Energy intensity in Belgium
Belgium: Energy intensity was 3.4 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2022. ▼ Falling
Energy intensity in Belgium, 2000–2022
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
The most recent figure for energy intensity in Belgium is 3.4 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices, measured in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 23 years on record.
That represents a change of down 11.9% on the previous year and down 18.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, energy intensity in Belgium peaked at 5.49 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2000 and was at its lowest, 3.4 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices, in 2022.
That places Belgium 119th out of 201 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 23 years of available data.
Energy intensity in Belgium, year by year
| Year | megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 5.49 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | — |
| 2001 | 5.4 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.6% |
| 2002 | 5.13 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -5.0% |
| 2003 | 5.3 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.3% |
| 2004 | 5.14 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -3.0% |
| 2005 | 5 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.7% |
| 2006 | 4.81 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -3.8% |
| 2007 | 4.55 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -5.4% |
| 2008 | 4.67 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +2.6% |
| 2009 | 4.58 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.9% |
| 2010 | 4.79 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +4.6% |
| 2011 | 4.39 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -8.4% |
| 2012 | 4.17 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -5.0% |
| 2013 | 4.33 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.8% |
| 2014 | 4.02 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -7.2% |
| 2015 | 3.93 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.2% |
| 2016 | 4.11 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +4.6% |
| 2017 | 4.02 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.2% |
| 2018 | 3.8 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -5.5% |
| 2019 | 3.83 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.8% |
| 2020 | 3.71 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -3.1% |
| 2021 | 3.86 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +4.0% |
| 2022 | 3.4 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -11.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 5.01 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 4.55 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 5.49 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.14 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 3.8 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 4.79 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.66 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 3.4 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 3.86 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 3 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
- 116 Rwanda 3.51 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 117 Namibia 3.45 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 118 Montenegro 3.43 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 119 Paraguay 3.4 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 121 Jordan 3.39 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 122 Malawi 3.33 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
More energy & mining data for Belgium
- Coal consumption, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal consumption, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Coal production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Fuel imports 16.0% (2024)
- Ores and metals imports 4.6% (2024)
- Ores and metals exports 3.5% (2024)
- Gas production 0.1615 terawatt-hours (2024)
- Fossil fuel production per person, by fuel 13.75 kilowatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel 0.1615 terawatt-hours (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is energy intensity in Belgium?
- Energy intensity in Belgium was 3.4 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2022, 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 Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 5.49 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2000.
- What is the lowest energy intensity recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.4 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2022.
- How does Belgium rank for energy intensity?
- Belgium ranks 119th out of 201 countries with data for 2022.
- Is energy intensity rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Belgium 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.