United States: Energy use (kg of oil equivalent per capita)

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2024, United States' energy use (kg of oil equivalent per capita) rose 88.74 on 2023 (from 6,365 to 6,454).

Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1994 to 2023), the average change was −44.77 and a typical year strayed about 176.16 from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.8 standard deviations above that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 304.32 in 2021 and the biggest yearly fall was 559.33 in 2020. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2015 to 2024 the straight-line trend is downward, about 42.04 a year. A straight line explains 42% of the movement over 10 observed years.

Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.

How it compares

In 2024, United States had the 10th highest value of the 149 economies reporting that year. Higher is not always better: for some indicators the lowest value is the one to aim for. See the full ranking.

Closest to United States in the 2024 ranking

• United Arab Emirates — 7th of 149: 8,838
• Canada — 8th of 149: 7,119
• Saudi Arabia — 9th of 149: 6,676
• Russian Federation — 11th of 149: 5,727
• Finland — 12th of 149: 5,647
• Korea, Rep. — 13th of 149: 5,564

What this measures

Energy use refers to use of primary energy before transformation to other end-use fuels, which is equal to indigenous production plus imports and stock changes, minus exports and fuels supplied to ships and aircraft engaged in international transport.

Limitations: The IEA makes these estimates in consultation with national statistical offices, oil companies, electric utilities, and national energy experts. The IEA occasionally revises its time series to reflect political changes, and energy statistics undergo continual changes in coverage or methodology as more detailed energy accounts become available. Breaks in series are therefore unavoidable.

Regional and income-group figures are computed by the World Bank as a weighted average.

All 35 values

Energy use (kg of oil equivalent per capita) in nearby economies

• Canada — 7,119 (2024)

More environment data for United States

• Population in largest city — 19.15 million (2025)
• Population in the largest city (% of urban population) — 6.99% (2025)
• Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million — 160.79 million (2025)
• Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million (% of total population) — 47.04% (2025)
• Rural population — 67.7 million (2025)
• Rural population (% of total population) — 19.81% (2025)
• Urban population — 274.09 million (2025)
• Urban population (% of total population) — 80.19% (2025)
• Aquaculture production (metric tons) — 467,617 (2024)

Reading data like this

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Questions people ask

What is United States's energy use (kg of oil equivalent per capita)?

6,454 in 2024, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1990?

It is down 15.85% from 7,669 in 1990 (0.51% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 8,055 in 2000 and the lowest 6,142 in 2020.

How does United States rank?

10th highest of 149 economies with data for 2024.

Is the latest change in energy use (kg of oil equivalent per capita) unusual for United States?

In 2024, United States' energy use (kg of oil equivalent per capita) rose 88.74 on 2023 (from 6,365 to 6,454). Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1994 to 2023), the average change was −44.77 and a typical year strayed about 176.16 from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.8 standard deviations above that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator EG.USE.PCAP.KG.OE, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, International Energy Agency (IEA), uri: https://www.iea.org/data-and-statistics/data-tools/energy-statistics-data-browser, publisher: International Energy Agency (IEA), date accessed: 2025-03-25 Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.

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