Ireland, Italy, and Germany had some of the highest household electricity prices worldwide, as of March 2025. At the time, Irish households were charged around 0.45 U.S. dollars per kilowatt-hour, while in Italy, the price stood at 0.43 U.S. dollars per kilowatt-hour. By comparison, in Russia, residents paid almost 10 times less. What is behind electricity prices? Electricity prices vary widely across the world and sometimes even within a country itself, depending on factors like infrastructure, geography, and politically determined taxes and levies. For example, in Denmark, Belgium, and Sweden, taxes constitute a significant portion of residential end-user electricity prices. Reliance on fossil fuel imports Meanwhile, thanks to their great crude oil and natural gas production output, countries like Iran, Qatar, and Russia enjoy some of the cheapest electricity prices in the world. Here, the average household pays less than 0.1 U.S. dollars per kilowatt-hour. In contrast, countries heavily reliant on fossil fuel imports for electricity generation are more vulnerable to market price fluctuations.

This dataset provides values for ELECTRICITY PRICE reported in several countries. The data includes current values, previous releases, historical highs and record lows, release frequency, reported unit and currency.

In September 2024, industrial electricity prices in the European countries of Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom were among the highest in the world, at around **** U.S. dollars per kilowatt-hour. Singapore was the Asian country with the highest electricity bill worldwide at that time. Lowest electricity prices in the world The average retail electricity price in the United States was considerably lower than in most of Europe. Iceland was the European country with one of the lowest electricity bills for enterprises that month. At the bottom of the ranking were also Russia, Iraq, Qatar, Argentina, and Libya. In these countries, commercial electricity prices amounted to less than *** U.S. dollars per kilowatt-hour. Household electricity prices In addition, European countries had the highest household electricity prices worldwide that month, with Italy at the top of the ranking. By comparison, Iran and Ethiopia had the lowest residential electricity prices in the world.

Household electricity prices vary greatly across the world. In 2023, the price of electricity was below 0.1 U.S. dollars per kilowatt-hour in countries which rely on nationally produced fossil fuels for electricity generation, while it exceeded 0.4 U.S. dollars per kilowatt-hour where the power sector is dependent on energy imports. The European countries of Italy and Germany saw their residential electricity prices surpass 0.55 U.S. dollars per kilowatt-hour during the 2022 energy crisis.

In 2024, Germany recorded the highest residential electricity price for users within Europe, at 44.11 euro cents per kilowatt-hour. This was followed by Ireland, at 36.11 euro cents per kilowatt-hour. Italy, Cyprus, Belgium, Denmark and Czechia were also among the countries with the highest electricity costs.

A table listing the average electricity rates (kWh) of all 50 U.S. states as of March 2025.

Electricity prices in Europe are expected to remain volatile through 2025, with Italy projected to have some of the highest rates among major European economies. This trend reflects the ongoing challenges in the energy sector, including the transition to renewable sources and the impact of geopolitical events on supply chains. Despite efforts to stabilize the market, prices in countries like Italy are forecasted to reach ****** euros per megawatt hour by February 2025, indicating persistent pressure on consumers and businesses alike. Natural gas futures shaping electricity costs The electricity market's future trajectory is closely tied to natural gas prices, a key component in power generation. Dutch TTF gas futures, a benchmark for European natural gas prices, are projected to be ***** euros per megawatt hour in April 2025. This represents an increase of about ** euros compared to the previous year, suggesting that gas prices will continue to influence electricity rates across Europe. The reduced output from the Groningen gas field and increased reliance on imports further complicate the pricing landscape, potentially contributing to higher electricity costs in countries like Italy. Regional disparities and global market influences While European electricity prices remain high, significant regional differences persist. For instance, natural gas prices in the United States are expected to be roughly one-third of those in Europe by March 2025, at **** U.S. dollars per million British thermal units. This stark contrast highlights the impact of domestic production capabilities on global natural gas prices. Europe's greater reliance on imports, particularly in the aftermath of geopolitical tensions and the shift away from Russian gas, continues to keep prices elevated compared to more self-sufficient markets. As a result, countries like Italy may face sustained pressure on electricity prices due to their position within the broader European energy market.

Table comparing electricity prices per kWh and their annual changes in France, Germany, Spain, and Italy, highlighting the variations across European countries. Source: Eurostat.

Graph and download economic data for Average Price: Electricity per Kilowatt-Hour in U.S. City Average (APU000072610) from Nov 1978 to May 2025 about electricity, energy, retail, price, and USA.

This dataset provides values for ELECTRICITY PRICE reported in several countries. The data includes current values, previous releases, historical highs and record lows, release frequency, reported unit and currency.

Comprehensive dataset of electricity prices across countries and regions worldwide, updated regularly with current rates.

CN: Usage Price: Electricity for Industry: 35 kV & Above: Jinan data was reported at 0.750 RMB/kWh in Mar 2025. This stayed constant from the previous number of 0.750 RMB/kWh for Feb 2025. CN: Usage Price: Electricity for Industry: 35 kV & Above: Jinan data is updated monthly, averaging 0.690 RMB/kWh from Jan 2003 (Median) to Mar 2025, with 265 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.790 RMB/kWh in Mar 2015 and a record low of 0.557 RMB/kWh in Apr 2005. CN: Usage Price: Electricity for Industry: 35 kV & Above: Jinan data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Price Monitoring Center, NDRC. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Price – Table CN.PH: Electricity Price: 36 City.

Comparison of average electricity prices for residential and industrial use in various countries

CN: Usage Price: Electricity for Industry: 35 kV & Above: Shanghai data was reported at 0.700 RMB/kWh in Mar 2025. This stayed constant from the previous number of 0.700 RMB/kWh for Feb 2025. CN: Usage Price: Electricity for Industry: 35 kV & Above: Shanghai data is updated monthly, averaging 0.870 RMB/kWh from Feb 2003 (Median) to Mar 2025, with 258 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.300 RMB/kWh in Nov 2006 and a record low of 0.633 RMB/kWh in Mar 2003. CN: Usage Price: Electricity for Industry: 35 kV & Above: Shanghai data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Price Monitoring Center, NDRC. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Price – Table CN.PH: Electricity Price: 36 City.

In April 2025, Denmark had the highest average day-ahead electricity price among Nordic countries, amounting to 75.71 euros per megawatt-hour. Over the past few years, electricity prices soared in the Nordic region, the result of a global energy crisis that affected fossil fuels and electricity prices.

This dataset provides values for ENERGY PRICES. reported in several countries. The data includes current values, previous releases, historical highs and record lows, release frequency, reported unit and currency.

Avg Consumer Price: Electricity Supply: CF: City of Moscow data was reported at 669.780 RUB/100 kWh in Feb 2025. This stayed constant from the previous number of 669.780 RUB/100 kWh for Jan 2025. Avg Consumer Price: Electricity Supply: CF: City of Moscow data is updated monthly, averaging 471.580 RUB/100 kWh from Jan 2009 (Median) to Feb 2025, with 194 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 669.780 RUB/100 kWh in Feb 2025 and a record low of 248.800 RUB/100 kWh in Dec 2009. Avg Consumer Price: Electricity Supply: CF: City of Moscow data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Federal State Statistics Service. The data is categorized under Russia Premium Database’s Energy Sector – Table RU.RBL007: Average Consumer Price: by Region: Electricity Supply.

This dataset provides values for ENERGY PRICES. reported in several countries. The data includes current values, previous releases, historical highs and record lows, release frequency, reported unit and currency.