Energy intensity in United States of America
United States of America: Energy intensity was 4.17 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2022. ▼ Falling
Energy intensity in United States of America, 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 United States of America is 4.17 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices, measured in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 23 years on record.
The figure is down 1.7% on the previous year and down 18.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, energy intensity in United States of America peaked at 6.72 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2000 and was at its lowest, 4.17 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices, in 2022.
That places United States of America 94th out of 201 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 23 years of available data.
Energy intensity in United States of America, year by year
| Year | megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 6.72 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | — |
| 2001 | 6.53 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.8% |
| 2002 | 6.5 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -0.5% |
| 2003 | 6.33 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.6% |
| 2004 | 6.23 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.6% |
| 2005 | 6.04 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -3.0% |
| 2006 | 5.82 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -3.6% |
| 2007 | 5.81 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 5.65 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.8% |
| 2009 | 5.52 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.3% |
| 2010 | 5.5 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -0.4% |
| 2011 | 5.34 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.9% |
| 2012 | 5.13 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -3.9% |
| 2013 | 5.12 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 5.07 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.0% |
| 2015 | 4.88 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -3.7% |
| 2016 | 4.75 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.7% |
| 2017 | 4.63 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.5% |
| 2018 | 4.62 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 4.51 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.4% |
| 2020 | 4.27 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -5.3% |
| 2021 | 4.24 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -0.7% |
| 2022 | 4.17 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 6.12 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 5.52 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 6.72 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.96 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 4.51 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 5.5 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.23 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 4.17 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 4.27 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 3 |
Countries ranked near United States of America
- 91 India 4.21 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 91 Pakistan 4.21 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 93 Chad 4.2 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 94 Myanmar 4.17 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 96 Australia 4.12 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 96 Estonia 4.12 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
More energy & mining data for United States of America
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate 1.94 % 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 0.0001 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 7.5% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is energy intensity in United States of America?
- Energy intensity in United States of America was 4.17 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 United States of America?
- The highest recorded value was 6.72 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2000.
- What is the lowest energy intensity recorded in United States of America?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.17 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2022.
- How does United States of America rank for energy intensity?
- United States of America ranks 94th out of 201 countries with data for 2022.
- Is energy intensity rising or falling in United States of America?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United States of America 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.