Energy intensity in India
India: Energy intensity was 4.21 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2021. ▼ Falling
Energy intensity in India, 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
India recorded 4.21 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices for energy intensity in 2021. That is the lowest value across all 22 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.9% on the previous year and down 20.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, energy intensity in India peaked at 7.01 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2000 and was at its lowest, 4.21 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices, in 2021.
India ranks 91st 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 India, year by year
| Year | megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 7.01 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | — |
| 2001 | 6.78 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -3.3% |
| 2002 | 6.71 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.0% |
| 2003 | 6.37 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -5.1% |
| 2004 | 6.24 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.0% |
| 2005 | 5.94 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -4.8% |
| 2006 | 5.74 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -3.4% |
| 2007 | 5.54 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -3.5% |
| 2008 | 5.63 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.6% |
| 2009 | 5.67 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.7% |
| 2010 | 5.41 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -4.6% |
| 2011 | 5.28 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.4% |
| 2012 | 5.28 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 5.11 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -3.2% |
| 2014 | 5.08 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -0.6% |
| 2015 | 4.82 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -5.1% |
| 2016 | 4.54 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -5.8% |
| 2017 | 4.46 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.8% |
| 2018 | 4.41 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.1% |
| 2019 | 4.25 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -3.6% |
| 2020 | 4.25 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 4.21 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -0.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 6.16 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 5.54 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 7.01 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.86 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 4.25 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 5.41 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.23 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 4.21 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 4.25 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 2 |
Countries ranked near India
- 89 Cameroon 4.23 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 90 Honduras 4.22 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 91 Pakistan 4.21 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 93 Chad 4.2 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 94 Myanmar 4.17 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 94 United States 4.17 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
More energy & mining data for India
- Fuel imports 31.5% (2024)
- Ores and metals imports 6.9% (2024)
- Ores and metals exports 3.7% (2024)
- Gas production 311.65 terawatt-hours (2025)
- Fossil fuel production per person, by fuel 212.9 kilowatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel 311.65 terawatt-hours (2025)
- Gas production per person 212.9 kilowatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gas production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is energy intensity in India?
- Energy intensity in India was 4.21 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 India?
- The highest recorded value was 7.01 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2000.
- What is the lowest energy intensity recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.21 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2021.
- How does India rank for energy intensity?
- India ranks 91st out of 201 countries with data for 2021.
- Is energy intensity rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this India 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.