Energy intensity in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Energy intensity was 1.67 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2021. ▼ Falling
Energy intensity in Sri Lanka, 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 Sri Lanka is 1.67 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices, measured in 2021.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.6% on the previous year and down 16.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, energy intensity in Sri Lanka peaked at 3 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2000 and was at its lowest, 1.55 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices, in 2018.
Sri Lanka ranks 192nd of 201 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 22 years of available data.
Energy intensity in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 3 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | — |
| 2001 | 2.96 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.3% |
| 2002 | 2.9 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.0% |
| 2003 | 2.9 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 2.79 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -3.8% |
| 2005 | 2.68 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -3.9% |
| 2006 | 2.52 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -6.0% |
| 2007 | 2.4 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -4.8% |
| 2008 | 2.21 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -7.9% |
| 2009 | 2.16 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.3% |
| 2010 | 2.14 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -0.9% |
| 2011 | 2 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -6.5% |
| 2012 | 1.89 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -5.5% |
| 2013 | 1.67 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -11.6% |
| 2014 | 1.69 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 1.69 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 1.76 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +4.1% |
| 2017 | 1.59 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -9.7% |
| 2018 | 1.55 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.5% |
| 2019 | 1.61 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.9% |
| 2020 | 1.66 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.1% |
| 2021 | 1.67 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 2.65 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 2.16 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 3 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.76 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 1.55 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 2.14 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.67 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 1.66 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 1.67 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 2 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
- 189 Denmark 1.83 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 190 Andorra 1.81 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 191 Luxembourg 1.71 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 193 Bermuda 1.51 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 194 Switzerland 1.48 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 195 Panama 1.41 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
More energy & mining data for Sri Lanka
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate 4.83 % 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 (2024)
- Fuel imports 21.5% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is energy intensity in Sri Lanka?
- Energy intensity in Sri Lanka was 1.67 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 Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 3 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2000.
- What is the lowest energy intensity recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.55 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2018.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for energy intensity?
- Sri Lanka ranks 192nd out of 201 countries with data for 2021.
- Is energy intensity rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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.