Energy intensity in Kenya
Kenya: Energy intensity was 0.4588 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 2022. ▼ Falling
Latest (2022)
0.4588 kilowatt-hours per dollar
Change on year
down 4.7%
World rank
153rd
of 166 countries
All-time high
0.9969 kilowatt-hours per dollar
in 1980
All-time low
0.4588 kilowatt-hours per dollar
in 2022
Years of data
43
1980–2022
Energy intensity in Kenya, 1980–2022
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 Kenya stood at 0.4588 kilowatt-hours per dollar. That is the lowest value across all 43 years on record.
The figure is down 4.7% on the previous year and down 5.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, energy intensity in Kenya peaked at 0.9969 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 1980 and was at its lowest, 0.4588 kilowatt-hours per dollar, in 2022.
Kenya ranks 153rd of 166 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 43 years of available data.
Energy intensity in Kenya, year by year
| Year | kilowatt-hours per dollar | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 0.9969 kilowatt-hours per dollar | — |
| 1981 | 0.9571 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -4.0% |
| 1982 | 0.8949 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -6.5% |
| 1983 | 0.8519 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -4.8% |
| 1984 | 0.8333 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -2.2% |
| 1985 | 0.8268 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -0.8% |
| 1986 | 0.8096 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -2.1% |
| 1987 | 0.6879 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -15.0% |
| 1988 | 0.7309 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +6.2% |
| 1989 | 0.7563 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +3.5% |
| 1990 | 0.7303 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -3.4% |
| 1991 | 0.64 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -12.4% |
| 1992 | 0.6999 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +9.4% |
| 1993 | 0.7061 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +0.9% |
| 1994 | 0.6912 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -2.1% |
| 1995 | 0.6919 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 0.6794 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -1.8% |
| 1997 | 0.6139 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -9.6% |
| 1998 | 0.6536 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +6.5% |
| 1999 | 0.6159 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -5.8% |
| 2000 | 0.6967 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +13.1% |
| 2001 | 0.6331 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -9.1% |
| 2002 | 0.6311 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 0.5533 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -12.3% |
| 2004 | 0.5724 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +3.5% |
| 2005 | 0.581 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +1.5% |
| 2006 | 0.5957 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +2.5% |
| 2007 | 0.5468 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -8.2% |
| 2008 | 0.5434 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -0.6% |
| 2009 | 0.5777 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +6.3% |
| 2010 | 0.5569 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -3.6% |
| 2011 | 0.5347 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -4.0% |
| 2012 | 0.4852 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -9.3% |
| 2013 | 0.5037 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +3.8% |
| 2014 | 0.5069 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 0.5616 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +10.8% |
| 2016 | 0.5745 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +2.3% |
| 2017 | 0.5604 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -2.4% |
| 2018 | 0.5153 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -8.1% |
| 2019 | 0.5102 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -1.0% |
| 2020 | 0.4864 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -4.7% |
| 2021 | 0.4816 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -1.0% |
| 2022 | 0.4588 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -4.7% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 0.4588 kilowatt-hours per dollar is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 0.8261 kilowatt-hours per dollar, 56% of the median. (41 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 0.4588 kilowatt-hours per dollar is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.6483 kilowatt-hours per dollar, 71% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.8346 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 0.6879 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 0.9969 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.6722 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 0.6139 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 0.7303 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.5931 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 0.5434 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 0.6967 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.531 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 0.4852 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 0.5745 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.4756 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 0.4588 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 0.4864 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 3 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
- 150 Nigeria 0.4649 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
- 151 Gabon 0.4617 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
- 152 Myanmar 0.4605 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
- 154 Switzerland 0.4546 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
- 155 Gambia 0.4509 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
- 156 Burundi 0.4458 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
More energy & mining data for Kenya
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate 6.22 % change on previous year (2024)
- Coal consumption, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Coal consumption, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary energy use, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary energy use, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- 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 23.5% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is energy intensity in Kenya?
- Energy intensity in Kenya was 0.4588 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 Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 0.9969 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 1980.
- What is the lowest energy intensity recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.4588 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 2022.
- How does Kenya rank for energy intensity?
- Kenya ranks 153rd out of 166 countries with data for 2022.
- Is energy intensity rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Kenya 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.
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About this data
Measured in kilowatt-hours of total energy supply per international-$ of GDP.