Share of primary energy use by source in New Zealand
New Zealand: Share of primary energy use by source was 10.5% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Share of primary energy use by source in New Zealand, 1970–2025
Source: Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017); U.S. Energy Information Administration (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of primary energy use by source in New Zealand is 10.5%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 11.2% on the previous year and down 42.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of primary energy use by source in New Zealand peaked at 31.7% in 1986 and was at its lowest, 0.8%, in 1970.
That places New Zealand 66th out of 77 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
Share of primary energy use by source in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 0.8% | — |
| 1971 | 1.0% | +25.0% |
| 1972 | 1.7% | +70.5% |
| 1973 | 1.9% | +10.6% |
| 1974 | 3.0% | +64.2% |
| 1975 | 3.3% | +9.5% |
| 1976 | 8.5% | +153.7% |
| 1977 | 13.5% | +59.1% |
| 1978 | 13.0% | -3.7% |
| 1979 | 9.1% | -29.6% |
| 1980 | 8.4% | -7.7% |
| 1981 | 10.4% | +24.0% |
| 1982 | 17.6% | +68.1% |
| 1983 | 18.6% | +5.9% |
| 1984 | 22.2% | +19.4% |
| 1985 | 28.0% | +26.0% |
| 1986 | 31.7% | +13.4% |
| 1987 | 30.2% | -4.9% |
| 1988 | 31.7% | +5.0% |
| 1989 | 30.7% | -3.1% |
| 1990 | 28.8% | -6.2% |
| 1991 | 29.9% | +3.9% |
| 1992 | 31.0% | +3.5% |
| 1993 | 29.9% | -3.6% |
| 1994 | 27.1% | -9.1% |
| 1995 | 25.3% | -6.7% |
| 1996 | 28.0% | +10.4% |
| 1997 | 29.1% | +4.0% |
| 1998 | 25.9% | -10.8% |
| 1999 | 28.4% | +9.4% |
| 2000 | 29.1% | +2.5% |
| 2001 | 30.2% | +3.9% |
| 2002 | 28.6% | -5.4% |
| 2003 | 22.0% | -22.8% |
| 2004 | 20.1% | -8.8% |
| 2005 | 18.2% | -9.6% |
| 2006 | 18.2% | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 20.1% | +10.3% |
| 2008 | 17.9% | -10.8% |
| 2009 | 18.4% | +2.5% |
| 2010 | 18.9% | +3.2% |
| 2011 | 17.2% | -9.2% |
| 2012 | 18.5% | +7.6% |
| 2013 | 19.1% | +3.3% |
| 2014 | 20.2% | +5.7% |
| 2015 | 18.1% | -10.2% |
| 2016 | 17.9% | -1.6% |
| 2017 | 18.1% | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 16.5% | -8.8% |
| 2019 | 17.2% | +4.2% |
| 2020 | 17.8% | +3.2% |
| 2021 | 15.3% | -13.8% |
| 2022 | 14.8% | -3.7% |
| 2023 | 15.3% | +3.4% |
| 2024 | 11.8% | -22.5% |
| 2025 | 10.5% | -11.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 5.6% | 0.8% | 13.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 23.0% | 8.4% | 31.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 28.3% | 25.3% | 31.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 22.3% | 17.9% | 30.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 18.2% | 16.5% | 20.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.2% | 10.5% | 17.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
More energy & mining data for New Zealand
- Fuel imports 12.0% (2025)
- Ores and metals imports 2.1% (2025)
- Ores and metals exports 3.2% (2025)
- Gas production 35.27 terawatt-hours (2024)
- Fossil fuel production per person, by fuel 6,765 kilowatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel 35.27 terawatt-hours (2024)
- Gas production per person 6,765 kilowatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Gas production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of primary energy use by source in New Zealand?
- Share of primary energy use by source in New Zealand was 10.5% in 2025, according to Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017); U.S. Energy Information Administration (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of primary energy use by source recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 31.7% in 1986.
- What is the lowest share of primary energy use by source recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.8% in 1970.
- How does New Zealand rank for share of primary energy use by source?
- New Zealand ranks 66th out of 77 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of primary energy use by source rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 42.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this New Zealand data come from?
- The figures come from Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017); U.S. Energy Information Administration (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of primary energy use by source. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Measured as a percentage of total energy supply.