2026-05-23 · percent of electricity
Coal still generates over a third of power
Wind and solar grow fast — coal plants still run for decades, especially in Asia.
Coal is the most polluting way to generate electricity — the most CO2 per unit of energy, plus heavy local air pollution. Yet it still supplies roughly 36% of the world's electricity in 2026, with natural gas adding another 23%. Wind and solar are growing fast, but coal plants run for decades, especially in Asia — so today's grid locks in tomorrow's emissions.
1 cell = 0.1 percent of electricity (0.1% of global electricity generation) · 1,000 cells
Context
The remaining 41% of global electricity comes from nuclear, hydropower, wind, solar, and other sources combined. Hydropower is still the world's largest renewable source, while wind and solar are growing quickly. Shares are from Ember's Global Electricity Review, rounded.
The stakes extend beyond climate: energy production drives roughly three-quarters of global greenhouse gas emissions, and air pollution is linked to at least five million deaths each year. Coal is the most polluting source on both counts — carbon per unit of energy and local air quality.
Progress is real but slow: global energy demand keeps climbing, fossil fuel output still grows each year, and natural gas is expanding fast — often by taking coal's place in the mix. Since coal plants run for decades, especially across Asia, today's build decisions will shape the grid well into mid-century.
Ember Global Electricity Review coal ~36%, rounded.
Share and export
Credit this grid as Inagrid — https://inagrid.com/e/2026-05-23-coal-power-share