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World Bank income group · latest data 2024

High-income countries energy mix & electricity

In 2024, high-income countries generated 13.03 PWh of electricity, 41% of the global total. Natural gas was the largest source (34.7%), followed by nuclear power (16.3%) and coal (15.1%). Renewables supplied 30.7% versus 33.8% globally, and low-carbon sources including nuclear 47%.

Gas 34.7%Nuclear 16.3%Coal 15.1%Hydro 11.8%Wind 9%Solar 6.9%Oil 3.2%Bioenergy 2.6%
Renewable electricity
30.7%
+10.2 pp in 10 yrs
Low-carbon incl. nuclear
47%
Carbon intensity
369g/kWh
World 458 g
Electricity per person
9,174kWh
World 3,860 kWh
Generation
13.03PWh
+761 TWh vs 2014

Electricity by source in 2024

High-income countries electricity mix 2024
SourceTWhShare10-yr Δ pp
Gas4,52434.7%+6.9
Nuclear2,12416.3%−1.5
Coal1,97215.1%−13.9
Hydro1,53511.8%−0.8
Wind1,1779%+5.2
Solar9036.9%+5.6
Oil4143.2%−1.7
Bioenergy3382.6%+0.3
Other renewables420.3%0

High-income countries in context

Since 2014, natural gas has grown the most (+1.11 PWh), followed by solar power (+740 TWh). Coal declined by 1.59 PWh over the same period. The renewable share rose by 10.2 percentage points over the decade. Average carbon intensity is 369 g CO₂e/kWh, down 100 g from 2014. Coal’s share peaked at 36.1% in 2003 and stands at 15.1% today.

Electricity generation since 2000

Electricity generation by source

Renewables and carbon intensity

Renewable share of electricity (%)
Carbon intensity (g CO₂e/kWh)
Solar and wind share since 2000 (%)

Primary energy consumption

All energy used across transport, heat, industry and power. Fossil fuels supply 79.5% and renewables 13.7% of the total.

Primary energy by source (TWh, substitution method)

Income groups follow the World Bank classification as aggregated by Our World in Data. Browse individual countries in the full country table.

High-income countries energy: frequently asked questions

What share of electricity in high-income countries is renewable?
30.7% in 2024: hydro 11.8%, wind 9%, solar 6.9%, and bioenergy 2.6%.
What is the largest source of electricity in high-income countries?
Natural gas, with 34.7% of generation in 2024.
What is the carbon intensity of electricity in high-income countries?
About 369 g CO₂-equivalent per kWh in 2024.
How much electricity is generated per person in high-income countries?
About 9,174 kWh per person per year (2024).
How much electricity in high-income countries comes from solar and wind?
Solar supplied 6.9% and wind 9% in 2024, 16% combined, up from 5.2% ten years earlier.

Other regions & groups

World 34%Africa 25%Asia 27%Europe 42%North America 29%South America 77%Oceania 41%European Union (EU-27) 48%Upper-middle-income countries 34%Lower-middle-income countries 26%Low-income countries 64%

Sources & references

  1. Our World in Data: Energy dataset (CC BY 4.0) — compiled from the sources below
  2. Ember: Yearly Electricity Data — generation, shares, carbon intensity
  3. Energy Institute: Statistical Review of World Energy — primary energy, fossil production
  4. U.S. Energy Information Administration: International Energy Data — gap-filling for smaller countries