Uruguay: Energy use (kg of oil equivalent per capita)

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2024, Uruguay's energy use (kg of oil equivalent per capita) rose 151.34 on 2023 (from 1,808 to 1,959).

Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1994 to 2023), the average change was +33.72 and a typical year strayed about 79.56 from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 1.5 standard deviations above that average, so it was larger than a typical year, though not out of the range seen before.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 288.26 in 2008 and the biggest yearly fall was 116.71 in 2001. 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 upward, about 41.45 a year. A straight line explains 70% 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, Uruguay had the 57th 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 Uruguay in the 2024 ranking

• Bosnia and Herzegovina — 54th of 149: 2,178
• United Kingdom — 55th of 149: 2,095
• Chile — 56th of 149: 2,067
• Greece — 58th of 149: 1,956
• Türkiye — 59th of 149: 1,936
• Gabon — 60th of 149: 1,932

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

• Argentina — 1,737 (2024)
• Bolivia — 833.28 (2024)
• Brazil — 1,528 (2024)
• Chile — 2,067 (2024)
• Colombia — 843.88 (2024)
• Costa Rica — 1,121 (2024)
• Cuba — 777.37 (2024)
• Curaçao — 3,841 (2024)
• Dominican Republic — 953.99 (2024)
• Ecuador — 926.8 (2024)

More environment data for Uruguay

• Population in largest city — 1.79 million (2025)
• Population in the largest city (% of urban population) — 55.23% (2025)
• Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million — 1.79 million (2025)
• Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million (% of total population) — 52.83% (2025)
• Rural population — 147,108 (2025)
• Rural population (% of total population) — 4.35% (2025)
• Urban population — 3.24 million (2025)
• Urban population (% of total population) — 95.65% (2025)
• Aquaculture production (metric tons) — 55.45 (2024)
• Capture fisheries production (metric tons)

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Questions people ask

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

1,959 in 2024, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1990?

It is up 170.39% from 724.62 in 1990 (2.97% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 1,959 in 2024 and the lowest 724.62 in 1990.

How does Uruguay rank?

57th highest of 149 economies with data for 2024.

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

In 2024, Uruguay's energy use (kg of oil equivalent per capita) rose 151.34 on 2023 (from 1,808 to 1,959). Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1994 to 2023), the average change was +33.72 and a typical year strayed about 79.56 from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 1.5 standard deviations above that average, so it was larger than a typical year, though not out of the range seen before.

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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