As we power our way into the future, the staggering reality is that our planet now consumes over 620 exajoules of energy annually—a relentless climb driving both economic growth and record emissions, with profound inequities and a crucial clean energy shift unfolding across every sector.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, global primary energy consumption reached 620 exajoules (EJ), marking a 1.1% increase from 2021
- Global final energy consumption in 2022 was approximately 420 EJ, with industry accounting for 37%
- Total global energy demand grew by 2.2% in 2023 to over 27,000 million tonnes of oil equivalent (Mtoe)
- Oil consumption dominated global energy at 31% share in 2022 with 99.9 million barrels per day (mb/d)
- Coal provided 26% of global primary energy in 2022, totaling 161 EJ, highest since 2013
- Natural gas consumption rose to 104 EJ in 2022, 23% of total, up 2.7% YoY
- China consumed 40% of global coal at 4,500 Mtoe in 2022
- United States oil consumption was 19 mb/d in 2022, 19% of world total
- EU-27 primary energy use fell 4% to 1,200 Mtoe in 2022 amid energy crisis
- Global primary energy consumption increased 50% from 159 EJ in 1980 to 239 EJ in 2000
- From 2010-2020, renewables share in primary energy rose from 10% to 14%
- Oil consumption grew from 80 mb/d in 2000 to 100 mb/d in 2022, peaking mid-2019
- Global energy consumption projected to rise 28% by 2040 to 750 EJ in STEPS scenario
- Renewables to supply 50% of electricity by 2030, up from 30% in 2023
- Oil demand peaks at 105 mb/d by 2028 then falls to 24 mb/d by 2050 in NZE
Global energy consumption continues to rise, but the transition to renewables is accelerating.
Consumption by Fuel Type
1Oil consumption dominated global energy at 31% share in 2022 with 99.9 million barrels per day (mb/d)
Verified2Coal provided 26% of global primary energy in 2022, totaling 161 EJ, highest since 2013
Verified3Natural gas consumption rose to 104 EJ in 2022, 23% of total, up 2.7% YoY
Verified4Renewables (excl. hydro) reached 8.5% of primary energy in 2022 at 29 EJ, led by wind and solar
Directional5Hydroelectricity contributed 15% of global electricity but 6% of primary energy at 37 EJ in 2022
Single source6Nuclear energy supplied 4.3% of global primary energy, 26 EJ in 2022, stable post-Fukushima
Verified7Bioenergy accounted for 10% of primary energy at 62 EJ in 2022, mostly traditional uses in developing nations
Verified8Solar PV energy consumption grew 25% to 1.3 EJ in 2022, 0.2% of total primary energy
Verified9Wind energy consumption hit 2.1 EJ in 2022, up 8%, representing 0.3% of global total
Directional10Traditional biomass still comprised 55% of global bioenergy use at 34 EJ in 2022
Single source11Global oil products consumption hit 103 mb/d in 2023
Verified12Gas flaring contributed negligible but 140 bcm wasted in 2022
Verified13Modern renewables grew 50% from 2020-2022 to 12% TFEC share
Verified14Geothermal energy steady at 0.3% primary share, 1.9 EJ in 2022
Directional15LPG consumption rose 3% to 300 Mt in 2022 globally
Single source16Diesel fuel use in transport 35 mb/d in 2022
Verified17Coke oven gas minor but 0.5 EJ in steel industry 2022
Verified18Electricity from renewables 30% of total generation 8,200 TWh in 2022
VerifiedConsumption by Fuel Type Interpretation
While fossil fuels still lord over the energy landscape like a trio of aging monarchs, the scrappy rebellion of modern renewables is starting to steal enough of the show to make their courtiers nervously check the exits.
Projections and Forecasts
1Global energy consumption projected to rise 28% by 2040 to 750 EJ in STEPS scenario
Verified2Renewables to supply 50% of electricity by 2030, up from 30% in 2023
Verified3Oil demand peaks at 105 mb/d by 2028 then falls to 24 mb/d by 2050 in NZE
Verified4Coal consumption declines 10% by 2030 from 2022 levels per IEA APS
Directional5Global electricity demand doubles to 60,000 TWh by 2050
Single source6Energy efficiency saves 2.5% annual demand growth to 2040
Verified7Solar and wind to 70% of power generation by 2050 in sustainable scenarios
Verified8Hydrogen demand rises from 90 Mt to 500 Mt by 2050, 10% of energy
Verified9Developing Asia drives 50% of energy demand growth to 2040
Directional10Global final energy demand peaks by 2030 then falls 20% by 2050 in SDS
Single source11Net Zero Emissions scenario sees energy demand flat post-2025
Verified12EVs to displace 7 mb/d oil by 2030, rising to 40 mb/d 2050
Verified13CCS captures 7.6 GtCO2/yr by 2050 needed for net zero
Verified14Renewables capacity to triple to 11,000 GW by 2030 per pledges
Directional15Heat pumps adoption doubles efficiency, saving 1 EJ/yr by 2030
Single source16Critical minerals demand for clean tech x4 to 2050
Verified17Africa energy demand doubles by 2040 to 1,400 Mtoe
Verified18China energy peak before 2030, then decline 20% by 2060
Verified19Direct air capture scales to 0.5 GtCO2/yr by 2050
Directional20Digitalization cuts industry energy 10% by 2040 via AI
Single sourceProjections and Forecasts Interpretation
It appears our species has finally decided to throw an epic, high-stakes energy party, where we'll desperately try to turn down the fossil fuel speakers and crank up the renewables playlist, all while scrambling to clean up the mess before the planetary bouncer kicks us out.
Regional Consumption Patterns
1China consumed 40% of global coal at 4,500 Mtoe in 2022
Verified2United States oil consumption was 19 mb/d in 2022, 19% of world total
Verified3EU-27 primary energy use fell 4% to 1,200 Mtoe in 2022 amid energy crisis
Verified4India natural gas consumption reached 65 bcm in 2022, up 10%, 2% global share
Directional5Africa total primary energy consumption was 700 Mtoe in 2022, 5% of world, mostly biomass
Single source6Middle East oil consumption grew to 8.5 mb/d in 2022, driven by petrochemicals
Verified7Japan electricity demand dropped 3% to 900 TWh in 2022 post-Fukushima restarts
Verified8Brazil hydro share in electricity was 60% with 450 TWh consumption in 2022
Verified9Russia gas exports fell but domestic use 500 bcm in 2022, 18% global consumption
Directional10Southeast Asia energy demand up 4% to 1,000 Mtoe in 2022, coal-heavy
Single source11China's coal consumption 57% global total at 91 EJ in 2022
Verified12US total primary energy 94 quadrillion Btu (100 EJ equiv) in 2022
Verified13Europe's gas consumption fell 12% to 340 bcm in 2022 due to crisis
Verified14Saudi Arabia oil use 4 mb/d domestic in 2022
Directional15Sub-Saharan Africa per capita energy 12 GJ, biomass 80% in 2022
Single source16Australia's coal exports but domestic use 40 Mtoe in 2022
Verified17Canada's oil sands consumption equivalent 3 mb/d in 2022
Verified18South Korea electricity 550 TWh, nuclear 30% in 2022
Verified19Indonesia coal power 60% electricity, total energy 300 Mtoe 2022
Directional20Mexico gas imports but 50 bcm use in 2022
Single sourceRegional Consumption Patterns Interpretation
The global energy story in 2022 was a chaotic play where China and the U.S. took commanding lead roles with coal and oil, while Europe shivered through an act of painful conservation, the developing world penned subplots of growth and biomass, and every region seemed to be reading from a different script on how to reach the final scene of a stable climate.
Temporal Trends
1Global primary energy consumption increased 50% from 159 EJ in 1980 to 239 EJ in 2000
Verified2From 2010-2020, renewables share in primary energy rose from 10% to 14%
Verified3Oil consumption grew from 80 mb/d in 2000 to 100 mb/d in 2022, peaking mid-2019
Verified4Coal use doubled from 1970-2013 to 160 EJ before plateauing
Directional5Electricity generation tripled from 10,000 TWh in 1985 to 29,000 TWh in 2022
Single source6Global energy intensity (energy/GDP) fell 2% annually 2010-2022
Verified7Natural gas share rose from 20% in 1990 to 24% in 2022
Verified8Renewables capacity added 510 GW in 2023, highest ever, up from 200 GW in 2010
Verified9Per capita energy use stagnated at 80 GJ since 2010 due to efficiency gains
Directional10CO2 from energy doubled from 20 Gt in 1980 to 37 Gt in 2022
Single source11Primary energy consumption up 82% from 1971-2021 globally
Verified12Electricity access rose from 75% to 90% population 2000-2022
Verified13Efficiency improvements cut energy intensity 35% since 1990
Verified14Peak oil demand delayed from 2020 projection to 2030s
Directional15Wind capacity from 17 GW 2000 to 900 GW 2022
Single source16Solar PV costs fell 89% 2010-2022, boosting consumption
Verified17Gas-to-coal switch reversed post-2015 shale boom
Verified18Biomass modern use tripled 2000-2022 to 28 EJ
Verified19Nuclear output flat at 2,500 TWh since 2010 despite capacity growth
Directional20Transport fuel efficiency up 20% 2010-2022 in OECD
Single sourceTemporal Trends Interpretation
The human race, in a breathless sprint of progress, has become remarkably efficient at burning the planet—but our addiction to fossil fuels is a stubborn houseguest who, despite the increasingly attractive clean energy alternatives we’ve laid out, keeps finding excuses to overstay its welcome.
Total Global Consumption
1In 2022, global primary energy consumption reached 620 exajoules (EJ), marking a 1.1% increase from 2021
Verified2Global final energy consumption in 2022 was approximately 420 EJ, with industry accounting for 37%
Verified3Total global energy demand grew by 2.2% in 2023 to over 27,000 million tonnes of oil equivalent (Mtoe)
Verified4In 2021, world primary energy consumption totaled 580 EJ, up 5.5% from 2020 due to post-COVID recovery
Directional5Global energy consumption per capita averaged 75 GJ in 2022, varying widely from 20 GJ in Africa to 200 GJ in North America
Single source6Electricity accounted for 20% of global final energy use in 2022, totaling about 84 EJ
Verified7Global energy-related CO2 emissions from consumption hit 37.4 Gt in 2022, linked to 620 EJ primary energy use
Verified8In 2023, global primary energy supply was 179,379 TWh equivalent, per IEA tracking
Verified9Total energy consumption grew 1% annually from 2010-2022, reaching 13.8 TW average power
Directional10Global residential energy use was 28% of final consumption in 2022, about 118 EJ
Single source11In 2022, global primary energy consumption per capita was 73.2 GJ/person, up 1% YoY
Verified12Transport sector consumed 116 EJ or 29% of total final energy in 2022
Verified13Industry final energy use was 156 EJ in 2022, 37% of total, chemicals leading
Verified14Buildings sector energy demand 128 EJ in 2022, 30% of final consumption
Directional15Global energy supply chain losses were 65% in 2022, from primary to final use
Single source16Total global energy consumption equivalent to 4.1 TW continuous power in 2022
Verified17Non-OECD countries consumed 53% of global energy in 2022, surpassing OECD
VerifiedTotal Global Consumption Interpretation
Humanity's energy appetite grew again last year, but in a race where we lose nearly two-thirds of the fuel between the tank and the wheels, the real story is that we're all running on the same treadmill—just with the gluttons and the paupers on wildly different speeds.
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