Source: https://www.statista.

com/statistics/494425/death-rate-worldwide-by-energy-source/

Global mortality rate by energy source 2018

Published by T. Wang, Nov 26, 2019
The death rate from coal energy was one of the highest in the world at an estimated 100,000
deaths per terawatt hour, in terms of human and environmental costs. This death rate is based
on mining extraction operations as well as the actual use of energy. Air pollution from coal- red
plants has also been of growing concern as it has been linked to asthma, cancer, and heart
disease. Burning coal can release toxic airborne pollutants such as mercury, sulfur dioxide,
nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter. China is still one of the biggest consumers of coal
energy with the highest installed capacity of coal plants in the world. The number of fatalities
due to air pollution has reached over 2.5 million in the East Asia and Paci c region as of 1990.

Safest energy source

In comparison, nuclear energy was considered the safest energy source, even after the
inclusion of nuclear catastrophes like Chernobyl and Fukushima as the vast amount of energy
Mortality rate worldwide in 2018, by energy source
(in deaths per thousand terawatt hour)

Coal 100 000

Oil 36 000

Natural gas 4 000

Hydro 1 400

Rooftop solar 440

Wind 150

Nuclear 90
0

0
00

00

00

00

00
25

50

75

5
10

12

Mortality rate in deaths per thousand terawatt hour

Details: Worldwide; 2018

© Statista 2020 