Energy intensity in Ghana
Ghana: Energy intensity was 2.88 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2021. ▼ Falling
Energy intensity in Ghana, 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
The most recent figure for energy intensity in Ghana is 2.88 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices, measured in 2021.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.0% on the previous year and down 5.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, energy intensity in Ghana peaked at 4.84 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2000 and was at its lowest, 2.63 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices, in 2017.
Ghana ranks 147th of 201 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 22 years of available data.
Energy intensity in Ghana, year by year
| Year | megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 4.84 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | — |
| 2001 | 4.65 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -3.9% |
| 2002 | 4.43 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -4.7% |
| 2003 | 4.01 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -9.5% |
| 2004 | 3.75 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -6.5% |
| 2005 | 3.5 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -6.7% |
| 2006 | 3.57 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +2.0% |
| 2007 | 3.37 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -5.6% |
| 2008 | 3.32 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.5% |
| 2009 | 3.22 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -3.0% |
| 2010 | 3.3 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +2.5% |
| 2011 | 3.04 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -7.9% |
| 2012 | 3.12 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +2.6% |
| 2013 | 2.93 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -6.1% |
| 2014 | 2.89 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.4% |
| 2015 | 2.95 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +2.1% |
| 2016 | 2.87 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.7% |
| 2017 | 2.63 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -8.4% |
| 2018 | 2.8 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +6.5% |
| 2019 | 2.78 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 2.97 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +6.8% |
| 2021 | 2.88 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -3.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3.87 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 3.22 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 4.84 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.93 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 2.63 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 3.3 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.92 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 2.88 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 2.97 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 2 |
Countries ranked near Ghana
- 146 Aruba 2.9 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 147 Latvia 2.88 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 149 France 2.83 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 150 Maldives 2.79 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 150 Tuvalu 2.79 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
More energy & mining data for Ghana
- Coal consumption, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Coal consumption, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (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)
- Fuel imports 32.1% (2023)
- Ores and metals imports 1.1% (2023)
- Ores and metals exports 3.8% (2023)
- Gas production 37.02 terawatt-hours (2024)
- Fossil fuel production per person, by fuel 1,075 kilowatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel 37.02 terawatt-hours (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is energy intensity in Ghana?
- Energy intensity in Ghana was 2.88 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 Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 4.84 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2000.
- What is the lowest energy intensity recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.63 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2017.
- How does Ghana rank for energy intensity?
- Ghana ranks 147th out of 201 countries with data for 2021.
- Is energy intensity rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ghana 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 22 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
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.