Energy intensity in Kenya
Kenya: Energy intensity was 4.76 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2021. ▼ Falling
Energy intensity in Kenya, 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 Kenya is 4.76 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices, measured in 2021. That is the lowest value across all 22 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.0% on the previous year and down 6.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, energy intensity in Kenya peaked at 5.73 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2000 and was at its lowest, 4.76 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices, in 2021.
Kenya ranks 75th 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 Kenya, year by year
| Year | megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 5.73 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | — |
| 2001 | 5.57 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.8% |
| 2002 | 5.62 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.9% |
| 2003 | 5.48 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.5% |
| 2004 | 5.57 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.6% |
| 2005 | 5.48 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.6% |
| 2006 | 5.4 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.5% |
| 2007 | 5.16 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -4.4% |
| 2008 | 5.3 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +2.7% |
| 2009 | 5.44 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +2.6% |
| 2010 | 5.18 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -4.8% |
| 2011 | 5.1 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.5% |
| 2012 | 4.9 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -3.9% |
| 2013 | 4.96 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.2% |
| 2014 | 5.13 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.4% |
| 2015 | 5.34 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +4.1% |
| 2016 | 5.27 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.3% |
| 2017 | 5.24 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 5.09 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.9% |
| 2019 | 4.93 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -3.1% |
| 2020 | 4.96 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.6% |
| 2021 | 4.76 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -4.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 5.47 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 5.16 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 5.73 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.11 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 4.9 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 5.34 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.86 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 4.76 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 4.96 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 2 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
- 72 Sudan 4.83 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 73 Finland 4.82 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 74 Benin 4.79 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 76 Suriname 4.74 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 77 Bulgaria 4.72 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 78 Kyrgyzstan 4.69 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 78 Moldova 4.69 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
More energy & mining data for Kenya
- Fuel imports 23.5% (2024)
- Ores and metals imports 1.6% (2024)
- Ores and metals exports 5.1% (2024)
- Gas production 0 terawatt-hours (2024)
- Fossil fuel production per person, by fuel 0 kilowatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel 0 terawatt-hours (2024)
- Gas production per person 0 kilowatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Gas production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is energy intensity in Kenya?
- Energy intensity in Kenya was 4.76 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 Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 5.73 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2000.
- What is the lowest energy intensity recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.76 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2021.
- How does Kenya rank for energy intensity?
- Kenya ranks 75th out of 201 countries with data for 2021.
- Is energy intensity rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Kenya 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.