| 1900s | 25.5% | 23.0% | 27.9% | 10 |
| 1910s | 30.4% | 28.4% | 32.5% | 10 |
| 1920s | 34.1% | 32.9% | 35.1% | 10 |
| 1930s | 35.0% | 34.7% | 35.2% | 10 |
| 1940s | 34.9% | 34.6% | 35.3% | 10 |
| 1950s | 34.3% | 33.2% | 35.1% | 10 |
| 1960s | 31.7% | 30.8% | 32.8% | 10 |
| 1970s | 29.7% | 28.9% | 30.6% | 10 |
| 1980s | 28.0% | 27.3% | 28.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 26.7% | 26.4% | 27.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 25.8% | 25.0% | 26.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 23.5% | 22.2% | 24.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 21.3% | 20.7% | 21.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near United States
More climate change data for United States
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 274,482 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 60,922 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 213,560 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 229.89 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 7,627 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 107,381 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 89,068 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 18,313 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 336.11 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 654.05 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of global cumulative co₂ emissions from coal in United States?
- Share of global cumulative co₂ emissions from coal in United States was 20.7% in 2024, according to Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of global cumulative co₂ emissions from coal recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 35.3% in 1948.
- What is the lowest share of global cumulative co₂ emissions from coal recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1800.
- How does United States rank for share of global cumulative co₂ emissions from coal?
- United States ranks 2nd out of 179 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of global cumulative co₂ emissions from coal rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of global cumulative CO₂ emissions from coal. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 225 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 as a percentage of global cumulative emissions of CO₂ from coal.