China consumes by far the most electricity of any country in the world, with almost 9,000 terawatt-hours equivalent consumed in 2024. The United States ranked as the second-leading electricity consumer that year, with over 4,000 terawatt-hours consumed. India followed, but by a wide margin. Production and consumption disparities China not only leads countries in electricity consumption worldwide, it also dominates production, generating over 10 petawatt-hours annually. The United States follows with 4.6 petawatt-hours, significantly more than its consumption of 4,065 terawatt-hours. This disparity underscores the complex relationship between production and consumption, influenced by factors such as energy efficiency, export capabilities, and domestic demand. The global expansion of electricity networks, particularly in Central and Southern Asia, is driving increased production to meet growing access and demand. Shifting energy landscapes The United States, as the second-largest consumer, is experiencing a significant shift in its energy mix. Coal-based electricity has declined by nearly 65 percent since 2010, giving way to natural gas and renewable sources. This transition is evident in recent capacity additions, with renewable energy sources accounting for almost 90 percent of new electricity capacity in 2025. The surge in renewable generation, particularly wind power, is reshaping the U.S. energy landscape and influencing consumption patterns. As renewable energy consumption is projected to more than double by 2050, the electricity market is adapting to these changing dynamics.

The average for 2022 based on 190 countries was 139.5 billion kilowatthours. The highest value was in China: 8349.31 billion kilowatthours and the lowest value was in Montserrat: 0.02 billion kilowatthours. The indicator is available from 1980 to 2023. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

📝 Description

The Global Energy Consumption Dataset provides comprehensive insights into energy usage across different countries and sectors over the past two decades. The dataset aims to help researchers, data analysts, and policymakers understand consumption patterns, identify high-consumption regions, and analyze the impact of renewable energy adoption and carbon emissions.

This dataset allows you to:

Visualize global energy trends. Predict future consumption patterns. Analyze the impact of renewable energy and fossil fuels. Correlate energy usage with economic growth and carbon emissions. Build machine learning models for energy price forecasting and efficiency analysis.

Iceland is by far the largest per capita consumer of electricity worldwide, averaging 51.9 megawatt-hours per person in 2024. This results from a combination of factors, such as low-cost electricity production, increased heating demand, and the presence of energy-intensive industries in the country. Norway, Qatar, and Canada were also some of the world's largest electricity consumers per capita that year. China is the leading overall power consumer Power-intensive industries, the purchasing power of the average citizen, household size, and general power efficiency standards all contribute to the amount of electricity that is consumed per person every year. However, in terms of total electricity consumption, a country's size and population can also play an important role. In 2024, the three most populous countries in the world, namely China, the United States, and India, were also the three largest electricity consumers. Global electricity consumption on the rise In 2023, net electricity consumption worldwide amounted to over 27,000 terawatt-hours, an increase of 30 percent in comparison to a decade earlier. When compared to 1980, global electricity consumption more than tripled. On the generation side, the world is still strongly dependent on fossil fuels. Despite the world's renewable energy capacity quintupling in the last decade, coal and gas combined still accounted for almost 60 percent of global electricity generation in 2023.

Over the past half a century, the world's electricity consumption has continuously grown, reaching approximately 27,000 terawatt-hours by 2023. Between 1980 and 2023, electricity consumption more than tripled, while the global population reached eight billion people. Growth in industrialization and electricity access across the globe has further boosted electricity demand. China's economic rise and growth in global power use Since 2000, China's GDP has recorded an astonishing 15-fold increase, turning it into the second-largest global economy, behind only the United States. To fuel the development of its billion-strong population and various manufacturing industries, China requires more energy than any other country. As a result, it has become the largest electricity consumer in the world. Electricity consumption per capita In terms of per capita electricity consumption, China and other BRIC countries are still vastly outpaced by developed economies with smaller population sizes. Iceland, with a population of less than half a million inhabitants, consumes by far the most electricity per person in the world. Norway, Qatar, Canada, and the United States also have among the highest consumption rates. Multiple contributing factors, such as the existence of power-intensive industries, household sizes, living situations, appliance and efficiency standards, and access to alternative heating fuels, determine the amount of electricity the average person requires in each country.

China is the largest consumer of primary energy in the world, having used some 176.35 exajoules in 2024. This is a lot more than what the United States consumed, which comes in second place. The majority of primary energy fuels worldwide are still derived from fossil fuels, such as oil and coal. China's energy mix China’s primary energy mix has shifted from a dominant use of coal to an increase in natural gas and renewable sources. Since 2013, the renewables share in total energy consumption has grown by around eight percentage points. Overall, global primary energy consumption has increased over the last decade, and it is expected to experience the largest growth in emerging economies like the BRIC countries - Brazil, Russia, India, and China. What is primary energy? Primary energy is the energy inherent in natural resources such as crude oil, coal, and wind before further transformation. For example, crude oil can be refined into secondary fuels, such as gasoline or diesel, while wind is harnessed for electricity - itself a secondary energy source. A country’s total primary energy supply is a measure of the country’s primary energy sources. Meanwhile, end-use energy is the energy directly consumed by the user and includes primary fuels such as natural gas, as well as secondary sources, like electricity and gasoline.

Global Energy Consumption in Industry by Country, 2023 Discover more data with ReportLinker!

United States Electricity Consumption data was reported at 10.243 kWh/Day bn in Mar 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 11.765 kWh/Day bn for Feb 2025. United States Electricity Consumption data is updated monthly, averaging 9.940 kWh/Day bn from Jan 1991 (Median) to Mar 2025, with 411 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 13.179 kWh/Day bn in Jul 2024 and a record low of 7.190 kWh/Day bn in Apr 1991. United States Electricity Consumption data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by U.S. Energy Information Administration. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.RB004: Electricity Supply and Consumption. [COVID-19-IMPACT]

China Electricity Consumption: per Capita: Average data was reported at 6,257.000 kWh in 2022. This records an increase from the previous number of 6,032.000 kWh for 2021. China Electricity Consumption: per Capita: Average data is updated yearly, averaging 1,066.997 kWh from Dec 1978 (Median) to 2022, with 45 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 6,257.000 kWh in 2022 and a record low of 261.265 kWh in 1978. China Electricity Consumption: per Capita: Average data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Utility Sector – Table CN.RCB: Electricity Summary.

Qatar has the highest per capita energy consumption worldwide. In 2024, residents in Qatar used an average of *** megawatt-hours worth of energy - all of which was derived from fossil fuels. Sources of primary energy In 2024, oil and coal were the main fuels used for primary energy worldwide. Except for the Nordic countries and Canada, all other countries listed among the leading 10 consumers sourced energy almost exclusively from fossil fuels. Many of them are also responsible for large oil production shares or the refining thereof. Differences in energy consumption There is a notable disparity between the highest and lowest energy users. Resource-rich countries outside the temperate climate zone tend to use more energy to heat or cool homes and are also more likely to use greater amounts of energy as costs are much lower. For example, electricity prices in oil and gas-producing countries such as Qatar and Saudi Arabia are only a fraction of those of resource-poor countries in Europe. Furthermore, energy consumption disparity is a strong indicator of the different income levels around the world and largely tied to economic prosperity.

Data on Energy by Our World in Data

Our complete Energy dataset is a collection of key metrics maintained by Our World in Data. It is updated regularly and includes data on energy consumption (primary energy, per capita, and growth rates), energy mix, electricity mix and other relevant metrics.

The complete Our World in Data Energy dataset

🗂️ Download our complete Energy dataset : CSV | XLSX | JSON

The CSV and XLSX files follow a format of 1 row per location and year. The JSON version is split by country, with an array of yearly records.

The variables represent all of our main data related to energy consumption, energy mix, electricity mix as well as other variables of potential interest.

We will continue to publish updated data on energy as it becomes available. Most metrics are published on an annual basis.

A full codebook is made available, with a description and source for each variable in the dataset.

Our source data and code

The dataset is built upon a number of datasets and processing steps: - Statistical review of world energy (Energy Institute, EI): - Source data - Ingestion code - Basic processing code - Further processing code - International energy data (U.S. Energy Information Administration, EIA): - Source data - Ingestion code - Basic processing code - Further processing code - Energy from fossil fuels (The Shift Dataportal): - Source data - Ingestion code - Basic processing code - Further processing code - Yearly Electricity Data (Ember): - Source data - Ingestion code - Basic processing code - Further processing code - European Electricity Review (Ember): - Source data - Ingestion code - Basic processing code - Further processing code - Combined Electricity (Our World in Data based on Ember's Yearly Electricity Data and European Electricity Review): - Processing code - Energy mix (Our World in Data based on EI's Statistical review of world energy): - Processing code - Fossil fuel production (Our World in Data based on EI's Statistical review of world energy & The Shift Dataportal's Energy from fossil fuels): - Processing code - Primary energy consumption (Our World in Data based on EI's Statistical review of world energy &...

Global Energy Consumption in Agriculture by Country, 2023 Discover more data with ReportLinker!

Saudi Arabia Electricity: Consumption data was reported at 298,701.592 GWh in 2022. This records an increase from the previous number of 292,201.759 GWh for 2021. Saudi Arabia Electricity: Consumption data is updated yearly, averaging 219,661.644 GWh from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2022, with 23 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 298,701.592 GWh in 2022 and a record low of 114,161.021 GWh in 2000. Saudi Arabia Electricity: Consumption data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Energy. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Saudi Arabia – Table SA.RB008: Electricity Statistics.

CN: Electricity Consumption: ytd: SI: Industry: Heavy data was reported at 3,660.671 kWh bn in Dec 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 3,264.300 kWh bn for Nov 2017. CN: Electricity Consumption: ytd: SI: Industry: Heavy data is updated monthly, averaging 1,469.835 kWh bn from Feb 2007 (Median) to Dec 2017, with 129 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3,660.671 kWh bn in Dec 2017 and a record low of 211.000 kWh bn in Jan 2012. CN: Electricity Consumption: ytd: SI: Industry: Heavy data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by China Electricity Council. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Energy Sector – Table CN.RBB: Electricity Consumption: by Industry.

China Energy Consumption: Electricity data was reported at 8,835.760 kWh bn in 2022. This records an increase from the previous number of 8,520.010 kWh bn for 2021. China Energy Consumption: Electricity data is updated yearly, averaging 1,472.346 kWh bn from Dec 1980 (Median) to 2022, with 43 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 8,835.760 kWh bn in 2022 and a record low of 300.630 kWh bn in 1980. China Energy Consumption: Electricity data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by China Electricity Council. The data is categorized under Global Database’s China – Table CN.RCB: Electricity Consumption.

Iran IR: Electric Power Consumption: per Capita data was reported at 2,985.687 kWh in 2014. This records an increase from the previous number of 2,795.957 kWh for 2013. Iran IR: Electric Power Consumption: per Capita data is updated yearly, averaging 1,100.986 kWh from Dec 1971 (Median) to 2014, with 44 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2,985.687 kWh in 2014 and a record low of 274.134 kWh in 1971. Iran IR: Electric Power Consumption: per Capita data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Iran – Table IR.World Bank: Energy Production and Consumption. Electric power consumption measures the production of power plants and combined heat and power plants less transmission, distribution, and transformation losses and own use by heat and power plants.; ; IEA Statistics © OECD/IEA 2014 (http://www.iea.org/stats/index.asp), subject to https://www.iea.org/t&c/termsandconditions/; Weighted average; Restricted use: Please contact the International Energy Agency for third-party use of these data.

Electricity use in data centers run by Google and Microsoft accounted for ** terawatt hours in 2023, greater than that of the country of Jordan. The training of AI models has heavily contributed to an increase in energy requirements, leading a number of big tech companies to consume more energy than countries.

United States Total Energy Consumption data was reported at 93.691 BTU qn in 2023. This records a decrease from the previous number of 94.812 BTU qn for 2022. United States Total Energy Consumption data is updated yearly, averaging 92.977 BTU qn from Dec 1980 (Median) to 2023, with 44 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 98.965 BTU qn in 2007 and a record low of 70.489 BTU qn in 1983. United States Total Energy Consumption data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by U.S. Energy Information Administration. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.EIA.IES: Energy Production and Consumption: Annual.