Fossil fuels supplied 66 percent of global electricity in 2023. Oil demand reached 83 million barrels per day while clean energy investment hit 1.3 trillion dollars. The statistics below link those volumes to trade flows, infrastructure additions, and emissions levels.
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.
With fossil fuels still generating two thirds of electricity, energy transition investment must surge to cut emissions and climate impacts.
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, and alongside this heavy reliance the fossil fuels that drive trade stayed massive with 4.1 trillion cubic meters of natural gas consumption in 2022 and global energy trade value around $5.3 trillion in 2022.
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 and Climate category, natural gas accounted for only 2.1% of the 2023 growth in global energy related CO2 emissions, even as atmospheric CO2 continues to rise by about 10,600 megatonnes per year, underscoring that emissions mitigation is still urgently needed despite the limited share of growth linked to gas.
03 · Category
Investment & Cost2 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).
Interpretation
Investment & Cost Interpretation
Under the Investment & Cost lens, the scale of action is clear as meeting net zero needs about $4.0 trillion a year in renewable energy investment through 2030 while fossil fuel consumer subsidies still reached roughly $1.9 trillion in 2022.
04 · 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-energy momentum was evident as grid-scale battery storage additions hit about 42 GW and heat pump sales reached around 17 million units, with EV stock rising to 39 million, all reinforcing the Renewables and Infrastructure shift alongside global hydrogen production of about 94 million tonnes in 2022.
05 · Category
Energy Mix2 stats
01
34% global final energy consumption from electricity in 2022—share of electricity in end-use energy demand.
02
63% of global renewable power additions in 2023 were solar PV—solar’s share of new renewable capacity.
Interpretation
Energy Mix Interpretation
In the global energy mix, electricity accounts for 34% of final energy consumption in 2022, and new renewable capacity in 2023 was even more heavily tilted toward solar PV as it made up 63% of additions.
More related reading
06 · Category
Markets & Prices2 stats
01
83.0 million barrels per day global oil demand in 2023—IEA estimate for demand level.
02
$86.62per barrel Brent average in 2023—average price level used widely in market analysis.
Interpretation
Markets & Prices Interpretation
In the Markets and Prices landscape, global oil demand reached an IEA estimate of 83.0 million barrels per day in 2023 alongside an $86.62 per barrel average Brent price, indicating a relatively tight demand and pricing environment throughout the year.
07 · Category
Investment & Finance2 stats
01
$1.3 trillion in 2023 global clean energy investment—capital spending across wind, solar, storage, grid and heat.
02
US$380 billion in 2023 venture funding for energy transition—reported early-stage energy transition investment totals.
Interpretation
Investment & Finance Interpretation
In 2023, global clean energy investment hit $1.3 trillion, and US venture funding for the energy transition totaled $380 billion, showing that both large-scale capital spending and early-stage financing are accelerating in the Investment and Finance landscape.
08 · 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 and Demand category, electricity demand growth is increasingly being pulled by specific technologies and uses as data centers are projected to drive 18% of incremental demand by 2026 while buildings already consumed 27% of global electricity in 2022.
09 · 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 and Risks outlook, rising climate and health stakes are tightly linked to energy decisions, since fuel import costs affect 4.0% of global GDP in 2023 while current NDCs leave us on a 1.5°C warming pathway and energy-related methane accounts for 30% of emissions, yet stronger air and climate policies could still avert 6.9 million premature deaths each year by 2050.
report visual · Breakdown
Where Energy Is Coming From and How It’s Used
Electricity generation remains dominated by fossil fuels, while electricity use in end-use demand is largely split between sectors like buildings versus other uses.
66%
The share of global electricity generated from fossil fuels was about 66% in 2023 (fossil share in electricity generatio
34%
34% global final energy consumption from electricity in 2022—share of electricity in end-use energy demand.
source-verifiedember-climate.org2023
Reference
Cite This Report
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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)