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.

The average for 2022 based on 146 countries was 2347.08 kilograms of oil equivalent. The highest value was in Qatar: 16683.66 kilograms of oil equivalent and the lowest value was in Yemen: 68.95 kilograms of oil equivalent. The indicator is available from 1960 to 2023. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

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.

Per capita energy consumption averaged ****** kilowatt-hours worldwide in 2024. This was up from a pandemic-induced slump in 2020. Qatar has the highest per capita energy consumption of any country worldwide.

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.

Alaska's staggering energy consumption of over one billion British thermal units per capita in 2023 highlights the vast disparities in energy use across the United States. This figure, more than triple the national average of 277.8 million British thermal units, underscores the unique energy demand of America's largest state. Louisiana and North Dakota followed closely behind, with consumption rates of 908 and 892 million British thermal units per capita, respectively. Factors influencing regional U.S. energy consumption The extreme per person energy consumption in Alaska can be attributed to its cold climate and energy-intensive industries. By comparison, New York, California, and Florida were among the states with the lowest per person energy consumption in the country because of the high energy efficiency, mild temperatures, and economies based on services and low energy-intensive industries. The overall energy consumption in the U.S. states was highest in the most populated areas –Texas, California, and Florida- and lower in sparsely populated ones, such as Alaska and Wyoming. Future energy trends in the U.S. While individual states show significant variations, the U.S. country consumed approximately 94.2 quadrillion British thermal units of primary energy in 2024, a slight increase from the previous year. Oil remained the dominant energy source, followed by natural gas and renewable energies. The country's energy market has been evolving, with increased investments in renewable energy, reflecting a growing shift towards more sustainable energy sources.

The average for 2022 based on 42 countries was 3189.07 kilograms of oil equivalent. The highest value was in Iceland: 15856.43 kilograms of oil equivalent and the lowest value was in Albania: 780.74 kilograms of oil equivalent. The indicator is available from 1960 to 2023. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

United States US: Energy Use: Kg of Oil Equivalent per Capita data was reported at 6,797.621 kg in 2015. This records a decrease from the previous number of 6,955.524 kg for 2014. United States US: Energy Use: Kg of Oil Equivalent per Capita data is updated yearly, averaging 7,651.901 kg from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2015, with 56 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 8,438.403 kg in 1978 and a record low of 5,612.080 kg in 1961. United States US: Energy Use: Kg of Oil Equivalent per Capita 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. Energy use refers to use of primary energy before transformation to other end-use fuels, which is equal to indigenous production plus imports and stock changes, minus exports and fuels supplied to ships and aircraft engaged in international transport.; ; 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.

The Nordic countries of Iceland, Norway, Finland, and Sweden recorded the largest electricity demand per capita in Europe over the last few years. In 2023, Iceland’s per capita electricity demand averaged at almost 52 megawatt-hours per person, more than twice the consumption of runner-up Norway. Meanwhile, France, the largest electricity producer among the European Union countries, had an average per capita consumption of seven megawatt-hours in 2024. Why is electricity consumption so high in Iceland? The intense electricity consumption in Iceland stems from a combination of factors. On the one hand, due to its abundant natural resources, hydro and geothermal are the main sources of electricity generation in Iceland, allowing the country to produce power at high reliability and very low costs. Meanwhile, on the demand side, Iceland is home to some particularly energy-intensive industries – in 2023, it ranked among the largest aluminum smelter producers worldwide. To top it off, electricity demand is also high on the household sector side, due to the Nordic country’s long, dark, and cold winters. A similar combination of factors can also be found in Norway. How cheap is electricity in Iceland? In 2024, household electricity prices in Iceland averaged between 18 and 22.2 euro cents per kilowatt-hour, depending on the level of demand. In comparison to the average household electricity price in the European Union in the same period, it was around 40 percent cheaper. Iceland had one of the lowest residential electricity prices in Europe. On the other side of the spectrum, Germany, Denmark, and Belgium reported the highest prices in the region.

China Energy Consumption per Capita: Non Productive Use: Electricity data was reported at 987.000 kWh in 2022. This records an increase from the previous number of 869.000 kWh for 2021. China Energy Consumption per Capita: Non Productive Use: Electricity data is updated yearly, averaging 126.527 kWh from Dec 1980 (Median) to 2022, with 43 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 987.000 kWh in 2022 and a record low of 10.721 kWh in 1980. China Energy Consumption per Capita: Non Productive Use: Electricity data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s China – Table CN.RCB: Electricity Summary.

The average for 2022 based on 27 countries was 2970.74 kilograms of oil equivalent. The highest value was in Finland: 5681.87 kilograms of oil equivalent and the lowest value was in Malta: 1456.25 kilograms of oil equivalent. The indicator is available from 1960 to 2023. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

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.

Iran IR: Energy Use: Kg of Oil Equivalent per Capita data was reported at 3,023.490 kg in 2014. This records an increase from the previous number of 2,853.537 kg for 2013. Iran IR: Energy Use: Kg of Oil Equivalent per Capita data is updated yearly, averaging 1,432.614 kg from Dec 1971 (Median) to 2014, with 44 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3,023.490 kg in 2014 and a record low of 541.485 kg in 1972. Iran IR: Energy Use: Kg of Oil Equivalent 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. Energy use refers to use of primary energy before transformation to other end-use fuels, which is equal to indigenous production plus imports and stock changes, minus exports and fuels supplied to ships and aircraft engaged in international transport.; ; 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.

There are large inequalities in energy consumption between countries. The average US citizen still consumes more than ten times the energy of the average Indian, 4-5 times that of a Brazilian, and three times more than China. The gulf between these and very low-income nations is even greater- a number of low-income nations consume less than 100 kilowatt-hour equivalents per person.

Secondly, global average per capita energy consumption has been consistently increasing; between 1970 and 2014, average consumption increased by approximately 45%.

This growth in per capita energy consumption does, however, vary significantly between countries and regions. Most of the growth in per capita energy consumption over the last few decades has been driven by increased consumption in transitioning middle-income (and to a lesser extent, low income countries). In the chart we see a significant increase in consumption in transitioning BRICS economies (China, India and Brazil in particular); China’s per capita use has grown by nearly 250 percent since 2000; India by more than 50 percent; and Brazil by 38 percent.

Whilst global energy growth is growing from developing economies, the trend for many high-income nations is a notable decline. As we see in exemplar trends from the UK and US, the growth we are currently seeing in transitioning economies ended for many high-income nations by over the 1970s and 80s. Both the US and UK peaked in terms of per capita energy consumption in the 1970s, plateauing for several decades until the early 2000s. Since then, we see a reduction in consumption; since 2000, UK usage has decreased by 20 to 25%.

Source

Hannah Ritchie (2019) - "Access to Energy". Published online at OurWorldInData.org. Retrieved from: 'https://ourworldindata.org/energy-access'

Hungary HU: Energy Use: Kg of Oil Equivalent per Capita data was reported at 2,432.752 kg in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 2,314.496 kg for 2014. Hungary HU: Energy Use: Kg of Oil Equivalent per Capita data is updated yearly, averaging 2,503.078 kg from Dec 1965 (Median) to 2015, with 51 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2,894.827 kg in 1987 and a record low of 1,426.900 kg in 1965. Hungary HU: Energy Use: Kg of Oil Equivalent per Capita data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Hungary – Table HU.World Bank: Energy Production and Consumption. Energy use refers to use of primary energy before transformation to other end-use fuels, which is equal to indigenous production plus imports and stock changes, minus exports and fuels supplied to ships and aircraft engaged in international transport.; ; 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.

Bangladesh BD: Energy Use: Kg of Oil Equivalent per Capita data was reported at 227.128 kg in 2014. This records an increase from the previous number of 220.232 kg for 2013. Bangladesh BD: Energy Use: Kg of Oil Equivalent per Capita data is updated yearly, averaging 121.234 kg from Dec 1971 (Median) to 2014, with 44 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 227.128 kg in 2014 and a record low of 83.156 kg in 1971. Bangladesh BD: Energy Use: Kg of Oil Equivalent per Capita data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Bangladesh – Table BD.World Bank.WDI: Environmental: Energy Production and Consumption. Energy use refers to use of primary energy before transformation to other end-use fuels, which is equal to indigenous production plus imports and stock changes, minus exports and fuels supplied to ships and aircraft engaged in international transport.;IEA Statistics © OECD/IEA 2014 (https://www.iea.org/data-and-statistics), subject to https://www.iea.org/terms/;Weighted average;Restricted use: Please contact the International Energy Agency for third-party use of these data.

The average for 2022 based on 2 countries was 4309.73 kilograms of oil equivalent. The highest value was in Australia: 4889.62 kilograms of oil equivalent and the lowest value was in New Zealand: 3729.84 kilograms of oil equivalent. The indicator is available from 1960 to 2023. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

The average for 2022 based on 7 countries was 4041.13 kilograms of oil equivalent. The highest value was in Canada: 7632.3 kilograms of oil equivalent and the lowest value was in the United Kingdom: 2263.38 kilograms of oil equivalent. The indicator is available from 1960 to 2023. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

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.