Coal Consumption by Country 2025

Formed from the remains of trees, ferns, algae, and other plants that lived millions of years ago, coal was the first fossil fuel actively used by humans. Coal has been used for centuries to cook food, heat homes and businesses, fuel furnaces and forges, power the steam engines of locomotives and ships, and more. Coal is the primary source of energy used in the United States (which leads the world in oil consumption), although its usage has decreased in recent years. In 2008, coal was used to generate 50% of the country’s electricity, but that percentage had fallen to approximately 31% by 2016.

Despite its still-high level of consumption, the United States has enough coal to last approximately three hundred years at current usage rates. However, coal is the “dirtiest” of the fossil fuels, known to release significant amounts of greenhouse gases and other air pollutants when burned. As such, the United States is actively seeking to decrease its reliance on coal, leave behind its status as one of the world’s biggest greenhouse gas emitters, and become one of the world’s leading producers and consumers of renewable energy.

10 Countries with the Highest Total Coal Consumption in the World (exajoules)

Naturally, some of the world’s most populous countries and highest overall energy consumers would also use the largest amount of coal. Here are the top ten coal consuming countries in terms of exajoules. An exajoule (EJ) is a unit of energy equal to one quintillion joules (10¹⁸ J), roughly the amount of energy produced by 28 billion tons of coal or 278 terawatt-hours of electricity.

China

In 2024, China consumed 92.2 exajoules of coal, accounting for the lion’s share of global use and securing its position as the world’s largest coal consumer by far. Despite its massive investments in renewables, China’s heavy reliance on coal continues to power its vast industrial base and growing energy demand, especially across its steel and manufacturing sectors.

India

India burned 23 exajoules of coal in 2024, firmly holding the second-place spot worldwide. The country’s coal dependence stems largely from its push to electrify rural regions and fuel its expanding industrial economy, even as it ramps up solar and wind capacity.

United States

With 7.9 exajoules of coal consumption in 2024, the United States ranked third globally, though far behind Asia’s giants. U.S. coal use has steadily declined over the past decade, replaced by natural gas and renewables—but demand remains resilient in regions where coal-fired plants still anchor local economies.

Indonesia

Indonesia used 4.72 exajoules of coal in 2024, making it the fourth-largest consumer and one of the few nations still expanding both production and domestic use. As one of the world’s biggest coal exporters, Indonesia faces a delicate balancing act between meeting internal power needs and fulfilling export commitments.

Japan

Japan’s 4.53 exajoules of coal consumption placed it fifth in 2024, showing its enduring reliance on thermal coal for electricity generation. The country has pledged to cut coal use over time, but the post-Fukushima shift away from nuclear energy has slowed that transition.

Russia

Russia consumed 3.75 exajoules of coal in 2024, ranking sixth globally. Despite its vast natural gas reserves, coal remains an important domestic fuel source—particularly in Siberia—and a key export commodity to Asian markets.

South Africa

At 3.51 exajoules, South Africa was the seventh-largest coal consumer in 2024. The nation’s heavy dependence on coal stems from its state-run utility, Eskom, which generates roughly 80% of its electricity from coal-fired plants.

South Korea

South Korea burned 2.85 exajoules of coal in 2024, ranking eighth worldwide. Coal remains central to its energy mix despite ambitious carbon-reduction goals, though Seoul is investing heavily in cleaner technologies and emissions controls.

Vietnam

Vietnam consumed 2.5 exajoules of coal in 2024, placing it ninth among the world’s top coal users. The country’s rapid industrialization and surging power demand have driven a sharp rise in coal imports, even as it expands renewables like solar and wind.

Turkey

Rounding out the top ten, Turkey used 1.8 exajoules of coal in 2024. The nation continues to lean on domestic lignite reserves to secure energy independence, though this reliance has drawn increasing scrutiny amid regional air-quality and emissions concerns.