Primary energy use in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Primary energy use was 1,748 terawatt-hours in 2025. ▼ Falling
Primary energy use in United Kingdom, 1965–2025
Source: Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017); U.S. Energy Information Administration (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in terawatt-hours.
Analysis
United Kingdom recorded 1,748 terawatt-hours for primary energy use in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 61 years on record.
The figure is down 1.3% on the previous year and down 21.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary energy use in United Kingdom peaked at 2,720 terawatt-hours in 2005 and was at its lowest, 1,748 terawatt-hours, in 2025.
United Kingdom ranks 16th of 218 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 61 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2,373 terawatt-hours | 2,310 terawatt-hours | 2,498 terawatt-hours | 5 |
| 1970s | 2,520 terawatt-hours | 2,387 terawatt-hours | 2,665 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1980s | 2,386 terawatt-hours | 2,285 terawatt-hours | 2,493 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1990s | 2,595 terawatt-hours | 2,511 terawatt-hours | 2,687 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 2,636 terawatt-hours | 2,413 terawatt-hours | 2,720 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 2,250 terawatt-hours | 2,080 terawatt-hours | 2,465 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,814 terawatt-hours | 1,748 terawatt-hours | 1,874 terawatt-hours | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More energy & mining data for United Kingdom
- Fuel imports 8.2% (2025)
- Ores and metals imports 3.3% (2025)
- Ores and metals exports 5.7% (2025)
- Gas production 299.32 terawatt-hours (2025)
- Fossil fuel production per person, by fuel 4,304 kilowatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel 299.32 terawatt-hours (2025)
- Gas production per person 4,304 kilowatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fuel exports 7.1% (2025)
- Electric power transmission and distribution losses 9.9% (2024)
- Share of dietary energy supply from carbohydrates vs. GDP per capita 49.5% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is primary energy use in United Kingdom?
- Primary energy use in United Kingdom was 1,748 terawatt-hours in 2025, according to Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017); U.S. Energy Information Administration (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest primary energy use recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 2,720 terawatt-hours in 2005.
- What is the lowest primary energy use recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,748 terawatt-hours in 2025.
- How does United Kingdom rank for primary energy use?
- United Kingdom ranks 16th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is primary energy use rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.2%. 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); Smil (2017); U.S. Energy Information Administration (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Primary energy use. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 61 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Measured in terawatt-hours of total energy supply.