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Jun 19, 2019 · The United States contributes 20% of all global fossil fuel production, with Russia and Iran rounding out the top three. After that comes Canada, which produces just under 5% of all fossil fuels globally.
Feb 3, 2023 · In 2020, there were 13.9 metric tons of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions per person in the US. According to data from the Energy Information Administration, while total energy consumption has increased in the US since 1970, the amount of energy-related emissions per person decreased.
- Fossil Fuel Consumption
- Fossil Fuels in The Energy and Electricity Mix
- Coal
- Oil
- Gas
- Fossil Fuel Reserves
- Definitions and Measurement
Global fossil fuel consumption
The burning of fossil fuels for energy began around the Industrial Revolution. But fossil fuel consumption has changed significantly over the past few centuries – both in terms of what and how much we burn. In the interactive chart, we see global fossil fuel consumption broken down by coal, oil, and gas since 1800. Earlier data, pre-1965, is sourced from Vaclav Smil's work on energy transitions; this has been combined with data published in BP's Statistical Review of World Energyfrom 1965 onw...
Fossil fuel consumption: which countries use the most energy from fossil fuels?
We've looked at how much fossil fuel energy is consumed globally. But what about countries? How much fossil energy do they consume? The interactive chart here shows the amount of primary energy from fossil fuels that is consumed each year. This is the sum of energy from coal, oil, and gas. In the sections below, we look at each of these sources individually.
Per capita: where do people consume the most energy from fossil fuels?
Looking at energy consumption at the country level is often a strong reflection of population size rather than actual fossil fuel consumption per person. How do these comparisons look when we adjust for population? In the interactive chart we see the amount of energy from fossil fuels consumed per person. This is the sum of primary energy from coal, oil, and gas combined. Across the world, we see that the largest consumers use more than ten times the amount of fossil energy than some of the s...
What share of primary energycomes from fossil fuels?
How do fossil fuels fit in within the rest of the energy mix? What share of primary energy comes from fossil fuels? Around four-fifths of global primary energy comes from coal, oil, and gas. Over the coming decades, we must rapidly reduce this share by displacing them with low-carbon energy sources. In the interactive chart, we see how this share varies across the world.
What share of electricitycomes from fossil fuels?
Electricity is one component of total energy consumption – the other two being transport and heating. Globally, fossil fuels account for a much smaller share of electricity production than the energy system as a whole. This interactive map shows the share of electricity that comes from fossil fuels (coal, oil, and gas summed together) across the world. Oil accounts for only a small share of electricity production – most come from coal and gas. The share from coal, oil and gas individually can...
Coal production: how much do countries produce?
Which countries produce the most coal? How has this changed over time? In the interactive chart here we see coal production by country. This has been converted into primary energy equivalents (i.e., terawatt-hours of energy) for comparability across our other data on energy. Note that this measures coal production, not consumption. Many countries consume energy from coal in their energy supply. However, not all countries have coal reservesto produce this themselves. This therefore measures co...
Energy from coal: how much do countries consume?
Fossil fuel production is an important metric – it helps us understand where fossil fuels are being extracted. But we also care about where that energy is being consumed – that tells us what role fossil fuels are playing in the energy system of each country. This interactive chart shows primary energy consumption from coal across the world. This represents coal production adjusted for trade (so, coal exports are subtracted and imports are added).
What share of primary energycomes from coal?
Coal has been a critical energy source and a mainstay in global energy production for centuries. But it's also the most polluting energy source: both in terms of the amount of CO2it produces per unit of energy, but also the amount of local air pollution it creates. Moving away from coal energy is important for climate change and human health. This interactive map shows the share of primary energy from coal worldwide.
Oil production: how much do countries produce?
Which countries produce the most oil? How has this changed over time? In the interactive chart here we see oil production by country. This has been converted into primary energy equivalents (i.e., terawatt-hours of energy) for comparability across our other data on energy. Note that this measures oil production, not consumption. Many countries consume energy from oil in their energy supply. However, not all countries have oil reservesto produce this themselves. This therefore measures oil pro...
Energy from oil: how much do countries consume?
Oil production is an important indicator to follow – it helps us understand where it's being extracted, who the main oil producers are, and how this relates to oil reserves. But we also care about where that oil is being consumed – that tells us what role it's playing in the energy system of each country. This interactive chart shows primary energy consumption from oil across the world. This represents oil production adjusted for trade (so, oil exports are subtracted and imports are added).
What share of primary energycomes from oil?
Oil is the world's largest energy source today. It is the dominant source of energy for the transport sector in particular. This interactive map shows the share of primary energy from oil worldwide.
Gas production: how much do countries produce?
Which countries produce the most gas? How has this changed over time? In the interactive chart here we see gas production by country. This has been converted into primary energy equivalents (i.e., terawatt-hours of energy) for comparability across our other data on energy. Note that this measures gas production, not consumption. Many countries consume energy from gas in their energy supply. But not all countries have gas reservesto produce this themselves. This therefore measures gas producti...
Energy from gas: how much do countries consume?
In the section above we looked at where in the world gas is produced. But, after trade, where in the world is gas consumed? This interactive chart shows primary energy consumption from gas across the world. This represents gas production adjusted for trade (so, gas exports are subtracted and imports are added).
What share of primary energycomes from gas?
Natural gas has, for decades, lagged behind coal and oil as an energy source. But today, its consumption is growing rapidly – often as a replacement for coal in the energy mix. Gas is a major provider of electricity productionand a key source of heat. This interactive map shows the share of primary energy from gas worldwide.
Coal reserves
In previous sections, we examined how much fossil fuels different countries produced or consumed. But where in the world do our existing reserves of fossil fuels remain? Which countries have the potential to extract and sell them? In the interactive chart, we see proven coal reserves across the world. It's important to distinguish reservesversus resourceshere. "Proven reserves" represent coal that we know with reasonable certainty could be recovered in the future under existing economic and t...
Gas reserves
Where in the world do we have gas reserves? Which countries have the ability to extract, consume, and trade? In the interactive chart, we see proven gas reserves across the world. It's important to distinguish reservesversus resourceshere. "Proven reserves" represent gas that we know with reasonable certainty could be recovered in the future under existing economic and technological operating conditions. In other words, we know it's there, and it would be technologically and economically feas...
Reserves vs. resources: when does a resource become a reserve?
The terms “reserves” and “resources” are often used interchangeably. However, there is an important distinction between the two. The chart explains this distinction visually. Every reserve is indeed a resource, but not every resource is a reserve. Two requirements determine whether a mineral resource becomes a reserve. The first is the degree of certainty that it exists: the planet likely has many mineral resources that we have not yet discovered. So to be defined as a reserve, we must have e...
Jan 29, 2024 · Natural gas consumption in the U.S. 1995-2023. Petroleum & Refinery. Find up-to-date statistics and facts on fossil fuel consumption in the United States.
Dec 3, 2021 · Fossil fuel interests in the United States may dig in, but what they now face is not just science and activist commitment but a substantial economic current running against them.
United States: Many of us want an overview of how much energy our country consumes, where it comes from, and if we’re making progress on decarbonizing our energy mix. This page provides the data for your chosen country across all of the key metrics on this topic.
Nov 20, 2023 · In the map, countries are categorized as having “mostly clean” electricity generation if less than 15 percent of their generation came from fossil fuel sources in the latest available year.
