Rising to a series high
Zimbabwe Coal Production moved from 4.30 Million Tonnes in 2015 to 5.00 Million Tonnes in 2023 (+16.3%), an average of +1.9% a year. The series high was 5.00 Million Tonnes in 2023 and the low 2.60 Million Tonnes in 2019.
What Zimbabwe Coal Production shows
Zimbabwe Coal Production was 5.00 Million Tonnes in 2023, up 28.2% on 2022. The Coal Production dataset of Zimbabwe from 2015 to 2023 provides a comprehensive overview of the country's coal production performance, highlighting annual output, mining activity, and developments across the domestic coal industry.
A 48% peak-to-trough swing
The gap between the series high (2023) and low (2019) is 2.40 Million Tonnes. The sharpest single-year move was −37.2% in 2016.
Ranks 25 of 30 countries covered
Among the 30 countries in this dataset, Zimbabwe ranks 25 for 2023, behind China (4,710 Million Tonnes) and India (1,011 Million Tonnes). It accounts for 0.1% of the global total in 2023.
Full series
Zimbabwe Coal Production by year
Complete annual series with year-on-year change. Values are reported in Million Tonnes.
Scroll the table sideways to see all columns.
| Year | Million Tonnes | Change vs prior year |
|---|---|---|
| 2023Peak | 5.00 | +28.2% |
| 2022 | 3.90 | +21.9% |
| 2021 | 3.20 | +18.5% |
| 2020 | 2.70 | +3.8% |
| 2019 Trough | 2.60 | −21.2% |
| 2018 | 3.30 | +13.8% |
| 2017 | 2.90 | +7.4% |
| 2016 | 2.70 | −37.2% |
| 2015 | 4.30 | — |
Regional context
How Zimbabwe compares across countries
Coal Production by country, 2023, Million Tonnes. Zimbabwe is highlighted.
1China4,710
2India1,011
3Indonesia775.2
4U.S.526.5
5Australia455.8
6Russia432.5
7South Africa228.5
25Zimbabwe5.00
Data definition
Inclusions and exclusions
Coal Production — - Coal Production refers to the total amount of coal extracted from surface and underground mines within a country during a given year. It is typically measured in million tonnes and represents the output of raw coal before processing or consumption. The indicator includes the extraction of various coal types used for energy generation and industrial applications, reflecting a country's coal resource utilization, mining activity, and contribution to domestic and global coal supply. Coal Production is widely used to assess the performance of the mining sector, energy security, industrial development, and the availability of coal as a primary energy source.
The data includes the production of all major types of coal, including anthracite, bituminous coal, sub-bituminous coal, lignite (brown coal), and other commercially recoverable coal grades, where reported under national energy statistics. It covers coal extracted from both surface (open-pit) and underground mining operations for use in electricity generation, steel production, cement manufacturing, industrial processes, and other commercial applications. Production from both public and private mining operations is included, regardless of whether the coal is consumed domestically or exported. Data is compiled using standardized international energy reporting methodologies based on national mining statistics and industry sources, enabling consistent comparison of coal production across countries and over time.
The data excludes coal consumption, coal imports and exports, coal reserves, coal stock changes, and coal used after processing into secondary energy products. It also excludes coal-derived products such as coke, coke oven gas, coal tar, coal bed methane, synthetic fuels produced through coal-to-liquids (CTL) technologies, and other processed coal products unless specifically included in the reporting methodology. The indicator does not measure mining productivity, coal quality, calorific value, environmental impacts, or greenhouse gas emissions associated with coal production or use. Minor differences may occur due to variations in national reporting standards, coal classifications, moisture adjustments, and statistical estimation methodologies across countries.
About this indicator
Coal Production — - Coal Production refers to the total amount of coal extracted from surface and underground mines within a country during a given year. It is typically measured in million tonnes and represents the output of raw coal before processing or consumption. The indicator includes the extraction of various coal types used for energy generation and industrial applications, reflecting a country's coal resource utilization, mining activity, and contribution to domestic and global coal supply. Coal Production is widely used to assess the performance of the mining sector, energy security, industrial development, and the availability of coal as a primary energy source.
Measured in million tonnes (Mt), the dataset represents the total volume of coal produced each year and serves as an important indicator of mining sector performance, industrial fuel supply, energy resource utilization, and the contribution of coal to the national energy sector.
Zimbabwe produced 4.3 million tonnes of coal in 2015, declining to 2.7 million tonnes in 2016 before increasing slightly to 2.9 million tonnes in 2017. Production continued to improve to 3.3 million tonnes in 2018 but fell to 2.6 million tonnes in 2019. Coal output recovered marginally to 2.7 million tonnes in 2020, increased further to 3.2 million tonnes in 2021, rose to 3.9 million tonnes in 2022, and reached 5.0 million tonnes in 2023, the highest production level recorded during the review period.
Overall, the dataset indicates that Zimbabwe experienced fluctuations in coal production during the early years before recording sustained growth from 2020 onward. The improvement reflects expanding mining activities, stronger domestic energy requirements, rising industrial demand, and efforts to strengthen coal production capacity to support electricity generation and economic development. Continued investment in mining operations also contributed to the production recovery observed in recent years.
The dataset is valuable for evaluating Zimbabwe's coal production outlook, assessing mining sector performance, and understanding long-term production trends. It supports market research, investment analysis, infrastructure planning, and energy policy development while providing useful insights for researchers, policymakers, mining companies, investors, and industry stakeholders monitoring coal production, resource development, energy security, mining expansion, and the evolving contribution of coal to Zimbabwe's energy and industrial sectors.
- Indicator
- Coal Production
- Country
- Zimbabwe
- Region
- Africa
- Unit
- Million Tonnes
- Coverage
- 2015–2023, annual
- Category
- Energy & Power
- Last updated
- July 2026
- Source
- energyinst.org
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Frequently asked questions
What is Zimbabwe Coal Production?
Definition- Coal Production refers to the total amount of coal extracted from surface and underground mines within a country during a given year. It is typically measured in million tonnes and represents the output of raw coal before processing or consumption. The indicator includes the extraction of various coal types used for energy generation and industrial applications, reflecting a country's coal resource utilization, mining activity, and contribution to domestic and global coal supply. Coal Production is widely used to assess the performance of the mining sector, energy security, industrial development, and the availability of coal as a primary energy source.
What was Zimbabwe Coal Production in 2023?
Zimbabwe Coal Production was 5.00 Million Tonnes in 2023, up 28.2% on 2022.
How has Zimbabwe Coal Production changed between 2015 and 2023?
Zimbabwe Coal Production moved from 4.30 Million Tonnes in 2015 to 5.00 Million Tonnes in 2023 (+16.3%), an average of +1.9% a year. The series high was 5.00 Million Tonnes in 2023 and the low 2.60 Million Tonnes in 2019.
Which year had the highest and lowest Zimbabwe Coal Production?
The highest value was 5.00 Million Tonnes in 2023 and the lowest was 2.60 Million Tonnes in 2019.
What does the Zimbabwe Coal Production data include and exclude?
Included: The data includes the production of all major types of coal, including anthracite, bituminous coal, sub-bituminous coal, lignite (brown coal), and other commercially recoverable coal grades, where reported under national energy statistics. It covers coal extracted from both surface (open-pit) and underground mining operations for use in electricity generation, steel production, cement manufacturing, industrial processes, and other commercial applications. Production from both public and private mining operations is included, regardless of whether the coal is consumed domestically or exported. Data is compiled using standardized international energy reporting methodologies based on national mining statistics and industry sources, enabling consistent comparison of coal production across countries and over time. Excluded: The data excludes coal consumption, coal imports and exports, coal reserves, coal stock changes, and coal used after processing into secondary energy products. It also excludes coal-derived products such as coke, coke oven gas, coal tar, coal bed methane, synthetic fuels produced through coal-to-liquids (CTL) technologies, and other processed coal products unless specifically included in the reporting methodology. The indicator does not measure mining productivity, coal quality, calorific value, environmental impacts, or greenhouse gas emissions associated with coal production or use. Minor differences may occur due to variations in national reporting standards, coal classifications, moisture adjustments, and statistical estimation methodologies across countries.
Where does the Zimbabwe Coal Production data come from?
The series is sourced from energyinst.org (https://www.energyinst.org/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/1542714/684_EI_Stat_Review_V16_DIGITAL.pdf). It covers 2015–2023 and is reported in Million Tonnes.
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