Energy intensity in New Zealand
New Zealand: Energy intensity was 3.52 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2022. ▼ Falling
Energy intensity in New Zealand, 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 New Zealand is 3.52 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices, measured in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 23 years on record.
The figure is down 6.6% on the previous year and down 25.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, energy intensity in New Zealand peaked at 5.74 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2000 and was at its lowest, 3.52 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices, in 2022.
New Zealand ranks 115th 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 New Zealand, year by year
| Year | megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 5.74 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | — |
| 2001 | 5.61 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.3% |
| 2002 | 5.35 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -4.6% |
| 2003 | 5.05 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -5.6% |
| 2004 | 4.94 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.2% |
| 2005 | 4.66 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -5.7% |
| 2006 | 4.54 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.6% |
| 2007 | 4.45 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.0% |
| 2008 | 4.52 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.6% |
| 2009 | 4.6 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.8% |
| 2010 | 4.68 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.7% |
| 2011 | 4.6 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.7% |
| 2012 | 4.73 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +2.8% |
| 2013 | 4.68 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.1% |
| 2014 | 4.74 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.3% |
| 2015 | 4.62 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.5% |
| 2016 | 4.4 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -4.8% |
| 2017 | 4.25 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -3.4% |
| 2018 | 4.04 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -4.9% |
| 2019 | 4.05 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 3.94 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.7% |
| 2021 | 3.77 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -4.3% |
| 2022 | 3.52 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -6.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 4.95 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 4.45 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 5.74 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.48 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 4.04 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 4.74 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.74 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 3.52 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 3.94 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 3 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
- 113 Senegal 3.58 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 114 Lebanon 3.55 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 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
More energy & mining data for New Zealand
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate 1.2 % change on previous year (2025)
- Coal consumption, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal consumption, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (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)
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fuel imports 12.0% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is energy intensity in New Zealand?
- Energy intensity in New Zealand was 3.52 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 New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 5.74 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2000.
- What is the lowest energy intensity recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.52 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2022.
- How does New Zealand rank for energy intensity?
- New Zealand ranks 115th out of 201 countries with data for 2022.
- Is energy intensity rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this New Zealand 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.