China Drives 166 EJ Global Coal Record in 2025 as Its 55.6% Share Tops Rest of World
Updated
Updated · Visual Capitalist · Jul 25
China Drives 166 EJ Global Coal Record in 2025 as Its 55.6% Share Tops Rest of World
3 articles · Updated · Visual Capitalist · Jul 25
Summary
Global coal consumption hit a record 166 exajoules in 2025, the sixth straight annual high, with China alone using 92.2 EJ—55.6% of the world total.
China and India consumed roughly 70% of global coal, underscoring how coal still anchors electricity generation and industrial growth across Asia despite heavy renewable investment.
Southeast Asia kept demand rising even as coal-fired power generation in China and India fell for the first time in more than 50 years; Indonesia and Vietnam have both more than doubled consumption since 2015.
U.S. coal use rose 10% in 2025 as higher natural gas prices pushed some utilities back toward coal, while most advanced European economies continued to cut consumption as plants retired and renewables expanded.
The 2025 data shows coal remains deeply embedded in the global energy system, with Asia setting the pace even as the longer-term energy transition continues.