Ranking · Fossil fuels · 84 countries · data 2025
Countries ranked by coal-fired electricity generation
China ranks first with 5,751.6 TWh, ahead of India (1,474.2 TWh) and United States (737.2 TWh). The world figure is 10,472 TWh. 84 countries ranked, latest data 2025.
Absolute coal-fired generation. China and India together account for roughly 70% of global coal-fired generation, which is why global coal generation has kept rising even as dozens of countries phase it out.
Ranking rule. Only countries with a reported value for 2020 or later are ranked.
Full ranking
| # | Country | Continent | Coal generation (TWh) | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | Asia | 5,751.6 | 2025 |
| 2 | India | Asia | 1,474.2 | 2025 |
| 3 | United States | North America | 737.2 | 2025 |
| 4 | Japan | Asia | 330.1 | 2025 |
| 5 | Indonesia | Asia | 228.4 | 2024 |
| 6 | Russia | Europe | 219.5 | 2025 |
| 7 | South Africa | Africa | 197.5 | 2025 |
| 8 | South Korea | Asia | 194.5 | 2025 |
| 9 | Vietnam | Asia | 149.2 | 2025 |
| 10 | Australia | Oceania | 122.4 | 2025 |
| 11 | Türkiye | Asia | 121.4 | 2025 |
| 12 | Taiwan | Asia | 104.6 | 2025 |
| 13 | Germany | Europe | 103.2 | 2025 |
| 14 | Malaysia | Asia | 89.6 | 2025 |
| 15 | Poland | Europe | 87.3 | 2025 |
| 16 | Philippines | Asia | 72.2 | 2025 |
| 17 | Kazakhstan | Asia | 67.1 | 2025 |
| 18 | Thailand | Asia | 33.6 | 2025 |
| 19 | Pakistan | Asia | 28.9 | 2025 |
| 20 | Morocco | Africa | 27.4 | 2025 |
| 21 | Canada | North America | 26.7 | 2025 |
| 22 | Czechia | Europe | 26.6 | 2025 |
| 23 | Serbia | Europe | 23.8 | 2025 |
| 24 | Ukraine | Europe | 23.3 | 2022 |
| 25 | Bangladesh | Asia | 22.2 | 2025 |
| 26 | Brazil | South America | 17.2 | 2025 |
| 27 | Chile | South America | 15.7 | 2025 |
| 28 | Hong Kong | Asia | 12.6 | 2024 |
| 29 | Laos | Asia | 12.2 | 2024 |
| 30 | Mexico | North America | 10.9 | 2025 |
| 31 | Cambodia | Asia | 10.1 | 2025 |
| 32 | Netherlands | Europe | 9.6 | 2025 |
| 33 | North Korea | Asia | 9.2 | 2024 |
| 34 | Bulgaria | Europe | 8.6 | 2025 |
| 35 | Mongolia | Asia | 8.3 | 2025 |
| 36 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | Europe | 8 | 2025 |
| 37 | Romania | Europe | 6.7 | 2025 |
| 38 | Dominican Republic | North America | 6.6 | 2025 |
| 39 | Uzbekistan | Asia | 5.7 | 2025 |
| 40 | Colombia | South America | 5.5 | 2025 |
| 41 | Sri Lanka | Asia | 4.8 | 2025 |
| 42 | Zimbabwe | Africa | 4.4 | 2024 |
| 43 | Italy | Europe | 3.7 | 2025 |
| 44 | Botswana | Africa | 3.4 | 2024 |
| 45 | Puerto Rico | North America | 3.4 | 2025 |
| 46 | Argentina | South America | 2.8 | 2025 |
| 47 | Israel | Asia | 2.8 | 2025 |
| 48 | Greece | Europe | 2.7 | 2025 |
| 49 | Guatemala | North America | 2.5 | 2024 |
| 50 | Slovenia | Europe | 2.2 | 2025 |
| 51 | Zambia | Africa | 2.1 | 2024 |
| 52 | North Macedonia | Europe | 2.1 | 2025 |
| 53 | Kyrgyzstan | Asia | 2 | 2025 |
| 54 | France | Europe | 1.7 | 2025 |
| 55 | Hungary | Europe | 1.4 | 2025 |
| 56 | Mauritius | Africa | 1.3 | 2024 |
| 57 | Myanmar | Asia | 1.2 | 2024 |
| 58 | Tajikistan | Asia | 1.2 | 2025 |
| 59 | New Caledonia | Oceania | 1.1 | 2024 |
| 60 | Brunei | Asia | 1.1 | 2024 |
| 61 | Spain | Europe | 0.9 | 2025 |
| 62 | Denmark | Europe | 0.9 | 2025 |
| 63 | Croatia | Europe | 0.7 | 2025 |
| 63 | Iran | Asia | 0.7 | 2025 |
| 65 | Montenegro | Europe | 0.6 | 2025 |
| 66 | Singapore | Asia | 0.6 | 2025 |
| 67 | Madagascar | Africa | 0.5 | 2024 |
| 67 | Panama | North America | 0.5 | 2024 |
| 69 | New Zealand | Oceania | 0.5 | 2025 |
| 70 | Réunion | Africa | 0.4 | 2023 |
| 71 | United Kingdom | Europe | 0.3 | 2025 |
| 72 | Slovakia | Europe | 0.3 | 2025 |
| 73 | Guadeloupe | North America | 0.2 | 2023 |
| 74 | Niger | Africa | 0.2 | 2024 |
| 74 | Rwanda | Africa | 0.2 | 2024 |
| 76 | Finland | Europe | 0.2 | 2025 |
| 76 | Ireland | Europe | 0.2 | 2025 |
| 78 | Senegal | Africa | 0.1 | 2024 |
| 79 | Honduras | North America | 0.1 | 2024 |
| 80 | Namibia | Africa | 0 | 2024 |
| 81 | Afghanistan | Asia | 0 | 2024 |
| 82 | Belarus | Europe | 0 | 2025 |
| 82 | Eswatini | Africa | 0 | 2024 |
| 84 | Peru | South America | 0 | 2025 |
| World | 10,472 |
Leaders by continent
Africa
- South Africa197.5 TWh
- Morocco27.4 TWh
- Zimbabwe4.4 TWh
North America
- United States737.2 TWh
- Canada26.7 TWh
- Mexico10.9 TWh
Oceania
- Australia122.4 TWh
- New Caledonia1.1 TWh
- New Zealand0.5 TWh
Coal generation: frequently asked questions
Which country has the highest coal generation?
China, at 5,751.6 TWh (2025). The rest of the top five: India 1,474.2 TWh, United States 737.2 TWh, Japan 330.1 TWh, and Indonesia 228.4 TWh.
What is the world average coal generation?
The world figure is 10,472 TWh (2025). 0 of the 84 ranked countries are above it; the median country sits at 3.7 TWh.
Which continent leads on coal generation?
Asia (8,868 TWh) leads among continents, while South America (42.3 TWh) trails. Continental leaders: Africa: South Africa; Asia: China; Europe: Russia; North America: United States; South America: Brazil; Oceania: Australia.
What does “Coal generation” measure?
Total electricity generated from coal in a year, in terawatt-hours. Only countries with a reported value for 2020 or later are ranked.
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Sources & references
- Our World in Data: Energy dataset (CC BY 4.0) — compiled from the sources below
- Ember: Yearly Electricity Data — generation, shares, carbon intensity
- Energy Institute: Statistical Review of World Energy — primary energy, fossil production
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: International Energy Data — gap-filling for smaller countries