Energy intensity in Iran
Iran: Energy intensity was 2.22 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 2022. ▲ Rising
Latest (2022)
2.22 kilowatt-hours per dollar
Change on year
up 0.9%
World rank
12th
of 166 countries
All-time high
2.5 kilowatt-hours per dollar
in 1990
All-time low
0.782 kilowatt-hours per dollar
in 1969
Years of data
58
1965–2022
Energy intensity in Iran, 1965–2022
Source: Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in kilowatt-hours per dollar.
Analysis
In 2022, energy intensity in Iran stood at 2.22 kilowatt-hours per dollar.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.9% on the previous year and up 15.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, energy intensity in Iran peaked at 2.5 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 1990 and was at its lowest, 0.782 kilowatt-hours per dollar, in 1969.
That places Iran 12th out of 166 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 58 years of available data.
Energy intensity in Iran, year by year
| Year | kilowatt-hours per dollar | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 0.858 kilowatt-hours per dollar | — |
| 1966 | 0.8502 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -0.9% |
| 1967 | 0.8413 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -1.0% |
| 1968 | 0.8044 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -4.4% |
| 1969 | 0.782 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -2.8% |
| 1970 | 0.8367 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +7.0% |
| 1971 | 0.8159 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -2.5% |
| 1972 | 0.792 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -2.9% |
| 1973 | 0.8806 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +11.2% |
| 1974 | 0.9178 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +4.2% |
| 1975 | 1.02 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +11.4% |
| 1976 | 0.9824 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -3.9% |
| 1977 | 1.13 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +14.9% |
| 1978 | 1.24 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +9.6% |
| 1979 | 1.47 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +18.9% |
| 1980 | 1.58 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +7.6% |
| 1981 | 1.63 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +3.2% |
| 1982 | 1.6 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -2.3% |
| 1983 | 1.68 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +5.4% |
| 1984 | 1.79 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +6.6% |
| 1985 | 1.91 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +6.7% |
| 1986 | 1.97 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +2.9% |
| 1987 | 2.14 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +8.8% |
| 1988 | 2.31 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +8.0% |
| 1989 | 2.45 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +5.9% |
| 1990 | 2.5 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +2.1% |
| 1991 | 2.31 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -7.7% |
| 1992 | 2.25 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -2.7% |
| 1993 | 2.1 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -6.8% |
| 1994 | 2.37 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +13.2% |
| 1995 | 2.38 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +0.3% |
| 1996 | 2.34 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -1.5% |
| 1997 | 2.29 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -2.3% |
| 1998 | 2.26 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -1.5% |
| 1999 | 2.34 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +3.9% |
| 2000 | 2.33 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -0.5% |
| 2001 | 2.33 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -0.0% |
| 2002 | 2.31 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -1.0% |
| 2003 | 2.1 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -9.0% |
| 2004 | 2.13 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +1.4% |
| 2005 | 2.11 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -1.2% |
| 2006 | 2.1 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -0.4% |
| 2007 | 2.02 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -3.6% |
| 2008 | 2.04 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +0.9% |
| 2009 | 1.96 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -3.9% |
| 2010 | 1.86 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -5.0% |
| 2011 | 1.88 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +1.2% |
| 2012 | 1.93 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +2.2% |
| 2013 | 2.06 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +6.9% |
| 2014 | 2.04 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -0.8% |
| 2015 | 2.06 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +0.8% |
| 2016 | 2.05 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 2.02 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -1.6% |
| 2018 | 2.09 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +3.9% |
| 2019 | 2.25 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +7.6% |
| 2020 | 2.34 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +3.8% |
| 2021 | 2.2 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -6.1% |
| 2022 | 2.22 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +0.9% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 2.22 kilowatt-hours per dollar is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.11 kilowatt-hours per dollar, 2.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Iran's 2.22 kilowatt-hours per dollar is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1.23 kilowatt-hours per dollar, 1.8× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.8272 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 0.782 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 0.858 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 5 |
| 1970s | 1.01 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 0.792 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 1.47 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.91 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 1.58 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 2.45 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.31 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 2.1 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 2.5 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.14 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 1.96 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 2.33 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.02 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 1.86 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 2.25 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.25 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 2.2 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 2.34 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 3 |
Countries ranked near Iran
More energy & mining data for Iran
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate 0.5768 % 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 2.0% (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is energy intensity in Iran?
- Energy intensity in Iran was 2.22 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 2022, according to Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest energy intensity recorded in Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 2.5 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 1990.
- What is the lowest energy intensity recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.782 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 1969.
- How does Iran rank for energy intensity?
- Iran ranks 12th out of 166 countries with data for 2022.
- Is energy intensity rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iran data come from?
- The figures come from Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Energy intensity. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Measured in kilowatt-hours of total energy supply per international-$ of GDP.