Consumption-based energy intensity per dollar in United States
United States: Consumption-based energy intensity per dollar was 1.62 kilowatt-hours per $ in 2020. ▼ Falling
Consumption-based energy intensity per dollar in United States, 1995–2020
Source: Kulionis (2021) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in kilowatt-hours per $.
Analysis
In 2020, consumption-based energy intensity per dollar in United States stood at 1.62 kilowatt-hours per $.
That represents a change of up 5.8% on the previous year and down 3.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, consumption-based energy intensity per dollar in United States peaked at 2.17 kilowatt-hours per $ in 1995 and was at its lowest, 1.47 kilowatt-hours per $, in 2016.
That places United States 9th out of 43 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 26 years of available data.
Consumption-based energy intensity per dollar in United States, year by year
| Year | kilowatt-hours per $ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 2.17 kilowatt-hours per $ | — |
| 1996 | 2.15 kilowatt-hours per $ | -1.1% |
| 1997 | 2.08 kilowatt-hours per $ | -3.5% |
| 1998 | 2.1 kilowatt-hours per $ | +1.3% |
| 1999 | 2.03 kilowatt-hours per $ | -3.7% |
| 2000 | 2.01 kilowatt-hours per $ | -0.6% |
| 2001 | 2.05 kilowatt-hours per $ | +2.0% |
| 2002 | 2 kilowatt-hours per $ | -2.4% |
| 2003 | 1.96 kilowatt-hours per $ | -2.1% |
| 2004 | 1.94 kilowatt-hours per $ | -1.0% |
| 2005 | 1.92 kilowatt-hours per $ | -1.3% |
| 2006 | 1.88 kilowatt-hours per $ | -2.0% |
| 2007 | 1.8 kilowatt-hours per $ | -4.1% |
| 2008 | 1.75 kilowatt-hours per $ | -2.8% |
| 2009 | 1.72 kilowatt-hours per $ | -1.7% |
| 2010 | 1.67 kilowatt-hours per $ | -2.8% |
| 2011 | 1.64 kilowatt-hours per $ | -2.1% |
| 2012 | 1.57 kilowatt-hours per $ | -4.4% |
| 2013 | 1.53 kilowatt-hours per $ | -2.6% |
| 2014 | 1.56 kilowatt-hours per $ | +2.6% |
| 2015 | 1.56 kilowatt-hours per $ | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 1.47 kilowatt-hours per $ | -5.8% |
| 2017 | 1.53 kilowatt-hours per $ | +4.1% |
| 2018 | 1.5 kilowatt-hours per $ | -1.7% |
| 2019 | 1.53 kilowatt-hours per $ | +2.2% |
| 2020 | 1.62 kilowatt-hours per $ | +5.8% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 1.62 kilowatt-hours per $ is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.28 kilowatt-hours per $, 1.3× the median. (36 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.11 kilowatt-hours per $ | 2.03 kilowatt-hours per $ | 2.17 kilowatt-hours per $ | 5 |
| 2000s | 1.91 kilowatt-hours per $ | 1.72 kilowatt-hours per $ | 2.05 kilowatt-hours per $ | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.55 kilowatt-hours per $ | 1.47 kilowatt-hours per $ | 1.67 kilowatt-hours per $ | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.62 kilowatt-hours per $ | 1.62 kilowatt-hours per $ | 1.62 kilowatt-hours per $ | 1 |
Countries ranked near United States
More energy & mining data for United States
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate 1.94 % 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 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 7.5% (2024)
- Ores and metals imports 2.1% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is consumption-based energy intensity per dollar in United States?
- Consumption-based energy intensity per dollar in United States was 1.62 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 United States?
- The highest recorded value was 2.17 kilowatt-hours per $ in 1995.
- What is the lowest consumption-based energy intensity per dollar recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.47 kilowatt-hours per $ in 2016.
- How does United States rank for consumption-based energy intensity per dollar?
- United States ranks 9th out of 43 countries with data for 2020.
- Is consumption-based energy intensity per dollar rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United States 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.