Energy intensity by sector in United States
United States: Energy intensity by sector was 3.48 MJ/2011 USD PPP in 2012. ▼ Falling
Energy intensity by sector in United States, 1990–2012
Source: World Bank and IEA (2017) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in MJ/2011 USD PPP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for energy intensity by sector in United States is 3.48 MJ/2011 USD PPP, measured in 2012. That is the lowest value across all 23 years on record.
The figure is down 4.5% on the previous year and down 18.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, energy intensity by sector in United States peaked at 5.34 MJ/2011 USD PPP in 1991 and was at its lowest, 3.48 MJ/2011 USD PPP, in 2012.
United States ranks 78th of 189 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 23 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4.96 MJ/2011 USD PPP | 4.48 MJ/2011 USD PPP | 5.34 MJ/2011 USD PPP | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.08 MJ/2011 USD PPP | 3.69 MJ/2011 USD PPP | 4.5 MJ/2011 USD PPP | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.63 MJ/2011 USD PPP | 3.48 MJ/2011 USD PPP | 3.75 MJ/2011 USD PPP | 3 |
Countries ranked near United States
- 75 Sudan 3.58 MJ/2011 USD PPP compare
- 76 Jamaica 3.52 MJ/2011 USD PPP compare
- 77 New Zealand 3.5 MJ/2011 USD PPP compare
- 79 Luxembourg 3.48 MJ/2011 USD PPP compare
- 80 Nicaragua 3.46 MJ/2011 USD PPP compare
- 81 Sao Tome and Principe 3.45 MJ/2011 USD PPP compare
More energy & mining data for United States
- Fuel imports 7.5% (2024)
- Ores and metals imports 2.1% (2024)
- Ores and metals exports 2.9% (2024)
- Gas production 10,737 terawatt-hours (2025)
- Fossil fuel production per person, by fuel 30,919 kilowatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel 10,737 terawatt-hours (2025)
- Gas production per person 30,919 kilowatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fuel exports 18.3% (2024)
- Electric power transmission and distribution losses 5.3% (2024)
- Share of dietary energy supply from carbohydrates vs. GDP per capita 45.6% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is energy intensity by sector in United States?
- Energy intensity by sector in United States was 3.48 MJ/2011 USD PPP in 2012, according to World Bank and IEA (2017) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest energy intensity by sector recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 5.34 MJ/2011 USD PPP in 1991.
- What is the lowest energy intensity by sector recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.48 MJ/2011 USD PPP in 2012.
- How does United States rank for energy intensity by sector?
- United States ranks 78th out of 189 countries with data for 2012.
- Is energy intensity by sector rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank and IEA (2017) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Energy intensity by sector. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 23 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Energy intensity level of final energy (MJ/2011 USD PPP): A ratio between final energy consumption and gross domestic product measured at purchasing power parity. Energy intensity is an indication of how much energy is used to produce one unit of economic output. Lower ratio indicates that less energy is used to produce one unit of output.