Share of electricity generation from fossil fuels in Australia
Australia: Share of electricity generation from fossil fuels was 61.4% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Share of electricity generation from fossil fuels in Australia, 1985–2025
Source: Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Australia recorded 61.4% for share of electricity generation from fossil fuels in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 41 years on record.
The figure is down 5.5% on the previous year and down 28.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of electricity generation from fossil fuels in Australia peaked at 92.3% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 61.4%, in 2025.
Australia ranks 112th of 213 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 41 years of available data.
Share of electricity generation from fossil fuels in Australia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 85.3% | — |
| 1986 | 85.0% | -0.4% |
| 1987 | 86.2% | +1.4% |
| 1988 | 85.9% | -0.4% |
| 1989 | 87.0% | +1.3% |
| 1990 | 89.6% | +3.0% |
| 1991 | 89.5% | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 89.4% | -0.0% |
| 1993 | 89.4% | -0.0% |
| 1994 | 89.9% | +0.5% |
| 1995 | 90.4% | +0.5% |
| 1996 | 90.4% | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 90.8% | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 91.3% | +0.6% |
| 1999 | 91.4% | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 91.9% | +0.6% |
| 2001 | 92.3% | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 92.0% | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 91.7% | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 91.5% | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 91.0% | -0.6% |
| 2006 | 91.1% | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 91.7% | +0.6% |
| 2008 | 92.2% | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 91.9% | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 91.2% | -0.8% |
| 2011 | 88.1% | -3.4% |
| 2012 | 87.9% | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 85.8% | -2.5% |
| 2014 | 86.8% | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 85.9% | -1.0% |
| 2016 | 83.8% | -2.4% |
| 2017 | 84.9% | +1.2% |
| 2018 | 81.2% | -4.4% |
| 2019 | 79.2% | -2.4% |
| 2020 | 75.8% | -4.4% |
| 2021 | 71.1% | -6.1% |
| 2022 | 68.0% | -4.4% |
| 2023 | 65.2% | -4.1% |
| 2024 | 64.9% | -0.4% |
| 2025 | 61.4% | -5.5% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 61.4% is above the median for high income countries, which is 60.0%, 1.0× the median. (75 countries reporting)
- Australia's 61.4% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 75.0%, 82% of the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 85.9% | 85.0% | 87.0% | 5 |
| 1990s | 90.2% | 89.4% | 91.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 91.7% | 91.0% | 92.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 85.5% | 79.2% | 91.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 67.7% | 61.4% | 75.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More energy & mining data for Australia
- Primary energy from fossil nuclear renewables, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fuel imports 11.7% (2025)
- Ores and metals imports 1.9% (2025)
- Fuel exports 26.9% (2025)
- Ores and metals exports 34.6% (2025)
- Gas production 1,486 terawatt-hours (2025)
- Fossil fuel production per person, by fuel 55,080 kilowatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel 1,486 terawatt-hours (2025)
- Gas production per person 55,080 kilowatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel, per capita 0.0001 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of electricity generation from fossil fuels in Australia?
- Share of electricity generation from fossil fuels in Australia was 61.4% in 2025, according to Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of electricity generation from fossil fuels recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 92.3% in 2001.
- What is the lowest share of electricity generation from fossil fuels recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 61.4% in 2025.
- How does Australia rank for share of electricity generation from fossil fuels?
- Australia ranks 112th out of 213 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of electricity generation from fossil fuels rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 28.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of electricity generation from fossil fuels. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Electricity generation from coal, oil, and gas, measured as a percentage of total electricity produced in the country or region.