Energy intensity in Switzerland
Switzerland: Energy intensity was 1.48 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2022. ▼ Falling
Energy intensity in Switzerland, 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
In 2022, energy intensity in Switzerland stood at 1.48 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices. That is the lowest value across all 23 years on record.
The figure is down 3.3% on the previous year and down 26.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, energy intensity in Switzerland peaked at 2.55 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2001 and was at its lowest, 1.48 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices, in 2022.
Switzerland ranks 194th 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 Switzerland, year by year
| Year | megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 2.44 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | — |
| 2001 | 2.55 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +4.5% |
| 2002 | 2.48 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.7% |
| 2003 | 2.49 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 2.44 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.0% |
| 2005 | 2.36 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -3.3% |
| 2006 | 2.36 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 2.16 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -8.5% |
| 2008 | 2.19 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.4% |
| 2009 | 2.25 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +2.7% |
| 2010 | 2.12 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -5.8% |
| 2011 | 2.01 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -5.2% |
| 2012 | 2.01 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 2.05 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +2.0% |
| 2014 | 1.88 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -8.3% |
| 2015 | 1.81 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -3.7% |
| 2016 | 1.72 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -5.0% |
| 2017 | 1.71 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 1.67 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.3% |
| 2019 | 1.69 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 1.65 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.4% |
| 2021 | 1.53 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -7.3% |
| 2022 | 1.48 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -3.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 2.37 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 2.16 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 2.55 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.87 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 1.67 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 2.12 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.55 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 1.48 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 1.65 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 3 |
Countries ranked near Switzerland
- 191 Luxembourg 1.71 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 192 Sri Lanka 1.67 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 193 Bermuda 1.51 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 195 Panama 1.41 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 196 Cuba 1.35 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 197 Malta 1.18 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
More energy & mining data for Switzerland
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate -8.75 % 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 3.2% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is energy intensity in Switzerland?
- Energy intensity in Switzerland was 1.48 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 Switzerland?
- The highest recorded value was 2.55 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2001.
- What is the lowest energy intensity recorded in Switzerland?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.48 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2022.
- How does Switzerland rank for energy intensity?
- Switzerland ranks 194th out of 201 countries with data for 2022.
- Is energy intensity rising or falling in Switzerland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 26.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Switzerland 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.