Energy intensity in Japan
Japan: Energy intensity was 3.15 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2022. ▼ Falling
Energy intensity in Japan, 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
Japan recorded 3.15 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices for energy intensity in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 23 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.1% on the previous year and down 17.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, energy intensity in Japan peaked at 4.7 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2000 and was at its lowest, 3.15 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices, in 2022.
Japan ranks 132nd of 201 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.
Energy intensity in Japan, year by year
| Year | megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 4.7 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | — |
| 2001 | 4.6 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.1% |
| 2002 | 4.62 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 4.52 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.2% |
| 2004 | 4.56 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 4.46 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.2% |
| 2006 | 4.4 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.3% |
| 2007 | 4.3 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.3% |
| 2008 | 4.19 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.6% |
| 2009 | 4.26 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.7% |
| 2010 | 4.3 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.9% |
| 2011 | 3.98 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -7.4% |
| 2012 | 3.83 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -3.8% |
| 2013 | 3.78 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.3% |
| 2014 | 3.64 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -3.7% |
| 2015 | 3.53 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -3.0% |
| 2016 | 3.48 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.4% |
| 2017 | 3.44 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.1% |
| 2018 | 3.36 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.3% |
| 2019 | 3.29 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.1% |
| 2020 | 3.2 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.7% |
| 2021 | 3.25 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.6% |
| 2022 | 3.15 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -3.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 4.46 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 4.19 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 4.7 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.66 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 3.29 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 4.3 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.2 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 3.15 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 3.25 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 3 |
Countries ranked near Japan
- 129 Norway 3.21 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 130 Chile 3.19 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 131 Gambia 3.16 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 132 Slovenia 3.15 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 134 Poland 3.13 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 135 Hungary 3.12 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
More energy & mining data for Japan
- 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 (2025)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fuel imports 19.6% (2025)
- Ores and metals imports 7.0% (2025)
- Ores and metals exports 3.6% (2025)
- Gas production 22.04 terawatt-hours (2024)
- Fossil fuel production per person, by fuel 178.13 kilowatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel 22.04 terawatt-hours (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is energy intensity in Japan?
- Energy intensity in Japan was 3.15 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 Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 4.7 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2000.
- What is the lowest energy intensity recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.15 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2022.
- How does Japan rank for energy intensity?
- Japan ranks 132nd out of 201 countries with data for 2022.
- Is energy intensity rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Japan 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.