Energy

World energy use, renewable energy, and access to electricity—key facts and trends.

Global Energy Use

World energy demand has grown with population and economic activity. Fossil fuels—oil, coal, and natural gas—still provide most of the world’s primary energy. They are used for electricity, transport, industry, and heating. The share of renewables (wind, solar, hydropower, biofuels, etc.) is rising but varies greatly by country and region.

Largest Consumers

China, the United States, India, the European Union, and Russia are among the largest energy consumers. Per capita use is generally higher in rich countries, though emerging economies are catching up as they industrialise and electrify.

Renewable Energy

Renewables are the fastest-growing source of electricity in many regions. Solar and wind capacity has increased sharply; costs have fallen. Hydropower remains the largest renewable source globally. Bioenergy is used for heat, transport, and power. Expanding renewables is central to cutting greenhouse gas emissions and limiting climate change.

Transition and Challenges

The shift to clean energy requires investment, grid upgrades, and policies that support renewables and efficiency. Some countries still depend heavily on coal or oil; balancing energy security, affordability, and sustainability is a major challenge.

Access to Electricity

According to the IEA (2024), about 730 million people worldwide lacked access to electricity in 2024—roughly 10% of the global population. Only 11 million fewer than in 2023. Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for about 8 out of 10 people globally without electricity; 27 countries in the region still lag behind pre-pandemic progress. Developing Asia has reached about 98% access (India and Indonesia achieved universal access); Latin America is close to universal at 98%. Off-grid and mini-grid solutions, including solar, are helping to close the gap where extending the main grid is costly.

Country Data and Updates

Electricity access by country is reported by the IEA and World Bank (e.g. SDG 7 tracking). On this site, each country page shows the share of the population with access to electricity. Data is updated every six months from these sources. For full country profiles (economy, health, hunger, water, land, and energy), go to Countries and select a country.