Industrial activities, transportation, and buildings (including residential and commercial sector) each accounted for approximately 120 exajoules of energy consumed in 2022. The industrial sector had the largest final energy consumption that year.

Global primary energy consumption has increased dramatically in recent years and is projected to continue to increase until 2045. Only hydropower and renewable energy consumption are expected to increase between 2045 and 2050 and reach 30 percent of the global energy consumption. Energy consumption by country The distribution of energy consumption globally is disproportionately high among some countries. China, the United States, and India were by far the largest consumers of primary energy globally. On a per capita basis, it was Qatar, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, and Iceland to have the highest per capita energy consumption. Renewable energy consumption Over the last two decades, renewable energy consumption has increased to reach over 90 exajoules in 2023. Among all countries globally, China had the largest installed renewable energy capacity as of that year, followed by the United States.

The industrial sector accounts for the greatest final electricity consumption in the world. As of 2018, the industry is responsible for roughly 42 percent of total electricity consumption. By comparison, a little over one fourth of global power use was related to households.

In 2017, the industrial sector demanded the highest amount of energy worldwide in 2017, reaching some 213 quadrillion British thermal units. A projection for 2040 indicates that by this year, the electricity generation sector will demand the highest amount of energy, with around 277 quadrillion British thermal units.

Global primary energy consumption reached around 620 exajoules in 2023. This represented an increase of roughly two percent in comparison to 2022. In 2020, the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on transportation fuel demand and the overall economic performance resulted in primary energy consumption declining to 2016 levels. Nevertheless, worldwide energy consumption is projected to increase over the next few decades. Most common types of fuel Oil is the main primary energy fuel in the world, followed by other fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas. Each of these three sources had consumption levels of more than 140 exajoules in 2023, while other fuel types were consumed considerably less. However, in recent years, renewables have become more frequently used as worldwide investment in clean energy has more than double since 2014. Energy industry performance Energy use rose consistently every year over the last two decades except for 2009 and 2020, following the global financial crisis and the aforementioned coronavirus pandemic. As fossil fuels remain the largest source of energy consumption, the prices of these commodities serve as an indicator of overall energy industry performance.

The global industrial sector uses more natural gas than any other type of fuel, consuming nearly 64 quadrillion British thermal units in 2022. The use of renewables is expected to almost double between 2022 and 2050, as the levelized cost for renewable energy technologies, such as wind and solar power, decreases. Global energy consumption outlook Global consumption of energy for industrial purposes is predicted to reach over 336 quadrillion British thermal units in 2050. Rising demand follows a trend of rising projected global energy consumption across all sectors until at least 2045. Despite the relative increase in renewable energy, it is expected that the overall demand for fossil fuels will continue growing. Gas will dominate the global industrial energy consumption over the next few decades. U.S. energy use by sector Since the 1970s, the industrial sector has been the largest consumer of energy in the United States. Transportation and commercial consumption have recorded the largest increase over the past 50 years, with consumption by the commercial sector nearly doubling since 1975. Primary energy consumption from fossil fuel sources in the U.S. is highest in the transportation sector.

Fossil fuels remain the greatest source of electricity generation worldwide. In 2023, coal accounted for roughly 35.5 percent of the global power mix, while natural gas followed with a 23 percent share. China, India, and the United States accounted for the largest share of coal used for electricity generation. The future of renewable energy Fossil fuel use notwithstanding, the share of renewables in global electricity has seen a more pronounced year-on-year growth in recent years, following increased efforts by governments to combat global warming and a decrease in levelized costs. Projections indicate that renewables will surpass fossil fuels as the main power source by 2040. Electricity consumption in the world China is the largest electricity consumer in the world, requiring more than 8,000 terawatt-hours of electricity every year. However, this economic power accounts for the largest population in the world and its electricity consumption per capita is almost tenfold smaller than the consumption of Iceland, although the power used in this country came almost completely from clean sources.

Oil is the most consumed primary energy fuel in the world. In 2023, some 196.43 exajoules worth of oil were consumed. That year, the consumption of fossil fuels registered an increase compared to the previous year. Rising demand for fossil fuels Demand for fossil fuels has remained high, as overall primary energy demand continues to increase. Excluding the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, the use of oil has consistently grown each year. Consumption of other non-renewable fuel types has been more varied. Global natural gas consumption has risen more or less consistently. Its properties as a less carbon-intensive fossil fuel than coal have led to an increase in its use in the power sector, overtaking coal use in major economies such as the United States. Fossil fuels by region The U.S. is the leading natural gas consuming country in the world, as well as the largest producer of this fossil fuel and of crude oil. Russia, China, and the Middle Eastern region follow, as they have either the richest reserves of these raw materials or account for the largest refining capacity.

China is the largest consumer of primary energy in the world, having used some 170.7 exajoules in 2023. 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.

Primary energy consumption is forecast to reach roughly 364 million barrels of oil equivalent per day by 2045. Oil and gas are expected to maintain their dominant role in the global energy sector, with a contribution of approximately 110 and 90 million barrels of oil equivalent per day, respectively. Which country consumes the most energy? Since the beginning of the 21st century, there has been a general upward trend in the usage of primary energy. In 2023, approximately 620 exajoules of primary energy were consumed globally. China was the leading primary energy consumer in the world, consuming around 170.7 exajoules, while the United States came in second position.
Fossil fuels' ongoing dependence Global primary energy consumption is dominated by fossil fuels, despite a steady shift toward sustainable alternatives. Although the share of fossil fuels in the energy mix has been decreasing, renewable energy is still not sufficient to meet the current and future energy demand.

The Asia Pacific region consumes the most primary energy in the world, at around 291.8 exajoules in 2023. Consumption of primary energy is generally increasing worldwide, and has risen in Asia-Pacific by more than 95 exajoules since 2010. Primary energy consumption is the use of crude energy prior to refining or conversion. Countries with the highest energy consumption North America follows Asia Pacific as the world’s second-largest consumer of primary energy, having consumed 117 exajoules in 2023. High consumption levels in Asia Pacific and North America come in large part from China and the United States. Rapid industrial growth and a growing middle class have resulted in energy consumption in China to more than quadruple since 2000. Growth and common energy sources While primary energy use has steadily increased across the globe, renewable energy consumption has more than tripled since 2000. Nevertheless, renewables remain among the least-used primary energy source, just above nuclear power. Fossil fuels, such as oil and coal, are consumed at a higher volume than any other type of primary energy source in the world.

OECD Americas was the largest energy consumer in 1990, with a consumption of 110.7 quadrillion British thermal units. By 2020, non-OECD Asia was the largest consumer region worldwide and is expected to remain the leading consumer region by 2050, with a consumption of roughly 230 and 403 quadrillion British thermal units, respectively.

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 have 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.

Industrial activities are the greatest energy end-user sector in the United States, reaching a consumption of some 31 quadrillion British thermal units in 2023, followed by the transportation sector. The U.S. is the second-largest energy consumer in the world, after China. Energy source in the United States Consumption of fossil fuels still accounts for the majority of U.S. primary energy consumption. The transportation sector and electricity generation are the sectors with the largest fossil fuel consumption in the country, mainly relying on oil-based motor fuels and natural gas, respectively. Electricity generation in the United States Although around 60 percent of the electricity generated in the U.S. is derived from natural gas and coal, the use of renewable sources is becoming more common in electricity production, wind the largest increase in wind and solar power. These two clean energy resources are projected to generate as much power as natural gas by 2030.

This statistic displays the distribution of final energy consumption globally, based on sector. The final energy consumption for buildings accounted for 31 percent of world energy consumption worldwide, with 87 exajoules being used for residential buildings.

Global energy consumption is on an upward trajectory, with projections indicating a substantial increase from 637.8 quadrillion British thermal units in 2022 to 813.6 quadrillion British thermal units by 2050. This growth reflects the world's increasing energy needs, driven by population growth, economic development, and technological advancements. Shifting energy landscape While fossil fuels currently dominate the energy mix, accounting for nearly 70 percent of global primary energy demand in 2022, a significant shift is expected in the coming decades. Renewable energy sources are projected to play an increasingly important role, with electricity generation from renewables expected to almost triple between 2022 and 2050. This transition is crucial for addressing climate change concerns and reducing carbon emissions. Regional disparities and future outlook Energy consumption patterns vary significantly across regions and economic development levels. In 2022, emerging economies, including China, consumed almost 400 exajoules of energy, compared to about 200 exajoules in developed countries. China is expected to maintain its position as the world's largest energy consumer by 2050. As global energy demand continues to rise, the challenge lies in balancing economic growth with sustainable energy practices and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

This statistic shows the global energy consumption of electric motors in 2011, by sector. In the transport and agriculture sector, electric motors consumed 260 terawatt hours per year.

In 2022, the industrial sector accounted for the largest energy consumption worldwide, at 210 exajoules out of a total final energy consumption of 490 exajoules. Energy consumption is forecast to increase across all sectors in the current trajectory scenario by 2050, except for the transportation final energy consumption, which is projected to record a slight decline.

Almost 70 percent of the global primary energy demand was met by coal, natural gas, and oil in 2022. According to projections based on the current trend of the energy sector, fossil fuels will maintain a leading role in the primary energy sector until 2050. However, a significant effort to decrease carbon emissions would determine a shift to renewable energy.

China consumes by far the most electricity of any country in the world, with more than 8,000 terawatt-hours equivalent consumed in 2023. 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. Large population, high consumption? The world's top three electricity consumers constitute the countries with the largest population. India has the largest population with over 1.4 billion people, while consuming less than one fifth of the electricity of China. Meanwhile, countries such as Pakistan and Nigeria, which boasted the fifth and sixth-largest population size worldwide, did not rank among the top 20 electricity consumers. GDP and electricity consumption Countries with a high GDP per capita like the United States provide their residents greater average purchasing power. Countries with higher-income residents tend to be more urbanized, leading to higher electricity consumption. The U.S. stands among the ten-largest electricity consumers per capita in the world, with Iceland and Norway leading the ranking.