Belize energy mix & electricity
Electricity generation in Belize reached 470 GWh in 2024. More than half of it, 51.1%, came from hydropower; bioenergy was a distant second with 34%.
The power system is very small (under 1 TWh a year), so it is not included in share-based world rankings. A single plant can change its mix dramatically from one year to the next.
Electricity generation by source in 2024
Share of electricity generation by source, with the change in percentage points over the last ten years.
| Source | TWh | Share | 10-yr Δ pp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hydro | 0.24 | 51.1% | −21.2 |
| Bioenergy | 0.16 | 34% | +14.6 |
| Oil | 0.06 | 12.8% | +7.2 |
| Solar | 0.01 | 2.1% | +2.1 |
| Total | 0.47 | 100% |
Belize: electricity in context
Electricity generation in Belize reached 470 GWh in 2024. That is similar to Burundi. More than half of it, 51.1%, came from hydropower; bioenergy was a distant second with 34%.
The renewable share stood at 87.2%. This puts it 53 points above the world average of 33.8%. It is also above the average for North America (28.8%). The carbon intensity of electricity is 170 g CO₂e/kWh; the global average is 458 g/kWh. The grid is comfortably cleaner than the world average.
Since 2014, the fastest-growing source has been bioenergy: its output rose by 90 GWh, lifting its share by 14.6 percentage points. The net effect: renewables lost 4.4 percentage points of share since 2014. Total generation grew by 110 GWh over the same period. Carbon intensity, however, rose from 139 to 170 g/kWh (+23%).
Coal has never been part of the power mix in Belize in any meaningful way.
Wind and solar together provided 2.1% of electricity (solar 2.1%, wind 0%), compared with 17.3% worldwide. Per person, that is 24 kWh of solar electricity a year, versus a global average of 338 kWh.
Belize generates 1,127 kWh of electricity per resident each year, 29% of the global average. Imports cover around 45% of demand: Belize bought 380 GWh more electricity than it exported.
How the power mix has changed
Electricity generation by source since 2000. Switch to shares to see the structural shift independent of demand growth.
Renewables and carbon intensity
Belize against the world and North America averages.
Total energy: beyond electricity
Primary energy covers transport, heating and industry too. Per person, that is 9,012 kWh a year (world: 21,654).
Domestic extraction of coal, gas and oil, in energy terms.
Solar & wind farms: Belize
4 utility-scale facilities tracked by Global Energy Monitor (2026): 4 MW of solar and 0 MW of wind operating, plus 60 MW under construction or planned.
How does Belize compare?
Belize next to 6 neighbouring countries, plus regional and world averages. Click a column to sort; use “Compare” for full side-by-side charts.
| Country | Renewable % | Low-carbon % | Fossil % | gCO₂/kWh | kWh / person | Generation TWh | Mix | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belize | 87.2% | 87.2% | 12.8% | 170 | 1,127 | 0.5 | — | |
| Mexico | 23.1% | 25.9% | 74.1% | 474 | 2,705 | 357 | Compare | |
| Guatemala | 68.3% | 68.3% | 31.7% | 301 | 858 | 15.8 | Compare | |
| Honduras | 55.4% | 55.4% | 44.6% | 322 | 1,153 | 12.5 | Compare | |
| El Salvador | 86.5% | 86.5% | 13.5% | 139 | 1,015 | 6.5 | Compare | |
| Nicaragua | 62.4% | 62.4% | 37.6% | 301 | 654 | 4.5 | Compare | |
| Cayman Islands | 4.2% | 4.2% | 95.8% | 634 | 9,533 | 0.7 | Compare | |
| North America average | 28.8% | 44.7% | 55.3% | 369 | 9,025 | 5,534 | Compare | |
| World average | 33.8% | 42.6% | 57.4% | 458 | 3,860 | 31,772 | Compare |
Calculators for Belize
Belize energy: frequently asked questions
What percentage of electricity in Belize is renewable?
What is the main source of electricity in Belize?
How clean is the electricity in Belize?
How much electricity does Belize use per person?
How much solar power does Belize produce?
Does Belize import electricity?
More countries in North America
Sources & references
- Our World in Data: Energy dataset (CC BY 4.0) — compiled from the sources below
- Ember: Yearly Electricity Data — generation, shares, carbon intensity
- Energy Institute: Statistical Review of World Energy — primary energy, fossil production
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: International Energy Data — gap-filling for smaller countries
- World Resources Institute: Global Power Plant Database v1.3 (CC BY 4.0) — power plant locations and capacity
Electricity data: Ember and Energy Institute Statistical Review via Our World in Data (CC BY 4.0); latest year 2024. Power plants: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). Rankings exclude systems under 1 TWh and values older than 2020. Figures may be revised by the original publishers.