Net energy embedded in traded goods in Australia
Australia: Net energy embedded in traded goods was -38.77 terawatt-hours in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Net energy embedded in traded goods in Australia, 1995–2020
Source: Kulionis (2021) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in terawatt-hours.
Analysis
In 2020, net energy embedded in traded goods in Australia stood at -38.77 terawatt-hours. That is the lowest value across all 24 years on record.
That represents a change of down 160.3% on the previous year and down 115.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net energy embedded in traded goods in Australia peaked at 312.59 terawatt-hours in 2012 and was at its lowest, -38.77 terawatt-hours, in 2020.
That places Australia 33rd out of 43 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net energy embedded in traded goods in Australia, year by year
| Year | terawatt-hours | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 36.57 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1996 | 25.54 terawatt-hours | -30.2% |
| 1997 | 47.79 terawatt-hours | +87.2% |
| 1998 | 30.56 terawatt-hours | -36.1% |
| 1999 | 74.5 terawatt-hours | +143.8% |
| 2000 | 5.27 terawatt-hours | -92.9% |
| 2001 | -8.03 terawatt-hours | -252.4% |
| 2002 | 57.71 terawatt-hours | -818.3% |
| 2003 | 86.55 terawatt-hours | +50.0% |
| 2004 | 169.97 terawatt-hours | +96.4% |
| 2005 | 240.97 terawatt-hours | +41.8% |
| 2006 | 220.71 terawatt-hours | -8.4% |
| 2007 | 269.24 terawatt-hours | +22.0% |
| 2008 | 220.09 terawatt-hours | -18.3% |
| 2009 | 209.89 terawatt-hours | -4.6% |
| 2010 | 248.08 terawatt-hours | +18.2% |
| 2011 | 309.93 terawatt-hours | +24.9% |
| 2012 | 312.59 terawatt-hours | +0.9% |
| 2013 | 262.09 terawatt-hours | -16.2% |
| 2014 | 212.98 terawatt-hours | -18.7% |
| 2015 | 182.21 terawatt-hours | -14.4% |
| 2016 | 70.02 terawatt-hours | -61.6% |
| 2017 | 64.25 terawatt-hours | -8.2% |
| 2020 | -38.77 terawatt-hours | -160.3% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's -38.77 terawatt-hours is below the median for high income countries, which is 12.06 terawatt-hours. (36 countries reporting)
- Australia's -38.77 terawatt-hours is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is -65.4 terawatt-hours, 59% of the median. (5 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net energy embedded in traded goods in Australia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | +818.3% | -8.03 terawatt-hours | 57.71 terawatt-hours |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 42.99 terawatt-hours | 25.54 terawatt-hours | 74.5 terawatt-hours | 5 |
| 2000s | 147.24 terawatt-hours | -8.03 terawatt-hours | 269.24 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 207.77 terawatt-hours | 64.25 terawatt-hours | 312.59 terawatt-hours | 8 |
| 2020s | -38.77 terawatt-hours | -38.77 terawatt-hours | -38.77 terawatt-hours | 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)
- Primary energy use, per capita 0.0001 terawatt-hours per person (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)
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fuel imports 11.7% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net energy embedded in traded goods in Australia?
- Net energy embedded in traded goods in Australia was -38.77 terawatt-hours in 2020, according to Kulionis (2021) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest net energy embedded in traded goods recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 312.59 terawatt-hours in 2012.
- What is the lowest net energy embedded in traded goods recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was -38.77 terawatt-hours in 2020.
- How does Australia rank for net energy embedded in traded goods?
- Australia ranks 33rd out of 43 countries with data for 2020.
- Is net energy embedded in traded goods rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 115.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from Kulionis (2021) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Net energy embedded in traded goods. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Net energy embedded in traded goods is the difference in energy embedded in exported goods, and imported goods. A positive value means that a country is a net importer; a negative means it's a net exporter. Measured in terawatt-hours.