Share of electricity generation from fossil fuels in United States
United States: Share of electricity generation from fossil fuels was 57.0% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Share of electricity generation from fossil fuels in United States, 1985–2025
Source: Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, share of electricity generation from fossil fuels in United States stood at 57.0%. That is the lowest value across all 41 years on record.
The figure is down 1.9% on the previous year and down 14.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of electricity generation from fossil fuels in United States peaked at 72.6% in 1985 and was at its lowest, 57.0%, in 2025.
That places United States 120th out of 213 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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 United States, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 72.6% | — |
| 1986 | 71.2% | -2.0% |
| 1987 | 71.9% | +1.1% |
| 1988 | 71.7% | -0.4% |
| 1989 | 71.9% | +0.3% |
| 1990 | 70.0% | -2.6% |
| 1991 | 69.1% | -1.2% |
| 1992 | 70.0% | +1.3% |
| 1993 | 70.5% | +0.6% |
| 1994 | 70.6% | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 69.1% | -2.0% |
| 1996 | 68.9% | -0.4% |
| 1997 | 70.3% | +2.1% |
| 1998 | 71.0% | +1.0% |
| 1999 | 70.2% | -1.2% |
| 2000 | 70.9% | +1.1% |
| 2001 | 71.9% | +1.3% |
| 2002 | 71.0% | -1.3% |
| 2003 | 71.2% | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 71.3% | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 71.9% | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 71.1% | -1.0% |
| 2007 | 72.1% | +1.4% |
| 2008 | 71.2% | -1.3% |
| 2009 | 69.2% | -2.8% |
| 2010 | 70.1% | +1.3% |
| 2011 | 68.2% | -2.7% |
| 2012 | 68.8% | +0.8% |
| 2013 | 67.7% | -1.5% |
| 2014 | 67.2% | -0.8% |
| 2015 | 66.9% | -0.5% |
| 2016 | 65.0% | -2.8% |
| 2017 | 62.7% | -3.6% |
| 2018 | 63.3% | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 62.2% | -1.7% |
| 2020 | 60.1% | -3.4% |
| 2021 | 60.5% | +0.6% |
| 2022 | 59.7% | -1.4% |
| 2023 | 59.1% | -0.9% |
| 2024 | 58.1% | -1.6% |
| 2025 | 57.0% | -1.9% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 57.0% is below the median for high income countries, which is 60.0%, 95% of the median. (75 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 71.8% | 71.2% | 72.6% | 5 |
| 1990s | 70.0% | 68.9% | 71.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 71.2% | 69.2% | 72.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 66.2% | 62.2% | 70.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 59.1% | 57.0% | 60.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near United States
More energy & mining data for United States
- Primary energy from fossil nuclear renewables, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fuel imports 6.2% (2025)
- Ores and metals imports 2.4% (2025)
- Fuel exports 17.3% (2025)
- Ores and metals exports 3.0% (2025)
- Gas production 10,737 terawatt-hours (2025)
- Fossil fuel production per person, by fuel 30,919 kilowatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel 10,737 terawatt-hours (2025)
- Gas production per person 30,919 kilowatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of electricity generation from fossil fuels in United States?
- Share of electricity generation from fossil fuels in United States was 57.0% 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 United States?
- The highest recorded value was 72.6% in 1985.
- What is the lowest share of electricity generation from fossil fuels recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 57.0% in 2025.
- How does United States rank for share of electricity generation from fossil fuels?
- United States ranks 120th out of 213 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of electricity generation from fossil fuels rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United States 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.
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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.