Energy intensity in United States
United States: Energy intensity was 1.31 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 2022. ▼ Falling
Energy intensity in United States, 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 States stood at 1.31 kilowatt-hours per dollar. That is the lowest value across all 58 years on record.
The figure is down 0.4% on the previous year and down 15.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, energy intensity in United States peaked at 3.61 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 1970 and was at its lowest, 1.31 kilowatt-hours per dollar, in 2022.
United States ranks 43rd 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 | 3.4 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 3.35 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 3.48 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 5 |
| 1970s | 3.41 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 3.13 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 3.61 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.62 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 2.44 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 3.01 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.28 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 2.06 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 2.41 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.85 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 1.67 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 2.03 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.53 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 1.4 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 1.69 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.32 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 1.31 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 1.33 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 3 |
Countries ranked near United States
- 40 Lebanon 1.36 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
- 41 Czechia 1.35 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
- 42 Bolivia 1.32 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
- 44 Mauritania 1.29 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
- 45 Finland 1.29 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
- 46 Vietnam 1.27 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
More energy & mining data for United States
- Fuel imports 7.5% (2024)
- Ores and metals imports 2.1% (2024)
- Ores and metals exports 2.9% (2024)
- Gas production 10,737 terawatt-hours (2025)
- Fossil fuel production per person, by fuel 30,919 kilowatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel 10,737 terawatt-hours (2025)
- Gas production per person 30,919 kilowatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fuel exports 18.3% (2024)
- Electric power transmission and distribution losses 5.3% (2024)
- Share of dietary energy supply from carbohydrates vs. GDP per capita 45.6% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is energy intensity in United States?
- Energy intensity in United States was 1.31 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 States?
- The highest recorded value was 3.61 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 1970.
- What is the lowest energy intensity recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.31 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 2022.
- How does United States rank for energy intensity?
- United States ranks 43rd out of 165 countries with data for 2022.
- Is energy intensity rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United States 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.