Energy intensity in USSR
USSR: Energy intensity was 5.87 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 1991. ▲ Rising
Energy intensity in USSR, 1965–1991
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 1991, energy intensity in USSR stood at 5.87 kilowatt-hours per dollar. That is the highest value across all 27 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.6% on the previous year and up 20.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, energy intensity in USSR peaked at 5.87 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 1991 and was at its lowest, 3.96 kilowatt-hours per dollar, in 1968.
That places USSR 1st out of 166 countries with data for 1991, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 27 years of available data.
Energy intensity in USSR, year by year
| Year | kilowatt-hours per dollar | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 3.97 kilowatt-hours per dollar | — |
| 1966 | 4.02 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +1.3% |
| 1967 | 4.05 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +0.9% |
| 1968 | 3.96 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -2.3% |
| 1969 | 4.08 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +3.0% |
| 1970 | 3.98 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -2.6% |
| 1971 | 4.07 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +2.3% |
| 1972 | 4.26 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +4.7% |
| 1973 | 4.14 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -2.9% |
| 1974 | 4.24 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +2.5% |
| 1975 | 4.45 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +4.9% |
| 1976 | 4.41 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -0.8% |
| 1977 | 4.5 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +2.0% |
| 1978 | 4.57 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +1.5% |
| 1979 | 4.72 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +3.3% |
| 1980 | 4.81 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +2.0% |
| 1981 | 4.87 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +1.2% |
| 1982 | 4.88 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +0.3% |
| 1983 | 4.83 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -1.1% |
| 1984 | 4.94 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +2.3% |
| 1985 | 5.63 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +14.0% |
| 1986 | 5.52 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -1.9% |
| 1987 | 5.64 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +2.1% |
| 1988 | 5.69 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +0.8% |
| 1989 | 5.6 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -1.6% |
| 1990 | 5.67 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +1.3% |
| 1991 | 5.87 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +3.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 4.02 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 3.96 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 4.08 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 5 |
| 1970s | 4.33 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 3.98 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 4.72 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 10 |
| 1980s | 5.24 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 4.81 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 5.69 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.77 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 5.67 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 5.87 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 2 |
Countries ranked near USSR
- 2 Iceland 5.35 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
- 3 Turkmenistan 4.68 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
- 4 Trinidad and Tobago 4.61 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
More energy & mining data for USSR
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate -1.57 % change on previous year (1991)
- Gas production 5,564 terawatt-hours (1984)
- Fossil fuel production per person, by fuel 20,217 kilowatt-hours per person (1984)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel 5,564 terawatt-hours (1984)
- Gas production per person 20,217 kilowatt-hours per person (1984)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate -1.57 % change on previous year (1991)
- Fossil fuel consumption, annual growth rate 2.84 % change on previous year (1984)
- Annual change in primary energy use, annual growth rate -34.91 % change on previous year (1991)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate -1.57 % change on previous year (1991)
- Oil consumption, annual growth rate 0.0144 % change on previous year (1984)
Frequently asked questions
- What is energy intensity in USSR?
- Energy intensity in USSR was 5.87 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 1991, 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 USSR?
- The highest recorded value was 5.87 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 1991.
- What is the lowest energy intensity recorded in USSR?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.96 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 1968.
- How does USSR rank for energy intensity?
- USSR ranks 1st out of 166 countries with data for 1991.
- Is energy intensity rising or falling in USSR?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this USSR 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.