Energy intensity in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Energy intensity was 2.94 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2021. ▲ Rising
Energy intensity in Afghanistan, 2000–2021
Source: International Energy Agency (IEA), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), UN Statistics Division, World Health Organization (WHO), and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices.
Analysis
In 2021, energy intensity in Afghanistan stood at 2.94 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 15.7% on the previous year and down 9.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, energy intensity in Afghanistan peaked at 3.25 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2011 and was at its lowest, 1.21 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices, in 2004.
That places Afghanistan 143rd out of 201 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
Energy intensity in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 1.5 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | — |
| 2001 | 1.5 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 1.4 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -6.7% |
| 2003 | 1.39 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -0.7% |
| 2004 | 1.21 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -12.9% |
| 2005 | 1.41 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +16.5% |
| 2006 | 1.5 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +6.4% |
| 2007 | 1.54 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +2.7% |
| 2008 | 1.95 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +26.6% |
| 2009 | 2.27 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +16.4% |
| 2010 | 2.63 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +15.9% |
| 2011 | 3.25 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +23.6% |
| 2012 | 2.6 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -20.0% |
| 2013 | 2.44 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -6.2% |
| 2014 | 2.22 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -9.0% |
| 2015 | 2.35 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +5.9% |
| 2016 | 2.21 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -6.0% |
| 2017 | 2.27 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +2.7% |
| 2018 | 2.4 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +5.7% |
| 2019 | 2.37 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.2% |
| 2020 | 2.54 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +7.2% |
| 2021 | 2.94 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +15.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1.57 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 1.21 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 2.27 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.47 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 2.21 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 3.25 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.74 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 2.54 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 2.94 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 2 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
- 140 Indonesia 3.04 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 141 Mexico 3 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 142 Dominica 2.95 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 143 Saint Lucia 2.94 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 143 Uruguay 2.94 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 146 Aruba 2.9 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
More energy & mining data for Afghanistan
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2020)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate -2.06 % change on previous year (2024)
- Coal consumption, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Coal consumption, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary energy use, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary energy use, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Coal production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2020)
- Fuel imports 22.7% (2019)
Frequently asked questions
- What is energy intensity in Afghanistan?
- Energy intensity in Afghanistan was 2.94 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2021, according to International Energy Agency (IEA), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), UN Statistics Division, World Health Organization (WHO), and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest energy intensity recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 3.25 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2011.
- What is the lowest energy intensity recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.21 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2004.
- How does Afghanistan rank for energy intensity?
- Afghanistan ranks 143rd out of 201 countries with data for 2021.
- Is energy intensity rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from International Energy Agency (IEA), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), UN Statistics Division, World Health Organization (WHO), and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Energy intensity. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Amount of energy needed to produce one unit of economic output. A lower number means that economies produce economic value in a less energy-intensive way. This data is measured in megajoules per dollar, adjusted for inflation and differences in living costs between countries.