Consumption-based energy intensity per dollar in Australia
Australia: Consumption-based energy intensity per dollar was 1.12 kilowatt-hours per $ in 2020. ▼ Falling
Consumption-based energy intensity per dollar in Australia, 1995–2020
Source: Kulionis (2021) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in kilowatt-hours per $.
Analysis
The most recent figure for consumption-based energy intensity per dollar in Australia is 1.12 kilowatt-hours per $, measured in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 24 years on record.
That represents a change of down 12.8% on the previous year and down 33.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, consumption-based energy intensity per dollar in Australia peaked at 1.84 kilowatt-hours per $ in 1995 and was at its lowest, 1.12 kilowatt-hours per $, in 2020.
Australia ranks 29th of 43 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Consumption-based energy intensity per dollar in Australia, year by year
| Year | kilowatt-hours per $ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 1.84 kilowatt-hours per $ | — |
| 1996 | 1.74 kilowatt-hours per $ | -5.5% |
| 1997 | 1.69 kilowatt-hours per $ | -2.9% |
| 1998 | 1.72 kilowatt-hours per $ | +1.4% |
| 1999 | 1.66 kilowatt-hours per $ | -3.1% |
| 2000 | 1.59 kilowatt-hours per $ | -4.1% |
| 2001 | 1.61 kilowatt-hours per $ | +1.1% |
| 2002 | 1.59 kilowatt-hours per $ | -1.0% |
| 2003 | 1.62 kilowatt-hours per $ | +1.9% |
| 2004 | 1.53 kilowatt-hours per $ | -5.9% |
| 2005 | 1.7 kilowatt-hours per $ | +11.1% |
| 2006 | 1.71 kilowatt-hours per $ | +0.6% |
| 2007 | 1.76 kilowatt-hours per $ | +3.1% |
| 2008 | 1.63 kilowatt-hours per $ | -7.4% |
| 2009 | 1.65 kilowatt-hours per $ | +1.4% |
| 2010 | 1.69 kilowatt-hours per $ | +2.3% |
| 2011 | 1.77 kilowatt-hours per $ | +4.5% |
| 2012 | 1.55 kilowatt-hours per $ | -12.3% |
| 2013 | 1.49 kilowatt-hours per $ | -4.0% |
| 2014 | 1.34 kilowatt-hours per $ | -10.2% |
| 2015 | 1.31 kilowatt-hours per $ | -2.1% |
| 2016 | 1.13 kilowatt-hours per $ | -13.4% |
| 2017 | 1.29 kilowatt-hours per $ | +13.4% |
| 2020 | 1.12 kilowatt-hours per $ | -12.8% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 1.12 kilowatt-hours per $ is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.29 kilowatt-hours per $, 87% of the median. (5 countries reporting)
- Australia's 1.12 kilowatt-hours per $ is below the median for high income countries, which is 1.28 kilowatt-hours per $, 88% of the median. (36 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.73 kilowatt-hours per $ | 1.66 kilowatt-hours per $ | 1.84 kilowatt-hours per $ | 5 |
| 2000s | 1.64 kilowatt-hours per $ | 1.53 kilowatt-hours per $ | 1.76 kilowatt-hours per $ | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.45 kilowatt-hours per $ | 1.13 kilowatt-hours per $ | 1.77 kilowatt-hours per $ | 8 |
| 2020s | 1.12 kilowatt-hours per $ | 1.12 kilowatt-hours per $ | 1.12 kilowatt-hours per $ | 1 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More energy & mining data for Australia
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate -0.4235 % change on previous year (2025)
- Coal consumption, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal consumption, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Coal production, per capita 0.0001 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per capita 0.0001 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fuel imports 11.7% (2025)
- Ores and metals imports 1.9% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is consumption-based energy intensity per dollar in Australia?
- Consumption-based energy intensity per dollar in Australia was 1.12 kilowatt-hours per $ in 2020, according to Kulionis (2021) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest consumption-based energy intensity per dollar recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 1.84 kilowatt-hours per $ in 1995.
- What is the lowest consumption-based energy intensity per dollar recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.12 kilowatt-hours per $ in 2020.
- How does Australia rank for consumption-based energy intensity per dollar?
- Australia ranks 29th out of 43 countries with data for 2020.
- Is consumption-based energy intensity per dollar rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 33.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from Kulionis (2021) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Consumption-based energy intensity per dollar. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Energy intensity is measured as the number of kilowatt-hours used per dollar of gross domestic product (GDP). Consumption-based energy adjusts for the energy embedded in traded goods: it is the energy used domestically minus energy used to produce exported goods; plus the energy used for imported goods.