Energy intensity in New Zealand
New Zealand: Energy intensity was 1.24 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 2022. ▼ Falling
Energy intensity in New Zealand, 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
New Zealand recorded 1.24 kilowatt-hours per dollar for energy intensity in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 58 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.5% on the previous year and down 24.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, energy intensity in New Zealand peaked at 2.18 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 1992 and was at its lowest, 1.24 kilowatt-hours per dollar, in 2022.
New Zealand ranks 48th of 165 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 58 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.65 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 1.6 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 1.72 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 5 |
| 1970s | 1.75 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 1.67 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 1.88 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.76 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 1.6 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 1.98 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.04 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 1.94 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 2.18 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.7 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 1.54 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 1.93 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.61 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 1.49 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 1.68 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.31 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 1.24 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 1.39 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 3 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
- 45 Finland 1.29 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
- 46 Vietnam 1.27 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
- 47 Armenia 1.25 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
- 49 Algeria 1.23 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
- 50 Thailand 1.23 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
- 51 Slovakia 1.2 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
More energy & mining data for New Zealand
- Fuel imports 12.0% (2025)
- Ores and metals imports 2.1% (2025)
- Ores and metals exports 3.2% (2025)
- Gas production 35.27 terawatt-hours (2024)
- Fossil fuel production per person, by fuel 6,765 kilowatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel 35.27 terawatt-hours (2024)
- Gas production per person 6,765 kilowatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fuel exports 0.9% (2025)
- Electric power transmission and distribution losses 6.7% (2024)
- Share of dietary energy supply from carbohydrates vs. GDP per capita 56.8% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is energy intensity in New Zealand?
- Energy intensity in New Zealand was 1.24 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 New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 2.18 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 1992.
- What is the lowest energy intensity recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.24 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 2022.
- How does New Zealand rank for energy intensity?
- New Zealand ranks 48th out of 165 countries with data for 2022.
- Is energy intensity rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this New Zealand 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
CSV · JSON — 58 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Measured in kilowatt-hours of total energy supply per international-$ of GDP.