Global energy use statistics

World energy use is constantly growing. In fact, the only year when energy use decreased in the last thirty years was the year 2009, when due to a global financial crisis, world energy consumption decreased by 1,1% compared to the previous year.

The total worldwide annual primary energy consumption in 2008 was 435 quadrillion BTUs.

86,4 % of global energy use comes from burning fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas).

The world's largest energy consumer is China, accounting for around 18% of world's total energy consumption.

Oil is still the most important energy source in the world, accounting for around 33% of total energy use, followed by coal with 27%. Many energy analysts expect that in years to come coal will become world's most important energy source, even despite being referred to as the dirtiest fuel.

Energy demand by fuel type, current and predictions. Click on image to enlarge.

Nuclear power currently accounts for little less than 6.5% of world's total energy use. The United States produces the most nuclear energy, followed by Japan and France.

In 2008, renewable energy supplied around 19% of the world's energy consumption. Though renewable energy use is constantly growing it still not able to compete with fossil fuels on global energy market. Hydropower still remains the mostly used renewable energy source on global level.

Energy consumption is not the same in all parts of the developed world. For instance, Japan and Germany have almost twice the smaller consumption compared to United States, with 6 kW per person compared to US 11.4 kW per person. China, world's largest energy consumer, consumes less than 2 kw per person.

Country with the lowest energy consumption in the world is Bangladesh with only 0.2 kW per person.

Industry accounts for the largest share of global energy use, with approximately 37% of world's total energy use.

Our cars, and all other vehicles used for transportation account for around 20% of global energy use.