Energy intensity of the economy in United States
United States: Energy intensity of the economy was 1.49 kWh per 2011$PPP in 2016. ▼ Falling
Latest (2016)
1.49 kWh per 2011$PPP
Change on year
down 1.9%
World rank
50th
of 161 countries
All-time high
3.75 kWh per 2011$PPP
in 1970
All-time low
1.49 kWh per 2011$PPP
in 2016
Years of data
52
1965–2016
Energy intensity of the economy in United States, 1965–2016
Source: Our World in Data based on BP; World Bank; and Maddison Project Database. Measured in kWh per 2011$PPP.
Analysis
United States recorded 1.49 kWh per 2011$PPP for energy intensity of the economy in 2016. That is the lowest value across all 52 years on record.
The figure is down 1.9% on the previous year and down 15.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, energy intensity of the economy in United States peaked at 3.75 kWh per 2011$PPP in 1970 and was at its lowest, 1.49 kWh per 2011$PPP, in 2016.
United States ranks 50th of 161 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 52 years of available data.
Energy intensity of the economy in United States, year by year
| Year | kWh per 2011$PPP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 3.5 kWh per 2011$PPP | — |
| 1966 | 3.47 kWh per 2011$PPP | -0.8% |
| 1967 | 3.51 kWh per 2011$PPP | +1.0% |
| 1968 | 3.55 kWh per 2011$PPP | +1.2% |
| 1969 | 3.63 kWh per 2011$PPP | +2.3% |
| 1970 | 3.75 kWh per 2011$PPP | +3.2% |
| 1971 | 3.7 kWh per 2011$PPP | -1.1% |
| 1972 | 3.7 kWh per 2011$PPP | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 3.64 kWh per 2011$PPP | -1.6% |
| 1974 | 3.56 kWh per 2011$PPP | -2.2% |
| 1975 | 3.48 kWh per 2011$PPP | -2.3% |
| 1976 | 3.49 kWh per 2011$PPP | +0.3% |
| 1977 | 3.43 kWh per 2011$PPP | -1.9% |
| 1978 | 3.26 kWh per 2011$PPP | -4.9% |
| 1979 | 3.19 kWh per 2011$PPP | -2.1% |
| 1980 | 3.07 kWh per 2011$PPP | -3.6% |
| 1981 | 2.91 kWh per 2011$PPP | -5.3% |
| 1982 | 2.84 kWh per 2011$PPP | -2.3% |
| 1983 | 2.71 kWh per 2011$PPP | -4.5% |
| 1984 | 2.67 kWh per 2011$PPP | -1.8% |
| 1985 | 2.56 kWh per 2011$PPP | -4.1% |
| 1986 | 2.49 kWh per 2011$PPP | -2.7% |
| 1987 | 2.49 kWh per 2011$PPP | -0.0% |
| 1988 | 2.49 kWh per 2011$PPP | +0.3% |
| 1989 | 2.47 kWh per 2011$PPP | -1.0% |
| 1990 | 2.43 kWh per 2011$PPP | -1.5% |
| 1991 | 2.43 kWh per 2011$PPP | -0.0% |
| 1992 | 2.38 kWh per 2011$PPP | -2.0% |
| 1993 | 2.37 kWh per 2011$PPP | -0.7% |
| 1994 | 2.33 kWh per 2011$PPP | -1.7% |
| 1995 | 2.31 kWh per 2011$PPP | -0.8% |
| 1996 | 2.3 kWh per 2011$PPP | -0.4% |
| 1997 | 2.21 kWh per 2011$PPP | -3.7% |
| 1998 | 2.13 kWh per 2011$PPP | -3.6% |
| 1999 | 2.07 kWh per 2011$PPP | -3.1% |
| 2000 | 2.03 kWh per 2011$PPP | -1.6% |
| 2001 | 1.97 kWh per 2011$PPP | -3.1% |
| 2002 | 1.97 kWh per 2011$PPP | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 1.92 kWh per 2011$PPP | -2.6% |
| 2004 | 1.89 kWh per 2011$PPP | -1.6% |
| 2005 | 1.82 kWh per 2011$PPP | -3.4% |
| 2006 | 1.76 kWh per 2011$PPP | -3.4% |
| 2007 | 1.75 kWh per 2011$PPP | -0.6% |
| 2008 | 1.72 kWh per 2011$PPP | -1.8% |
| 2009 | 1.68 kWh per 2011$PPP | -2.4% |
| 2010 | 1.69 kWh per 2011$PPP | +0.7% |
| 2011 | 1.65 kWh per 2011$PPP | -2.3% |
| 2012 | 1.57 kWh per 2011$PPP | -5.0% |
| 2013 | 1.59 kWh per 2011$PPP | +1.4% |
| 2014 | 1.57 kWh per 2011$PPP | -1.4% |
| 2015 | 1.51 kWh per 2011$PPP | -3.3% |
| 2016 | 1.49 kWh per 2011$PPP | -1.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 3.53 kWh per 2011$PPP | 3.47 kWh per 2011$PPP | 3.63 kWh per 2011$PPP | 5 |
| 1970s | 3.52 kWh per 2011$PPP | 3.19 kWh per 2011$PPP | 3.75 kWh per 2011$PPP | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.67 kWh per 2011$PPP | 2.47 kWh per 2011$PPP | 3.07 kWh per 2011$PPP | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.3 kWh per 2011$PPP | 2.07 kWh per 2011$PPP | 2.43 kWh per 2011$PPP | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.85 kWh per 2011$PPP | 1.68 kWh per 2011$PPP | 2.03 kWh per 2011$PPP | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.58 kWh per 2011$PPP | 1.49 kWh per 2011$PPP | 1.69 kWh per 2011$PPP | 7 |
Countries ranked near United States
More reference data data for United States
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 19.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 24.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 119.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 20.7 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 119.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 64.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 52.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 133.45 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 589.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 112.69 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is energy intensity of the economy in United States?
- Energy intensity of the economy in United States was 1.49 kWh per 2011$PPP in 2016, according to Our World in Data based on BP; World Bank; and Maddison Project Database.
- What is the highest energy intensity of the economy recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 3.75 kWh per 2011$PPP in 1970.
- What is the lowest energy intensity of the economy recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.49 kWh per 2011$PPP in 2016.
- How does United States rank for energy intensity of the economy?
- United States ranks 50th out of 161 countries with data for 2016.
- Is energy intensity of the economy rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data based on BP; World Bank; and Maddison Project Database, published as part of Energy intensity of the economy (kWh per 2011$PPP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Energy intensity is measured as primary energy consumption per unit of gross domestic product. This is measured in kilowatt-hours per 2011$ (PPP).