Global energy shapes daily life—powering transport, industry, and heating—while trade, technology, and finance determine who benefits and who pays. This page connects fossil electricity and oil demand with gas-linked emissions, then links clean investment, grid storage, and new heat-pump and EV growth to climate risk. We also examine how energy import costs affect economies and what this means for keeping warming near 2.0°C.
Key Takeaways
- The share of global electricity generated from fossil fuels was about 66% in 2023 (fossil share in electricity generation).
- Global natural gas consumption was 4.1 trillion cubic meters in 2022 (world gas consumption).
- 10.0 mb/d (million barrels per day) global oil production in 2023 (IEA global oil market estimate).
- 2.1% of global energy-related CO2 emissions growth in 2023 was attributed to natural gas use (IEA driver estimate).
- 10,600 megatonnes of CO2 per year is the global atmospheric concentration increase rate associated with current emissions (CO2 concentration change proxy).
- 2023 global average sea level rise averaged about 4.62 mm/year (altimetry-based estimate for the 1993–2023 satellite era).
- Renewable energy investment needs are estimated at about $4.0 trillion per year through 2030 to meet net-zero pathways (IEA estimate).
- Fossil fuel consumer subsidies were about $1.9 trillion in 2022 (IEA estimate).
- Worldwide grid-scale battery storage capacity additions were about 42 GW in 2023 (IEA/battery storage market estimate).
- Global heat pump sales reached about 17 million units in 2023 (IEA heat pump market estimate).
- Total global EV stock reached 39 million in 2023 (IEA Global EV Outlook 2024).
- 34% global final energy consumption from electricity in 2022—share of electricity in end-use energy demand.
- 63% of global renewable power additions in 2023 were solar PV—solar’s share of new renewable capacity.
- 83.0 million barrels per day global oil demand in 2023—IEA estimate for demand level.
- $86.62 per barrel Brent average in 2023—average price level used widely in market analysis.
In 2023, fossil fuels still powered two thirds of electricity while investment and clean momentum surged.
Related reading
01 · Category
Fossil Fuels & Trade7 stats
01
The share of global electricity generated from fossil fuels was about 66% in 2023 (fossil share in electricity generation).
02
Global natural gas consumption was 4.1 trillion cubic meters in 2022 (world gas consumption).
03
10.0 mb/d (million barrels per day) global oil production in 2023 (IEA global oil market estimate).
04
Energy imports and exports value in 2022 was about $5.3 trillion globally (global energy trade value estimate).
05
Global oil demand was about 102 million barrels per day in 2023 (IEA global oil demand estimate).
06
US natural gas production averaged about 98 billion cubic meters per year in 2022 (EIA production total).
07
Global LNG trade reached about 397 million tonnes in 2023 (IEA/industry estimate for LNG volumes).
Interpretation
Fossil Fuels & Trade Interpretation
In 2023 fossil fuels still powered about 66% of global electricity while the fossil fuel trade remained enormous in scale with total energy trade value around $5.3 trillion in 2022, underscoring how deeply fossil fuels shape both global energy supply and cross border commerce.
02 · Category
Emissions & Climate4 stats
01
2.1% of global energy-related CO2 emissions growth in 2023 was attributed to natural gas use (IEA driver estimate).
02
10,600 megatonnes of CO2 per year is the global atmospheric concentration increase rate associated with current emissions (CO2 concentration change proxy).
03
2023 global average sea level rise averaged about 4.62 mm/year (altimetry-based estimate for the 1993–2023 satellite era).
04
2.0°C is the temperature anomaly threshold used in multiple climate risk frameworks (context for adaptation planning).
Interpretation
Emissions & Climate Interpretation
In the Emissions & Climate category, 2023 saw natural gas account for just 2.1% of the growth in global energy-related CO2 emissions while the atmosphere continues to add CO2 at about 10,600 megatonnes per year, underscoring that emissions pressure remains high even as climate impacts like sea level rise reach around 4.62 mm per year.
03 · Category
Renewables & Infrastructure4 stats
01
Worldwide grid-scale battery storage capacity additions were about 42 GW in 2023 (IEA/battery storage market estimate).
02
Global heat pump sales reached about 17 million units in 2023 (IEA heat pump market estimate).
03
Total global EV stock reached 39 million in 2023 (IEA Global EV Outlook 2024).
04
Hydrogen production was about 94 million tonnes in 2022 globally (IEA global hydrogen estimate).
Interpretation
Renewables & Infrastructure Interpretation
In 2023, rapid clean infrastructure buildout was evident as grid scale battery storage added about 42 GW alongside 17 million heat pump sales and 39 million EVs worldwide, while hydrogen supply was already at roughly 94 million tonnes in 2022.
More related reading
04 · Category
Policy & Risks4 stats
01
4.0% global GDP exposure to energy import costs in 2023—share of GDP sensitive to fuel imports (IMF-style macro risk framing).
02
1.5°C—range of warming consistent with current Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) trajectory by 2030 (Climate Action Tracker assessment).
03
30% of global methane emissions are attributed to energy sector activities—share used in cross-sector attribution studies.
04
6.9 million premature deaths avoided annually by 2050 under strengthened air-quality and climate policies—global health co-benefits estimate in Lancet Commission.
Interpretation
Policy & Risks Interpretation
In the Policy & Risks lens, energy security and health gains are tightly linked to climate action, with 4.0% of global GDP exposed to fuel import costs in 2023 and strengthened air quality and climate policies projected to avoid 6.9 million premature deaths annually by 2050 while today’s NDC pathway still implies warming up to 1.5°C by 2030.
05 · Category
Technology & Demand3 stats
01
18% global electricity demand growth from data centers by 2026—projected share of incremental demand.
02
27% of global electricity demand was used by buildings in 2022—share of electricity consumption by buildings sector.
03
12% global steel production route share via hydrogen DRI in 2023—estimate of early adoption share.
Interpretation
Technology & Demand Interpretation
In the Technology & Demand picture, fast electrification of buildings and especially data centers is driving growth, with data centers projected to account for 18% of incremental electricity demand by 2026 and buildings already using 27% of global electricity in 2022, while industrial demand is starting to shift more slowly as hydrogen DRI reaches about 12% of steel production in 2023.
06 · Category
Industry Overview8 stats
01
Renewable energy investment needs are estimated at about $4.0 trillion per year through 2030 to meet net-zero pathways (IEA estimate).
02
Fossil fuel consumer subsidies were about $1.9 trillion in 2022 (IEA estimate).
03
34% global final energy consumption from electricity in 2022—share of electricity in end-use energy demand.
04
63% of global renewable power additions in 2023 were solar PV—solar’s share of new renewable capacity.
05
83.0 million barrels per day global oil demand in 2023—IEA estimate for demand level.
06
$86.62per barrel Brent average in 2023—average price level used widely in market analysis.
07
$1.3 trillion in 2023 global clean energy investment—capital spending across wind, solar, storage, grid and heat.
08
US$380 billion in 2023 venture funding for energy transition—reported early-stage energy transition investment totals.
Interpretation
Industry Overview Interpretation
Across the industry landscape, the shift to clean energy is accelerating while fossil support and demand remain large, with renewable investment needs of about $4.0 trillion per year through 2030 alongside 34% of final energy consumption already coming from electricity and solar accounting for 63% of 2023 renewable additions, even as global oil demand reached 83.0 million barrels per day and fossil fuel consumer subsidies were about $1.9 trillion in 2022.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Marie Larsen. (2026, February 13). Global Energy Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/global-energy-statistics
MLA
Marie Larsen. "Global Energy Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/global-energy-statistics.
Chicago
Marie Larsen. 2026. "Global Energy Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/global-energy-statistics.
Sources & references
30 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+15 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)