Share of electricity production by source in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Share of electricity production by source was 37.1% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of electricity production by source in United Kingdom, 1990–2023
Source: IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, IEA, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of total.
Analysis
In 2023, share of electricity production by source in United Kingdom stood at 37.1%. That is the lowest value across all 34 years on record.
The figure is down 10.9% on the previous year and down 42.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of electricity production by source in United Kingdom peaked at 79.4% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 37.1%, in 2023.
United Kingdom ranks 143rd of 208 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 34 years of available data.
Share of electricity production by source in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | % of total | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 77.0% | — |
| 1991 | 76.0% | -1.3% |
| 1992 | 73.5% | -3.3% |
| 1993 | 70.1% | -4.7% |
| 1994 | 70.3% | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 70.7% | +0.6% |
| 1996 | 70.8% | +0.2% |
| 1997 | 69.5% | -1.9% |
| 1998 | 69.6% | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 70.6% | +1.5% |
| 2000 | 73.9% | +4.7% |
| 2001 | 72.8% | -1.5% |
| 2002 | 73.0% | +0.3% |
| 2003 | 73.7% | +0.9% |
| 2004 | 74.9% | +1.7% |
| 2005 | 73.9% | -1.3% |
| 2006 | 74.9% | +1.3% |
| 2007 | 77.7% | +3.8% |
| 2008 | 79.4% | +2.2% |
| 2009 | 73.5% | -7.4% |
| 2010 | 75.7% | +3.0% |
| 2011 | 70.4% | -7.0% |
| 2012 | 68.0% | -3.5% |
| 2013 | 64.1% | -5.7% |
| 2014 | 60.5% | -5.6% |
| 2015 | 52.9% | -12.5% |
| 2016 | 52.4% | -1.1% |
| 2017 | 47.9% | -8.6% |
| 2018 | 45.4% | -5.3% |
| 2019 | 43.8% | -3.6% |
| 2020 | 38.7% | -11.5% |
| 2021 | 43.1% | +11.3% |
| 2022 | 41.6% | -3.6% |
| 2023 | 37.1% | -10.9% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 37.1% is below the median for high income countries, which is 62.1%, 60% of the median. (78 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 37.1% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 33.7%, 1.1× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 71.8% | 69.5% | 77.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 74.8% | 72.8% | 79.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 58.1% | 43.8% | 75.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 40.1% | 37.1% | 43.1% | 4 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More energy & mining data for United Kingdom
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate -1.3 % change on previous year (2025)
- Coal consumption, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal consumption, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fuel imports 8.2% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of electricity production by source in United Kingdom?
- Share of electricity production by source in United Kingdom was 37.1% in 2023, according to IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, IEA, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of electricity production by source recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 79.4% in 2008.
- What is the lowest share of electricity production by source recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 37.1% in 2023.
- How does United Kingdom rank for share of electricity production by source?
- United Kingdom ranks 143rd out of 208 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of electricity production by source rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 42.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, IEA, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of electricity production by source. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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