Electricity production by source in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Electricity production by source was 37.8% in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Electricity production by source in United Kingdom, 1990–2021
Source: IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, IEA, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of total.
Analysis
In 2021, electricity production by source in United Kingdom stood at 37.8%.
The figure is down 8.1% on the previous year and up 371.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, electricity production by source in United Kingdom peaked at 41.2% in 2020 and was at its lowest, -0.4%, in 1990.
United Kingdom ranks 11th of 208 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Electricity production by source in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | % of total | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | -0.4% | — |
| 1991 | -0.3% | -40.8% |
| 1992 | -0.2% | -11.8% |
| 1993 | -0.0% | -97.1% |
| 1994 | 0.1% | -1975.6% |
| 1995 | 0.1% | +18.1% |
| 1996 | 0.2% | +45.7% |
| 1997 | 0.4% | +75.5% |
| 1998 | 0.5% | +42.8% |
| 1999 | 0.4% | -28.8% |
| 2000 | 1.3% | +246.0% |
| 2001 | 1.4% | +10.2% |
| 2002 | 1.6% | +14.7% |
| 2003 | 1.9% | +13.4% |
| 2004 | 2.4% | +27.1% |
| 2005 | 3.0% | +27.9% |
| 2006 | 3.4% | +12.8% |
| 2007 | 3.7% | +8.3% |
| 2008 | 4.4% | +19.4% |
| 2009 | 5.4% | +23.3% |
| 2010 | 5.9% | +8.9% |
| 2011 | 8.0% | +35.9% |
| 2012 | 9.9% | +23.0% |
| 2013 | 13.5% | +37.3% |
| 2014 | 17.4% | +28.2% |
| 2015 | 22.8% | +31.3% |
| 2016 | 23.0% | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 27.6% | +19.7% |
| 2018 | 31.4% | +13.9% |
| 2019 | 35.1% | +12.0% |
| 2020 | 41.2% | +17.1% |
| 2021 | 37.8% | -8.1% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 37.8% is above the median for high income countries, which is 9.8%, 3.9× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 37.8% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 13.0%, 2.9× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Electricity production by source in United Kingdom changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | +1975.6% | -0.0% | 0.1% |
| 2000 | +246.0% | 0.4% | 1.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.1% | -0.4% | 0.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.8% | 1.3% | 5.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.5% | 5.9% | 35.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 39.5% | 37.8% | 41.2% | 2 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More energy & mining data for United Kingdom
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate -1.3 % 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)
- Primary energy use, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (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)
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fuel imports 8.2% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is electricity production by source in United Kingdom?
- Electricity production by source in United Kingdom was 37.8% in 2021, according to IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, IEA, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest electricity production by source recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 41.2% in 2020.
- What is the lowest electricity production by source recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.4% in 1990.
- How does United Kingdom rank for electricity production by source?
- United Kingdom ranks 11th out of 208 countries with data for 2021.
- Is electricity production by source rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 371.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, IEA, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Electricity production by source. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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