Peak Coal and Peak Emissions: 52 Countries Past Peak Coal, 59 Past Peak CO2

52 of 68 countries are past peak coal generation, 8 are at or near their peak and 8 are still rising. 59 of 103 countries are past peak power sector CO2 emissions, 22 are at or near their peak and 22 are still rising. World coal generation was the highest in the data in 2025, 10,607 TWh, so it has not peaked yet in this data (Ember's World region data starts in 2000). The biggest coal generators now are China (peaked in 2024 at 5,836 TWh, 1.4% below that in 2025), India (peaked in 2024 at 1,518 TWh, 2.9% below that in 2025) and the United States (peaked in 2007 at 2,016 TWh, 63.4% below that in 2025). The 52 countries past peak coal generated 2,169 TWh of coal in their latest year, 21% of the 10,558 TWh generated by all 68 countries here. Each country is read at its own latest Ember year (most report 2025 or 2024), so the figures are not all for the same year. Data as of 2025, Ember annual statistics.

Peaks at a Glance

Each country at its own latest year, through 2025
Past peak coal52 of 68countries
Past peak CO259 of 103countries
World coalRecord 202510,607 TWh
World power CO2Record 202514,688 MtCO2

Key Facts, 2025

  • 52 of 68 countries are past peak coal generation, 8 are at or near their peak and 8 are still rising.
  • Among countries past peak coal generation, the biggest peaks were the United States (peaked in 2007 at 2,016 TWh, 63.4% below that in 2025), Japan (peaked in 2017 at 363 TWh, 10.0% below that in 2025), Germany (peaked in 1990 or earlier at 310 TWh, 66.4% below that in 2025), South Korea (peaked in 2017 at 261 TWh, 25.1% below that in 2025) and South Africa (peaked in 2007 at 248 TWh, 20.2% below that in 2025).
  • World coal generation was the highest in the data in 2025, 10,607 TWh, so it has not peaked yet in this data (Ember's World region data starts in 2000).
  • The biggest coal generators now are China (peaked in 2024 at 5,836 TWh, 1.4% below that in 2025), India (peaked in 2024 at 1,518 TWh, 2.9% below that in 2025) and the United States (peaked in 2007 at 2,016 TWh, 63.4% below that in 2025).
  • The 52 countries past peak coal generated 2,169 TWh of coal in their latest year, 21% of the 10,558 TWh generated by all 68 countries here.
  • 59 of 103 countries are past peak power sector CO2 emissions, 22 are at or near their peak and 22 are still rising.
  • Among countries past peak power sector CO2 emissions, the biggest peaks were the United States (peaked in 2007 at 2,479 MtCO2, 29.9% below that in 2025), Japan (peaked in 2012 at 658 MtCO2, 26.1% below that in 2025), Germany (peaked in 2007 at 348 MtCO2, 52.3% below that in 2025), South Korea (peaked in 2018 at 308 MtCO2, 14.8% below that in 2025) and the United Kingdom (peaked in 1991 at 226 MtCO2, 71.7% below that in 2025).
  • World power sector CO2 emissions were the highest in the data in 2025, 14,688 MtCO2, so it has not peaked yet in this data (Ember's World region data starts in 2000).

World Coal Generation

Ember World region, 2000 to 2025
World coal generation by year, in TWh World coal generation in TWh, 2000 to 2025. World coal generation was the highest in the data in 2025, 10,607 TWh, so it has not peaked yet in this data (Ember's World region data starts in 2000). 0 3,000 6,000 9,000 12,000 200020052010201520202025
World coal generation in TWh, 2000 to 2025. World coal generation was the highest in the data in 2025, 10,607 TWh, so it has not peaked yet in this data (Ember's World region data starts in 2000).
World coal generation by year, in TWh
YearWorld coal generation
20005,809 TWh
20015,891 TWh
20026,144 TWh
20036,575 TWh
20046,797 TWh
20057,167 TWh
20067,567 TWh
20078,052 TWh
20088,074 TWh
20097,951 TWh
20108,468 TWh
20118,922 TWh
20128,972 TWh
20139,437 TWh
20149,619 TWh
20159,296 TWh
20169,337 TWh
20179,668 TWh
201810,045 TWh
20199,836 TWh
20209,445 TWh
202110,169 TWh
202210,271 TWh
202310,419 TWh
202410,546 TWh
202510,607 TWh

Countries Past Peak, by the Year of Their Peak

52 past peak coal, 59 past peak CO2
Number of countries now past peak, counted by the year of their peak Countries now past peak, counted by the year of their peak. Coal generation: 3 by 1990, 9 by 2000, 25 by 2010, 47 by 2020, 52 by 2025. Power sector CO2 emissions: 3 by 1990, 9 by 2000, 31 by 2010, 55 by 2020, 59 by 2025. 0 15 30 45 60 19901995200020052010201520202025
Countries now past peak, counted by the year of their peak. Coal generation: 3 by 1990, 9 by 2000, 25 by 2010, 47 by 2020, 52 by 2025. Power sector CO2 emissions: 3 by 1990, 9 by 2000, 31 by 2010, 55 by 2020, 59 by 2025.
Number of countries now past peak, counted by the year of their peak
YearPast peak coal generationPast peak power sector CO2
199033
199155
199255
199355
199455
199555
199677
199777
199878
199989
200099
20011112
20021212
20031415
20041415
20051718
20061922
20072328
20082428
20092429
20102531
20112732
20123035
20133037
20143339
20153541
20163845
20174046
20184249
20194555
20204755
20215159
20225259
20235259
20245259
20255259

Coal Generation: Peak Year by Country

68 countries ranked

52 of 68 countries are past peak coal generation, 8 are at or near their peak and 8 are still rising.

Past peak (52), biggest peak first

Countries past peak coal generation, ranked by the size of their peak
CountryPeak yearPeakLatestBelow peak
1. 🇺🇸 United States 2007 2,016 TWh 737 TWh (2025) 63.4%
2. 🇯🇵 Japan 2017 363 TWh 327 TWh (2025) 10.0%
3. 🇩🇪 Germany 1990 or earlier 310 TWh 104 TWh (2025) 66.4%
4. 🇰🇷 South Korea 2017 261 TWh 195 TWh (2025) 25.1%
5. 🇿🇦 South Africa 2007 248 TWh 198 TWh (2025) 20.2%
6. 🇬🇧 United Kingdom 1991 211 TWh 330 GWh (2025) 99.8%
7. 🇦🇺 Australia 2006 186 TWh 123 TWh (2025) 34.0%
8. 🇵🇱 Poland 2006 147 TWh 87.3 TWh (2025) 40.6%
9. 🇹🇼 Taiwan 2018 134 TWh 104 TWh (2025) 22.2%
10. 🇨🇦 Canada 2000 116 TWh 17.5 TWh (2025) 84.9%
11. 🇪🇸 Spain 2002 81.2 TWh 1.14 TWh (2025) 98.6%
12. 🇨🇿 Czechia 2007 53.8 TWh 26.6 TWh (2025) 50.6%
13. 🇮🇹 Italy 2012 49.1 TWh 3.58 TWh (2025) 92.7%
14. 🇩🇰 Denmark 1996 39.7 TWh 900 GWh (2025) 97.7%
15. 🇫🇷 France 1991 39.6 TWh 1.75 TWh (2025) 95.6%
16. 🇳🇱 Netherlands 2015 39.4 TWh 9.56 TWh (2025) 75.7%
17. 🇮🇱 Israel 2012 38.7 TWh 2.80 TWh (2025) 92.8%
18. 🇹🇭 Thailand 2014 37.6 TWh 33.6 TWh (2025) 10.6%
19. 🇬🇷 Greece 2005 35.5 TWh 2.75 TWh (2025) 92.3%
20. 🇲🇽 Mexico 2016 34.5 TWh 12.9 TWh (2025) 62.5%
21. 🇭🇰 Hong Kong 2014 30.4 TWh 12.6 TWh (2024) 58.6%
22. 🇨🇱 Chile 2016 30.3 TWh 15.7 TWh (2025) 48.1%
23. 🇲🇦 Morocco 2022 29.0 TWh 27.5 TWh (2025) 5.0%
24. 🇷🇸 Serbia 2011 28.7 TWh 23.7 TWh (2025) 17.6%
25. 🇧🇬 Bulgaria 2011 27.5 TWh 8.58 TWh (2025) 68.8%
26. 🇧🇷 Brazil 2015 27.0 TWh 15.6 TWh (2025) 42.1%
27. 🇵🇰 Pakistan 2021 26.7 TWh 24.8 TWh (2025) 7.4%
28. 🇷🇴 Romania 2008 25.8 TWh 7.56 TWh (2025) 70.7%
29. 🇫🇮 Finland 2003 19.3 TWh 150 GWh (2025) 99.2%
30. 🇧🇪 Belgium 1990 or earlier 17.1 TWh 0 TWh (2025) 100.0%
31. 🇵🇹 Portugal 2005 15.2 TWh 0 TWh (2025) 100.0%
32. 🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina 2018 12.4 TWh 8.11 TWh (2025) 34.8%
33. 🇰🇵 North Korea 2019 11.9 TWh 9.23 TWh (2024) 22.2%
34. 🇭🇺 Hungary 1999 10.2 TWh 1.33 TWh (2025) 86.9%
35. 🇦🇹 Austria 2003 8.44 TWh 0 TWh (2025) 100.0%
36. 🇸🇰 Slovakia 1990 or earlier 7.50 TWh 320 GWh (2025) 95.7%
37. 🇮🇪 Ireland 2001 7.06 TWh 460 GWh (2025) 93.5%
38. 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka 2020 6.36 TWh 5.46 TWh (2025) 14.2%
39. 🇸🇮 Slovenia 2007 5.48 TWh 2.18 TWh (2025) 60.2%
40. 🇳🇿 New Zealand 2005 5.25 TWh 750 GWh (2025) 85.7%

The 40 biggest peaks of 52 past peak countries are shown.

At or near peak, or still rising (16), biggest now first

Countries not past peak coal generation, ranked by their latest value
CountryPeak yearPeakLatestBelow peakStatus
1. 🇨🇳 China 2024 5,836 TWh 5,756 TWh (2025) 1.4% At or near peak
2. 🇮🇳 India 2024 1,518 TWh 1,474 TWh (2025) 2.9% At or near peak
3. 🇮🇩 Indonesia 2025 366 TWh 366 TWh (2025) at peak Still rising
4. 🇷🇺 Russia 2023 215 TWh 211 TWh (2025) 1.8% At or near peak
5. 🇻🇳 Vietnam 2025 157 TWh 157 TWh (2025) at peak Still rising
6. 🇹🇷 Turkey 2025 121 TWh 121 TWh (2025) at peak Still rising
7. 🇲🇾 Malaysia 2025 94.4 TWh 94.4 TWh (2025) at peak Still rising
8. 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan 2018 75.8 TWh 72.5 TWh (2025) 4.3% At or near peak
9. 🇵🇭 Philippines 2024 79.4 TWh 72.2 TWh (2025) 9.0% At or near peak
10. 🇧🇩 Bangladesh 2025 22.3 TWh 22.3 TWh (2025) at peak Still rising
11. 🇱🇦 Laos 2024 12.2 TWh 12.2 TWh (2024) at peak Still rising
12. 🇰🇭 Cambodia 2025 10.1 TWh 10.1 TWh (2025) at peak Still rising
13. 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic 2023 7.72 TWh 6.59 TWh (2025) 14.6% At or near peak
14. 🇺🇿 Uzbekistan 2025 5.70 TWh 5.70 TWh (2025) at peak Still rising
15. 🇨🇴 Colombia 2024 11.2 TWh 5.02 TWh (2025) 55.2% At or near peak

The 15 biggest of 16 countries not past peak are shown.

Left out of the coal generation ranking: 106 countries generating under 10 TWh, 34 with fewer than 15 years of data, 6 with no meaningful coal and 1 whose latest year is too old.

Power Sector CO2 Emissions: Peak Year by Country

103 countries ranked

59 of 103 countries are past peak power sector CO2 emissions, 22 are at or near their peak and 22 are still rising.

Past peak (59), biggest peak first

Countries past peak power sector CO2 emissions, ranked by the size of their peak
CountryPeak yearPeakLatestBelow peak
1. 🇺🇸 United States 2007 2,479 MtCO2 1,737 MtCO2 (2025) 29.9%
2. 🇯🇵 Japan 2012 658 MtCO2 487 MtCO2 (2025) 26.1%
3. 🇩🇪 Germany 2007 348 MtCO2 166 MtCO2 (2025) 52.3%
4. 🇰🇷 South Korea 2018 308 MtCO2 262 MtCO2 (2025) 14.8%
5. 🇬🇧 United Kingdom 1991 226 MtCO2 64.0 MtCO2 (2025) 71.7%
6. 🇿🇦 South Africa 2007 213 MtCO2 170 MtCO2 (2025) 20.5%
7. 🇦🇺 Australia 2009 196 MtCO2 148 MtCO2 (2025) 24.5%
8. 🇮🇹 Italy 2006 155 MtCO2 75.6 MtCO2 (2025) 51.2%
9. 🇨🇦 Canada 2001 150 MtCO2 126 MtCO2 (2025) 15.9%
10. 🇵🇱 Poland 2006 150 MtCO2 102 MtCO2 (2025) 31.9%
11. 🇪🇸 Spain 2005 138 MtCO2 44.4 MtCO2 (2025) 67.7%
12. 🇧🇷 Brazil 2014 114 MtCO2 83.4 MtCO2 (2025) 26.8%
13. 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates 2019 91.4 MtCO2 86.6 MtCO2 (2025) 5.2%
14. 🇵🇰 Pakistan 2021 67.2 MtCO2 52.7 MtCO2 (2025) 21.6%
15. 🇦🇷 Argentina 2016 63.6 MtCO2 53.0 MtCO2 (2025) 16.6%
16. 🇳🇱 Netherlands 2015 60.1 MtCO2 34.3 MtCO2 (2025) 43.0%
17. 🇨🇿 Czechia 2007 57.3 MtCO2 30.3 MtCO2 (2025) 47.1%
18. 🇫🇷 France 1991 54.8 MtCO2 23.7 MtCO2 (2025) 56.8%
19. 🇬🇷 Greece 2007 48.5 MtCO2 18.8 MtCO2 (2025) 61.2%
20. 🇮🇱 Israel 2012 48.0 MtCO2 40.5 MtCO2 (2025) 15.7%
21. 🇩🇰 Denmark 1996 43.6 MtCO2 4.26 MtCO2 (2025) 90.2%
22. 🇻🇪 Venezuela 2016 41.7 MtCO2 6.88 MtCO2 (2024) 83.5%
23. 🇨🇱 Chile 2013 40.4 MtCO2 25.7 MtCO2 (2025) 36.3%
24. 🇷🇴 Romania 1990 or earlier 37.6 MtCO2 12.9 MtCO2 (2025) 65.7%
25. 🇭🇰 Hong Kong 2014 34.2 MtCO2 25.3 MtCO2 (2024) 26.1%
26. 🇸🇾 Syria 2010 32.3 MtCO2 17.6 MtCO2 (2024) 45.7%
27. 🇫🇮 Finland 2003 31.3 MtCO2 4.71 MtCO2 (2025) 85.0%
28. 🇷🇸 Serbia 1990 or earlier 30.7 MtCO2 25.2 MtCO2 (2025) 17.9%
29. 🇧🇬 Bulgaria 2011 28.9 MtCO2 10.5 MtCO2 (2025) 63.7%
30. 🇵🇹 Portugal 2005 27.4 MtCO2 6.53 MtCO2 (2025) 76.2%
31. 🇧🇪 Belgium 1998 24.0 MtCO2 10.9 MtCO2 (2025) 54.5%
32. 🇧🇾 Belarus 2019 20.2 MtCO2 14.3 MtCO2 (2025) 29.0%
33. 🇭🇺 Hungary 1999 17.6 MtCO2 6.50 MtCO2 (2025) 63.2%
34. 🇵🇷 Puerto Rico 2006 17.2 MtCO2 12.8 MtCO2 (2025) 25.5%
35. 🇦🇹 Austria 2003 16.4 MtCO2 8.54 MtCO2 (2025) 47.8%
36. 🇮🇪 Ireland 2001 15.8 MtCO2 8.23 MtCO2 (2025) 47.8%
37. 🇨🇺 Cuba 2018 13.5 MtCO2 12.5 MtCO2 (2024) 7.1%
38. 🇯🇴 Jordan 2017 13.4 MtCO2 12.5 MtCO2 (2024) 6.3%
39. 🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina 2018 12.6 MtCO2 8.32 MtCO2 (2025) 34.0%
40. 🇰🇵 North Korea 2019 11.6 MtCO2 9.23 MtCO2 (2024) 20.6%

The 40 biggest peaks of 59 past peak countries are shown.

At or near peak, or still rising (44), biggest now first

Countries not past peak power sector CO2 emissions, ranked by their latest value
CountryPeak yearPeakLatestBelow peakStatus
1. 🇨🇳 China 2024 5,604 MtCO2 5,550 MtCO2 (2025) 1.0% At or near peak
2. 🇮🇳 India 2024 1,439 MtCO2 1,396 MtCO2 (2025) 3.0% At or near peak
3. 🇷🇺 Russia 2024 536 MtCO2 534 MtCO2 (2025) 0.5% At or near peak
4. 🇮🇩 Indonesia 2025 373 MtCO2 373 MtCO2 (2025) at peak Still rising
5. 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia 2025 320 MtCO2 320 MtCO2 (2025) at peak Still rising
6. 🇮🇷 Iran 2025 262 MtCO2 262 MtCO2 (2025) at peak Still rising
7. 🇲🇽 Mexico 2025 188 MtCO2 188 MtCO2 (2025) at peak Still rising
8. 🇹🇼 Taiwan 2021 190 MtCO2 183 MtCO2 (2025) 3.6% At or near peak
9. 🇹🇷 Turkey 2025 168 MtCO2 168 MtCO2 (2025) at peak Still rising
10. 🇻🇳 Vietnam 2025 151 MtCO2 151 MtCO2 (2025) at peak Still rising
11. 🇪🇬 Egypt 2024 135 MtCO2 135 MtCO2 (2025) 0.3% At or near peak
12. 🇲🇾 Malaysia 2024 128 MtCO2 127 MtCO2 (2025) 0.2% At or near peak
13. 🇹🇭 Thailand 2024 114 MtCO2 105 MtCO2 (2025) 7.5% At or near peak
14. 🇮🇶 Iraq 2024 102 MtCO2 102 MtCO2 (2024) at peak Still rising
15. 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan 2025 101 MtCO2 101 MtCO2 (2025) at peak Still rising

The 15 biggest of 44 countries not past peak are shown.

Left out of the power sector CO2 emissions ranking: 106 countries generating under 10 TWh, 0 with fewer than 15 years of data, 5 with no meaningful emissions and 1 whose latest year is too old.

How Past Peak Is Defined

A country is "past peak" when its highest value is at least 3 years before its latest value and the latest value is at least 5% below that highest value. "Still rising" means the latest value is the highest on record; everything else is "at or near peak". Countries need at least 10 TWh of generation in their latest year and 15 years of data, a highest value of at least 1.00 TWh of coal or 1.00 MtCO2 of emissions (otherwise they have no coal or emissions worth ranking), and a latest value no older than 2024. The peak is the highest value in Ember's data, which starts in 1985 for the earliest country series; a peak in a series' first year is shown as "or earlier" because the true peak may predate the data. Negative values are treated as missing.

Questions About Peak Coal and Peak Emissions

Which countries are past peak coal?

52 of 68 countries are past peak coal generation, 8 are at or near their peak and 8 are still rising. Among countries past peak coal generation, the biggest peaks were the United States (peaked in 2007 at 2,016 TWh, 63.4% below that in 2025), Japan (peaked in 2017 at 363 TWh, 10.0% below that in 2025), Germany (peaked in 1990 or earlier at 310 TWh, 66.4% below that in 2025), South Korea (peaked in 2017 at 261 TWh, 25.1% below that in 2025) and South Africa (peaked in 2007 at 248 TWh, 20.2% below that in 2025). Past peak means the highest value is at least 3 years before the latest one and the latest is at least 5% below it.

Has world coal generation peaked?

World coal generation was the highest in the data in 2025, 10,607 TWh, so it has not peaked yet in this data (Ember's World region data starts in 2000).

Which countries are past peak power sector emissions?

59 of 103 countries are past peak power sector CO2 emissions, 22 are at or near their peak and 22 are still rising. Among countries past peak power sector CO2 emissions, the biggest peaks were the United States (peaked in 2007 at 2,479 MtCO2, 29.9% below that in 2025), Japan (peaked in 2012 at 658 MtCO2, 26.1% below that in 2025), Germany (peaked in 2007 at 348 MtCO2, 52.3% below that in 2025), South Korea (peaked in 2018 at 308 MtCO2, 14.8% below that in 2025) and the United Kingdom (peaked in 1991 at 226 MtCO2, 71.7% below that in 2025).

Which big coal users have not peaked?

The biggest coal generators now are China (peaked in 2024 at 5,836 TWh, 1.4% below that in 2025), India (peaked in 2024 at 1,518 TWh, 2.9% below that in 2025) and the United States (peaked in 2007 at 2,016 TWh, 63.4% below that in 2025). Past peak means the highest value is at least 3 years before the latest one and the latest is at least 5% below it.

How is "past peak" defined here?

A country is "past peak" when its highest value is at least 3 years before its latest value and the latest value is at least 5% below that highest value. "Still rising" means the latest value is the highest on record; everything else is "at or near peak". Countries need at least 10 TWh of generation in their latest year and 15 years of data, a highest value of at least 1.00 TWh of coal or 1.00 MtCO2 of emissions (otherwise they have no coal or emissions worth ranking), and a latest value no older than 2024. The peak is the highest value in Ember's data, which starts in 1985 for the earliest country series; a peak in a series' first year is shown as "or earlier" because the true peak may predate the data. Negative values are treated as missing.

Source: Ember (ember-energy.org), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Data as of 2025. Annual statistics from Ember.

Cite this page
APA 7

World Power Monitor. (2025). Peak Coal and Peak Emissions: Which Countries Are Past Peak. https://worldpowermonitor.com/peaks/

Plain text

World Power Monitor. Peak Coal and Peak Emissions: Which Countries Are Past Peak. Data as of 2025. Data from Ember. https://worldpowermonitor.com/peaks/

BibTeX
@misc{wpm_peaks_2025,
  title = {{Peak Coal and Peak Emissions: Which Countries Are Past Peak}},
  author = {{World Power Monitor}},
  year = {2025},
  note = {Data as of 2025. Data from Ember.},
  url = {https://worldpowermonitor.com/peaks/}
}

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