TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Coal continues to play a defining force in the global energy landscape, with the fuel still supplying roughly one-third of the world’s electricity in 2025 despite the accelerating rise of renewable alternatives.
Formed over millions of years from the compressed remains of ancient vegetation, including trees, ferns, and algae, coal was the first fossil fuel widely utilized by humans, underpinning centuries of industrial and economic development. Its long-standing role spans from heating homes and fueling furnaces to powering the steam engines that drove the Industrial Revolution.
Even with the swift rise of renewable energy sources like solar and wind, coal consumption remains firmly entrenched in many economies, particularly in regions it continues to serve as a dependable and cost-effective backbone for electricity generation.
In recent data from 2024, Visual Capitalist and World Population Review disclosed the world’s coal consumption by country, where densely populated countries like China and India topped the chart.
Coal consumption by country in 2024
China – 55.8%
India – 13.9%
U.S. – 4.8%
Indonesia – 2.9%
Japan – 2.7%
Russia – 2.3%
South Africa – 2.1%
South Korea – 1.7%
Vietnam – 1.5%
Turkiye – 1.1%
In 2024, China dominated global coal consumption, using an estimated 92.2 exajoules, equivalent to about 55.8% of the world’s total, by far the largest share of any country.
The scale of this consumption reflects China’s vast industrial base and immense electricity demand, with coal continuing to serve as a primary energy source for key sectors such as steel production and heavy manufacturing.
Despite the country’s aggressive expansion of renewable energy capacity, coal remains deeply embedded in China’s energy system, underpinning both economic activity and grid stability as demand continues to grow.
India consumed around 23 exajoules of coal, securing its position as the world’s second-largest user of the fuel. The country’s reliance on coal is closely tied to its efforts to expand electricity access across rural regions while supporting a rapidly growing industrial economy.
Even as India accelerates investments in solar and wind energy, coal continues to play a central role in meeting rising power demand.
Combined with China, the two nations account for nearly 70% of global coal consumption, highlighting how heavily worldwide demand is concentrated within the world’s most populous countries.
Beyond the two largest consumers, the United States ranks third globally, accounting for roughly 4.8% of total coal consumption. While usage levels remain substantial, the country possesses extensive coal reserves estimated to last for nearly three centuries at current rates.
At the same time, coal’s status as the most polluting fossil fuel, due to its high greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants, has prompted a strategic shift in energy policy.
U.S. efforts are increasingly focused on reducing dependence on coal, lowering emissions, and accelerating the transition toward cleaner energy sources, positioning the country to expand its role as a major producer and consumer of renewable power.
The stark concentration of coal consumption among major economies highlights both the scale of the challenge and the urgency of diversifying energy sources to reduce emissions and environmental impact. While coal remains a reliable backbone for now, the long-term trajectory points toward a gradual shift in how nations generate and consume power.
To see how this transition is already taking shape, read more about countries with geothermal power and discover which nations are tapping into this renewable resource to reshape the future of electricity.
Read: 10 Countries with No Income Tax You Can Move to in 2026
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