Electricity production by source in United States
United States: Electricity production by source was 14.0% in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Electricity production by source in United States, 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 States stood at 14.0%. That is the highest value across all 32 years on record.
The figure is up 10.5% on the previous year and up 194.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, electricity production by source in United States peaked at 14.0% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 1.1%, in 1998.
That places United States 58th out of 208 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Electricity production by source in United States, year by year
| Year | % of total | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 2.5% | — |
| 1991 | 1.3% | -49.8% |
| 1992 | 1.5% | +20.0% |
| 1993 | 1.5% | +2.5% |
| 1994 | 1.5% | -2.6% |
| 1995 | 1.3% | -13.5% |
| 1996 | 1.3% | -3.3% |
| 1997 | 1.2% | -4.3% |
| 1998 | 1.1% | -5.6% |
| 1999 | 1.3% | +11.9% |
| 2000 | 1.9% | +49.9% |
| 2001 | 1.9% | -1.9% |
| 2002 | 2.0% | +7.2% |
| 2003 | 2.0% | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 2.1% | +3.8% |
| 2005 | 2.2% | +4.9% |
| 2006 | 2.4% | +10.1% |
| 2007 | 2.6% | +7.3% |
| 2008 | 3.1% | +19.2% |
| 2009 | 3.7% | +18.9% |
| 2010 | 4.1% | +11.5% |
| 2011 | 4.8% | +16.9% |
| 2012 | 5.5% | +14.6% |
| 2013 | 6.3% | +15.2% |
| 2014 | 6.9% | +9.6% |
| 2015 | 7.4% | +6.7% |
| 2016 | 8.5% | +15.6% |
| 2017 | 9.7% | +14.1% |
| 2018 | 10.0% | +3.6% |
| 2019 | 10.9% | +8.1% |
| 2020 | 12.7% | +16.7% |
| 2021 | 14.0% | +10.5% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 14.0% is above the median for high income countries, which is 9.8%, 1.4× the median. (78 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.4% | 1.1% | 2.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.4% | 1.9% | 3.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.4% | 4.1% | 10.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.3% | 12.7% | 14.0% | 2 |
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)
- Primary energy use, per capita 0.0001 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 7.5% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is electricity production by source in United States?
- Electricity production by source in United States was 14.0% 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 States?
- The highest recorded value was 14.0% in 2021.
- What is the lowest electricity production by source recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.1% in 1998.
- How does United States rank for electricity production by source?
- United States ranks 58th out of 208 countries with data for 2021.
- Is electricity production by source rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 194.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States 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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