Renewable electricity output in European Union

European Union: Renewable electricity output was 37.8% in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
37.8%
Change on year
down 3.1%
Rank
12th
of 47 groups
All-time high
39.0%
in 2020
All-time low
13.3%
in 1990
Years of data
32
1990–2021

Renewable electricity output in European Union, 1990–2021

102030401990200520211990: 13.3 % of total electricity output1991: 13.7 % of total electricity output1992: 14.3 % of total electricity output1993: 14.8 % of total electricity output1994: 15.1 % of total electricity output1995: 14.7 % of total electricity output1996: 14.3 % of total electricity output1997: 14.7 % of total electricity output1998: 15.1 % of total electricity output1999: 15 % of total electricity output2000: 16.4 % of total electricity output2001: 17 % of total electricity output2002: 15.3 % of total electricity output2003: 15.1 % of total electricity output2004: 16.2 % of total electricity output2005: 16.3 % of total electricity output2006: 16.8 % of total electricity output2007: 17.6 % of total electricity output2008: 19 % of total electricity output2009: 21.1 % of total electricity output2010: 22.9 % of total electricity output2011: 22.8 % of total electricity output2012: 25.7 % of total electricity output2013: 28.6 % of total electricity output2014: 30.3 % of total electricity output2015: 30.4 % of total electricity output2016: 30.7 % of total electricity output2017: 30.5 % of total electricity output2018: 32.8 % of total electricity output2019: 34.5 % of total electricity output2020: 39 % of total electricity output2021: 37.8 % of total electricity output

Source: IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, International Energy Agency (IEA). Measured in % of total electricity output.

Analysis

In 2021, renewable electricity output in European Union stood at 37.8%.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.1% on the previous year and up 65.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, renewable electricity output in European Union peaked at 39.0% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 13.3%, in 1990.

European Union ranks 12th of 47 groups on this measure, in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 32 years of available data.

Renewable electricity output in European Union, year by year

Annual values for Renewable electricity output (% of total electricity output) in European Union, 1990 to 2021.
Year % of total electricity output Change
1990 13.3%
1991 13.7% +2.5%
1992 14.3% +4.8%
1993 14.8% +3.1%
1994 15.1% +1.9%
1995 14.7% -2.2%
1996 14.3% -2.9%
1997 14.7% +2.8%
1998 15.1% +2.6%
1999 15.0% -0.5%
2000 16.4% +9.3%
2001 17.0% +3.7%
2002 15.3% -9.7%
2003 15.1% -1.6%
2004 16.2% +7.5%
2005 16.3% +0.3%
2006 16.8% +3.1%
2007 17.6% +5.0%
2008 19.0% +7.7%
2009 21.1% +10.8%
2010 22.9% +8.5%
2011 22.8% -0.2%
2012 25.7% +12.8%
2013 28.6% +11.2%
2014 30.3% +5.8%
2015 30.4% +0.4%
2016 30.7% +1.0%
2017 30.5% -0.6%
2018 32.8% +7.6%
2019 34.5% +5.1%
2020 39.0% +13.0%
2021 37.8% -3.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 14.5% 13.3% 15.1% 10
2000s 17.1% 15.1% 21.1% 10
2010s 28.9% 22.8% 34.5% 10
2020s 38.4% 37.8% 39.0% 2

Countries ranked near European Union

  1. 9 El Salvador 95.6% compare
  2. 10 Ethiopia 95.4% compare
  3. 11 Tajikistan 93.4% compare
  4. 12 Namibia 93.4% compare
  5. 13 Andorra 93.3% compare
  6. 14 Belize 92.9% compare
  7. 15 Zambia 92.0% compare

See the full ranking of 257 places →

More energy & mining data for European Union

All data for European Union →

Frequently asked questions

What is renewable electricity output in European Union?
Renewable electricity output in European Union was 37.8% in 2021, according to IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, International Energy Agency (IEA).
What is the highest renewable electricity output recorded in European Union?
The highest recorded value was 39.0% in 2020.
What is the lowest renewable electricity output recorded in European Union?
The lowest recorded value was 13.3% in 1990.
How does European Union rank for renewable electricity output?
European Union ranks 12th out of 47 groups with data for 2021.
Is renewable electricity output rising or falling in European Union?
Over the last ten years it is up 65.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this European Union data come from?
The figures come from IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, International Energy Agency (IEA), published as part of Renewable electricity output (% of total electricity output). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Renewable electricity output in European Union. Statizoid, drawing on IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, International Energy Agency (IEA). Retrieved 09 September 2026, from https://energy.statizoid.com/stat/renewable-electricity-output-percent-of-total-electricity-output/european-union/

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About this data

Indicator
Renewable electricity output (% of total electricity output)
Unit
% of total electricity output
Source
IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, International Energy Agency (IEA)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
257 places, 7,313 data points, 1990–2021
Last refreshed

Renewable electricity is the share of electricity generated by renewable power plants in total electricity generated by all types of plants.