Globally, China is the greatest producer of coal by a considerable margin. In 2020, China accounted for over 50 percent of coal production worldwide. In comparison, the second largest coal producer, Indonesia, had a global share of just nine percent. Coal has many uses, such as in steel production, heating, and electricity generation.
Due to the immense environmental impacts of coal, many countries have been shifting away from this polluting energy source in a bid to combat the climate crisis. A prime example of this is in the United Kingdom. What was once a massive industry, the coal sector in the UK has plummeted in recent decades. Coal use in Great Britain has now virtually vanished from the nation’s energy mix, having been replaced by renewable sources such as wind energy.
Distribution of coal production worldwide in 2020, by major countries
According to the source, the production data only includes solid fuels, i.e. bituminous coal and anthracite (hard coal), and lignite and brown (sub-bituminous) coal.
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BP. (July 8, 2021). Distribution of coal production worldwide in 2020, by major countries [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved May 27, 2022, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/265638/distribution-of-coal-production-worldwide/
BP. "Distribution of coal production worldwide in 2020, by major countries." Chart. July 8, 2021. Statista. Accessed May 27, 2022. https://www.statista.com/statistics/265638/distribution-of-coal-production-worldwide/
BP. (2021). Distribution of coal production worldwide in 2020, by major countries. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: May 27, 2022. https://www.statista.com/statistics/265638/distribution-of-coal-production-worldwide/
BP. "Distribution of Coal Production Worldwide in 2020, by Major Countries." Statista, Statista Inc., 8 Jul 2021, https://www.statista.com/statistics/265638/distribution-of-coal-production-worldwide/
BP, Distribution of coal production worldwide in 2020, by major countries Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/265638/distribution-of-coal-production-worldwide/ (last visited May 27, 2022)