Energy intensity in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Energy intensity was 0.7131 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 2022. ▼ Falling
Latest (2022)
0.7131 kilowatt-hours per dollar
Change on year
down 4.4%
World rank
122nd
of 166 countries
All-time high
2.73 kilowatt-hours per dollar
in 1965
All-time low
0.7131 kilowatt-hours per dollar
in 2022
Years of data
58
1965–2022
Energy intensity in United Kingdom, 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 United Kingdom stood at 0.7131 kilowatt-hours per dollar. That is the lowest value across all 58 years on record.
The figure is down 4.4% on the previous year and down 31.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, energy intensity in United Kingdom peaked at 2.73 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 1965 and was at its lowest, 0.7131 kilowatt-hours per dollar, in 2022.
United Kingdom ranks 122nd of 166 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.
Energy intensity in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | kilowatt-hours per dollar | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 2.73 kilowatt-hours per dollar | — |
| 1966 | 2.7 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -1.3% |
| 1967 | 2.64 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -2.2% |
| 1968 | 2.63 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -0.4% |
| 1969 | 2.68 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +1.8% |
| 1970 | 2.67 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -0.4% |
| 1971 | 2.57 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -3.8% |
| 1972 | 2.52 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -2.0% |
| 1973 | 2.47 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -1.7% |
| 1974 | 2.38 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -3.7% |
| 1975 | 2.25 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -5.6% |
| 1976 | 2.24 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -0.2% |
| 1977 | 2.24 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -0.2% |
| 1978 | 2.17 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -2.9% |
| 1979 | 2.21 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +1.9% |
| 1980 | 2.05 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -7.4% |
| 1981 | 2.02 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -1.5% |
| 1982 | 1.96 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -2.8% |
| 1983 | 1.91 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -3.0% |
| 1984 | 1.86 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -2.4% |
| 1985 | 1.87 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +0.8% |
| 1986 | 1.84 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -1.6% |
| 1987 | 1.76 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -4.7% |
| 1988 | 1.7 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -3.5% |
| 1989 | 1.66 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -1.9% |
| 1990 | 1.67 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +0.3% |
| 1991 | 1.72 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +3.4% |
| 1992 | 1.71 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -0.9% |
| 1993 | 1.69 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -1.1% |
| 1994 | 1.61 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -4.9% |
| 1995 | 1.58 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -2.0% |
| 1996 | 1.62 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +2.5% |
| 1997 | 1.54 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -4.7% |
| 1998 | 1.5 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -2.3% |
| 1999 | 1.45 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -3.6% |
| 2000 | 1.41 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -2.7% |
| 2001 | 1.39 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -1.4% |
| 2002 | 1.33 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -4.5% |
| 2003 | 1.31 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -1.7% |
| 2004 | 1.28 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -1.7% |
| 2005 | 1.26 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -2.1% |
| 2006 | 1.21 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -3.6% |
| 2007 | 1.15 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -5.3% |
| 2008 | 1.13 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -1.3% |
| 2009 | 1.12 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -1.1% |
| 2010 | 1.13 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 1.04 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -7.6% |
| 2012 | 1.04 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 1.03 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -1.7% |
| 2014 | 0.9313 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -9.3% |
| 2015 | 0.9142 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -1.8% |
| 2016 | 0.882 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -3.5% |
| 2017 | 0.8537 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -3.2% |
| 2018 | 0.8324 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -2.5% |
| 2019 | 0.7924 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -4.8% |
| 2020 | 0.7914 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 0.746 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -5.7% |
| 2022 | 0.7131 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -4.4% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 0.7131 kilowatt-hours per dollar is below the median for high income countries, which is 1.01 kilowatt-hours per dollar, 71% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 0.7131 kilowatt-hours per dollar is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.9732 kilowatt-hours per dollar, 73% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.68 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 2.63 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 2.73 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 5 |
| 1970s | 2.37 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 2.17 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 2.67 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.86 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 1.66 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 2.05 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.61 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 1.45 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 1.72 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.26 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 1.12 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 1.41 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.9442 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 0.7924 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 1.13 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.7502 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 0.7131 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 0.7914 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 3 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
- 119 Lithuania 0.7219 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
- 120 Cape Verde 0.7197 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
- 121 Albania 0.7152 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
- 123 Pakistan 0.7089 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
- 124 Sao Tome and Principe 0.7051 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
- 125 Haiti 0.7004 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
More energy & mining data for United Kingdom
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate -1.3 % 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 (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 8.2% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is energy intensity in United Kingdom?
- Energy intensity in United Kingdom was 0.7131 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 2.73 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 1965.
- What is the lowest energy intensity recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.7131 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 2022.
- How does United Kingdom rank for energy intensity?
- United Kingdom ranks 122nd out of 166 countries with data for 2022.
- Is energy intensity rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 31.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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.