Energy intensity in Portugal
Portugal: Energy intensity was 2.31 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2022. ▼ Falling
Energy intensity in Portugal, 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 Portugal is 2.31 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices, measured in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 23 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.5% on the previous year and down 18.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, energy intensity in Portugal peaked at 3.39 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2005 and was at its lowest, 2.31 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices, in 2022.
Portugal ranks 170th of 201 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 23 years of available data.
Energy intensity in Portugal, year by year
| Year | megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 3.29 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | — |
| 2001 | 3.25 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.2% |
| 2002 | 3.36 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.4% |
| 2003 | 3.3 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.8% |
| 2004 | 3.33 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 3.39 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.8% |
| 2006 | 3.17 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -6.5% |
| 2007 | 3.12 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.6% |
| 2008 | 3.03 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.9% |
| 2009 | 3.08 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.7% |
| 2010 | 2.92 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -5.2% |
| 2011 | 2.89 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.0% |
| 2012 | 2.83 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.1% |
| 2013 | 2.86 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 2.8 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.1% |
| 2015 | 2.85 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.8% |
| 2016 | 2.77 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.8% |
| 2017 | 2.8 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.1% |
| 2018 | 2.63 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -6.1% |
| 2019 | 2.53 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -3.8% |
| 2020 | 2.56 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.2% |
| 2021 | 2.42 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -5.5% |
| 2022 | 2.31 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -4.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3.23 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 3.03 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 3.39 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.79 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 2.53 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 2.92 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.43 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 2.31 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 2.56 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 3 |
Countries ranked near Portugal
- 167 Bahamas 2.42 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 167 Timor-Leste 2.42 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 169 Cyprus 2.36 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 171 Israel 2.3 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 171 Italy 2.3 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 171 Peru 2.3 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
More energy & mining data for Portugal
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate 1.67 % 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 (2024)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fuel imports 8.5% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is energy intensity in Portugal?
- Energy intensity in Portugal was 2.31 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 Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 3.39 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2005.
- What is the lowest energy intensity recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.31 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2022.
- How does Portugal rank for energy intensity?
- Portugal ranks 170th out of 201 countries with data for 2022.
- Is energy intensity rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Portugal 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.