Renewable electricity output in World

World: Renewable electricity output was 27.8% in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
27.8%
Change on year
down 0.6%
Rank
28th
of 45 groups
All-time high
28.0%
in 2020
All-time low
17.8%
in 2003
Years of data
32
1990–2021

Renewable electricity output in World, 1990–2021

01020301990200520211990: 19.3 % of total electricity output1991: 19.1 % of total electricity output1992: 19.1 % of total electricity output1993: 19.7 % of total electricity output1994: 19.5 % of total electricity output1995: 19.8 % of total electricity output1996: 19.4 % of total electricity output1997: 19.3 % of total electricity output1998: 19 % of total electricity output1999: 18.6 % of total electricity output2000: 18.9 % of total electricity output2001: 18.4 % of total electricity output2002: 18.3 % of total electricity output2003: 17.8 % of total electricity output2004: 18.3 % of total electricity output2005: 18.4 % of total electricity output2006: 18.5 % of total electricity output2007: 18.3 % of total electricity output2008: 19 % of total electricity output2009: 19.7 % of total electricity output2010: 19.9 % of total electricity output2011: 20.1 % of total electricity output2012: 21.2 % of total electricity output2013: 21.8 % of total electricity output2014: 22.4 % of total electricity output2015: 23 % of total electricity output2016: 23.9 % of total electricity output2017: 24.5 % of total electricity output2018: 25.2 % of total electricity output2019: 26.1 % of total electricity output2020: 28 % of total electricity output2021: 27.8 % of total electricity output

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

Analysis

World recorded 27.8% for renewable electricity output in 2021.

That represents a change of down 0.6% on the previous year and up 38.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, renewable electricity output in World peaked at 28.0% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 17.8%, in 2003.

World ranks 28th of 45 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.

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

Renewable electricity output in World, year by year

Annual values for Renewable electricity output (% of total electricity output) in World, 1990 to 2021.
Year % of total electricity output Change
1990 19.3%
1991 19.1% -0.7%
1992 19.1% -0.4%
1993 19.7% +3.3%
1994 19.5% -1.3%
1995 19.8% +1.6%
1996 19.4% -1.7%
1997 19.3% -0.6%
1998 19.0% -1.8%
1999 18.6% -1.9%
2000 18.9% +1.5%
2001 18.4% -2.6%
2002 18.3% -0.4%
2003 17.8% -2.8%
2004 18.3% +2.5%
2005 18.4% +0.8%
2006 18.5% +0.6%
2007 18.3% -1.2%
2008 19.0% +4.0%
2009 19.7% +3.8%
2010 19.9% +0.7%
2011 20.1% +1.3%
2012 21.2% +5.3%
2013 21.8% +2.8%
2014 22.4% +3.0%
2015 23.0% +2.5%
2016 23.9% +3.9%
2017 24.5% +2.6%
2018 25.2% +2.7%
2019 26.1% +4.0%
2020 28.0% +7.1%
2021 27.8% -0.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 19.3% 18.6% 19.8% 10
2000s 18.6% 17.8% 19.7% 10
2010s 22.8% 19.9% 26.1% 10
2020s 27.9% 27.8% 28.0% 2

Countries ranked near World

  1. 25 Eswatini 83.1% compare
  2. 26 Mozambique 82.7% compare
  3. 27 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 81.7% compare
  4. 28 New Zealand 81.4% compare
  5. 29 Georgia 81.4% compare
  6. 30 Ecuador 80.9% compare
  7. 31 Malawi 80.1% compare

See the full ranking of 256 places →

More energy & mining data for World

All data for World →

Frequently asked questions

What is renewable electricity output in World?
Renewable electricity output in World was 27.8% in 2021, according to IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, International Energy Agency (IEA).
What is the highest renewable electricity output recorded in World?
The highest recorded value was 28.0% in 2020.
What is the lowest renewable electricity output recorded in World?
The lowest recorded value was 17.8% in 2003.
How does World rank for renewable electricity output?
World ranks 28th out of 45 groups with data for 2021.
Is renewable electricity output rising or falling in World?
Over the last ten years it is up 38.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this World 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 World. Statizoid, drawing on IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, International Energy Agency (IEA). Retrieved 30 August 2026, from https://energy.statizoid.com/stat/renewable-electricity-output-percent-of-total-electricity-output/world/

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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
256 places, 7,291 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.