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.

According to a recent forecast, global electricity consumption will range between ****** and ****** terawatt-hours in 2030 and between ****** and ****** terawatt-hours in 2050, depending on the energy transition scenario. However, to keep the global temperature increase below *** degrees Celsius, the total electricity consumption in the world should be at ****** terawatt-hours in 2030, a result that is not likely to be achieved even if the current energy transition commitments are achieved (Achieved Commitments scenario).

The average for 2023 based on 189 countries was 0.529 percent. The highest value was in China: 33.017 percent and the lowest value was in the Central African Republic: 0 percent. The indicator is available from 1980 to 2023. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

Per capita energy consumption averaged ****** kilowatt-hours worldwide in 2023. This was up from a pandemic induced slump in 2020. Qatar has the highest per capita energy consumption of any country worldwide.

The USA: Electricity consumption percent of world total: The latest value from 2023 is 15.163 percent, a decline from 15.575 percent in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 0.529 percent, based on data from 189 countries. Historically, the average for the USA from 1980 to 2023 is 25.395 percent. The minimum value, 15.163 percent, was reached in 2023 while the maximum of 37.585 percent was recorded in 1981.

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.

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.

United States US: Renewable Energy Consumption: % of Total Final Energy Consumption data was reported at 8.717 % in 2015. This records a decrease from the previous number of 8.754 % for 2014. United States US: Renewable Energy Consumption: % of Total Final Energy Consumption data is updated yearly, averaging 5.454 % from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2015, with 26 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 8.754 % in 2014 and a record low of 4.089 % in 1994. United States US: Renewable Energy Consumption: % of Total Final Energy Consumption data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.World Bank: Energy Production and Consumption. Renewable energy consumption is the share of renewables energy in total final energy consumption.; ; World Bank, Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) database from the SE4ALL Global Tracking Framework led jointly by the World Bank, International Energy Agency, and the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program.; Weighted Average;

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.

Israel IL: Electric Power Consumption: per Capita data was reported at 6,600.898 kWh in 2014. This records a decrease from the previous number of 6,710.094 kWh for 2013. Israel IL: Electric Power Consumption: per Capita data is updated yearly, averaging 4,593.655 kWh from Dec 1971 (Median) to 2014, with 44 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 7,184.502 kWh in 2012 and a record low of 2,288.693 kWh in 1971. Israel IL: 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 Israel – Table IL.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.

Mali: Electricity consumption percent of world total: The latest value from 2023 is 0.016 percent, unchanged from 0.016 percent in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 0.529 percent, based on data from 189 countries. Historically, the average for Mali from 1980 to 2023 is 0.006 percent. The minimum value, 0.002 percent, was reached in 1980 while the maximum of 0.016 percent was recorded in 2022.

Electricity Consumption: Zhejiang: Quzhou data was reported at 8.716 kWh bn in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 8.032 kWh bn for 2016. Electricity Consumption: Zhejiang: Quzhou data is updated yearly, averaging 4.004 kWh bn from Dec 1996 (Median) to 2017, with 22 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 8.716 kWh bn in 2017 and a record low of 1.714 kWh bn in 1997. Electricity Consumption: Zhejiang: Quzhou data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Quzhou Municipal Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Utility Sector – Table CN.RCE: Electricity Consumption: Prefecture Level City.

Aruba: Electricity consumption percent of world total: The latest value from 2023 is 0.003 percent, unchanged from 0.003 percent in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 0.529 percent, based on data from 189 countries. Historically, the average for Aruba from 1986 to 2023 is 0.004 percent. The minimum value, 0.003 percent, was reached in 1991 while the maximum of 0.005 percent was recorded in 1995.

Iran Electricity Consumption: Household data was reported at 18,339.000 kWh mn in Jun 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 16,260.000 kWh mn for Mar 2018. Iran Electricity Consumption: Household data is updated quarterly, averaging 15,589.000 kWh mn from Jun 2008 (Median) to Jun 2018, with 41 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 28,016.100 kWh mn in Sep 2017 and a record low of 12,262.000 kWh mn in Mar 2012. Iran Electricity Consumption: Household data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Energy. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Iran – Table IR.RB002: Electricity Generation and Consumption.

Global electricity consumption was forecast to reach 33 petawatt-hours by 2030, a growth driven by the electrification trend across the transportation sector, residential and commercial activities and buildings, and industrial sector. Electricity consumption worldwide was around 27 petawatt-hours in 2022.

Hong Kong Electricity Consumption: Street Lighting data was reported at 29.000 TJ in Sep 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 31.000 TJ for Aug 2018. Hong Kong Electricity Consumption: Street Lighting data is updated monthly, averaging 23.000 TJ from Jan 1970 (Median) to Sep 2018, with 585 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 43.000 TJ in Dec 2000 and a record low of 6.000 TJ in Aug 1972. Hong Kong Electricity Consumption: Street Lighting data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Census and Statistics Department. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Hong Kong SAR – Table HK.RB001: Electricity Production & Consumption.

The Central African Republic: Electricity consumption percent of world total: The latest value from 2023 is 0 percent, unchanged from 0 percent in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 0.529 percent, based on data from 189 countries. Historically, the average for the Central African Republic from 1980 to 2023 is 0.001 percent. The minimum value, 0 percent, was reached in 2022 while the maximum of 0.001 percent was recorded in 1980.

In 2022, the global electricity consumption from data centers, artificial intelligence, and cryptocurrencies amounted to 460 terawatt-hours. By 2026, this figure will range between 620 and 1,050 terawatt-hours, depending on the future deployment of these technologies. Data centers, AI, and crypto will then account for a large share of the global electricity consumption, up from only some two percent in 2022.

Electricity Consumption: Guangdong: Shenzhen data was reported at 112.855 kWh bn in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 107.382 kWh bn for 2022. Electricity Consumption: Guangdong: Shenzhen data is updated yearly, averaging 58.376 kWh bn from Dec 1993 (Median) to 2023, with 31 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 112.855 kWh bn in 2023 and a record low of 7.468 kWh bn in 1993. Electricity Consumption: Guangdong: Shenzhen data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Shenzhen Municipal Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Utility Sector – Table CN.RCE: Electricity Consumption: Prefecture Level City.

Latvia Electricity Consumption data was reported at 622.000 GWh in Mar 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 621.000 GWh for Feb 2025. Latvia Electricity Consumption data is updated monthly, averaging 595.000 GWh from Jan 2006 (Median) to Mar 2025, with 231 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 776.000 GWh in Jan 2008 and a record low of 481.000 GWh in Jun 2013. Latvia Electricity Consumption data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Latvia – Table LV.RB002: Electricity Statistics.