Top 10 Countries with Highest Per Capita Energy Consumption in the World

In general, Iceland has a surface area of 103,001 square kilometers (39,770 square miles), ranking 108th in the world. However, its harsh geographical landscape is one of the reasons why its population remains very low. Iceland has the lowest population density of all European countries, only 3 people per square kilometer (8 per square mile).

Iceland is currently the country with the largest per capita electricity consumption in the world, averaging 56.8 megawatt-hours per person in 2019 and 53,832 kWh in 2022. This is a result of a combination of factors such as cheap electricity production, increasing heating demand, and the presence of energy-intensive industries domestically. Norway, Qatar, and Canada are also among the countries with the largest per capita electricity consumption in the world.

Energy Consumption per person: 53,832 kWh

Bahrain has the capacity to entirely meet its energy needs through self-production. The total output of all power generation facilities is 27 billion kWh, accounting for 103% of the country's usage. However, Bahrain is engaged in energy trading with foreign nations. Alongside pure consumption, production, imports, and exports play a crucial role. Other energy sources such as natural gas or crude oil are also utilized.

In 2018, there were still 124.60 million barrels of proven crude oil reserves yet to be exploited in the known fields of Bahrain. Globally, proven oil reserves stand at approximately 1,620 billion barrels. Bahrain, therefore, holds a 0.008% market share and ranks 67th out of 98 countries with proven crude oil reserves. According to the NDC, the Bahraini government does not set a target for reducing GHG emissions but has outlined strategies, plans, and actions to contribute to emission reduction. Achieving energy-saving goals will cut greenhouse gas emissions significantly.

Energy consumption per capita: 19,597 kWh

Energy consumption in Norway has surged by 40% since the 1970s. The transport, gasoline, and service industries exhibit the most significant spikes in energy consumption. Due to the robust growth in the number of vehicles in Norway, energy consumption for transportation has doubled between the mid-1970s and 2014, making it the highest energy-consuming sector on the Norwegian continent.

The service industries have seen substantial growth over the past 30 years, leading to a notable increase in energy consumption. Energy consumption in Norway peaked around 2010 and has since slowed down. This is attributed to lower energy consumption in homes and commercial buildings due to the mild climate, a decline in the wood processing industry, and a reduction in energy consumption for transportation in the past two years. Electricity is the most widely used energy product on the Norwegian continent, with fossil fuels for transportation being the second-largest category of energy products.

Energy consumption per capita: 23,000 kWh

Canada displays a high per capita energy consumption. While Canada's energy grid is one of the cleanest in the world, there's a significant disparity between the country's clean electricity generation and the use of fossil fuels in the transportation and home heating systems. With a population of 37 million, Canada ranks as the 39th most populous country globally and the least populous in the G7.

And with about 4/5 of Canada's energy coming from non-emitting sources, it's easy to argue that our energy mix is the envy of our peers. Alongside the total consumption, consumption from individual sources, including fossil fuels like oil, natural gas, and coal, constitutes 2/3 of Canadians' energy use. That's a lower proportion compared to most developed industrial nations, but on a per capita basis, this ratio makes for one of the highest fossil fuel consumption rates globally and the highest in the G7.

Energy consumption per capita: 15,588 kWh

Kuwait is a highly urbanized, high-income country undergoing rapid development and growth; however, its energy system is not sustainable. This is due to its heavy reliance on fossil fuels for energy production and high energy consumption rates. Kuwait relies entirely on fossil fuels for energy production, with 59% and 41% of the system being supplied energy respectively by oil and natural gas. To diversify its energy structure, the country aims to increase the share of renewable energy to 15% by 2030.

The energy system of Kuwait relies solely on fossil fuels to generate energy, with 59% and 41% of the system being supplied energy respectively by oil and natural gas. The dependence on non-renewable energy sources contributes to climate change, and the energy sector in Kuwait is responsible for 95% of the country's total CO2 emissions.

Energy consumption per capita: 15,591 kWh

Qatar has an economy heavily reliant on the global oil and natural gas market, with 51% of nominal GDP coming from oil and gas exports in 2014. Solar energy exploitation has become a significant goal for Qatar in recent years. By 2030, Qatar aims to achieve 20% of its energy from solar power. The country is strategically positioned to harness photovoltaic systems, given its global horizontal irradiance of approximately 2,140 kWh per square meter annually.

The International Monetary Fund ranked Qatar as the fifth-highest per capita GDP country in 2016, with a nominal per capita GDP of $60,787 over a population of 2.421 million. The sectors of Qatar's economy that consume the most fossil fuels for energy use are transportation and civilian sectors. This is due to Qatar's limited resources in agriculture, forestry, and fishing, primarily due to the country's predominantly desert terrain.

Energy consumption per capita: 14,782 kWh

Finland is one of the countries with the highest per capita energy consumption in the world. However, the volume of energy generated from combustion processes is noticeably decreasing. In contrast, renewable output from hydro, wind, and solar energy is on the rise. Carbon dioxide emissions from fuel energy use are down by 10%. Total electricity consumption has reached its lowest point in 20 years.

Transportation is the largest consumer of oil products in Finland, although its share is relatively modest, industry accounts for 31%, buildings (residential and services) account for 13%, and the district heating system accounts for 10%. Gas consumption has remained stable at around 2.6 bcm since 2018. Power plants consume 37% of the gas in 2020, followed by industry. The district heating area also consumes a significant portion of gas (about 10%). The electricity sector is the main consumer of coal and peat, with 57% of total consumption in 2020. The industrial sector's share of electricity consumption is 45% in 2020, compared to 28% for the residential area and 22% for services.

Energy consumption per capita: 15.25 kWh

Few nations consume more energy per capita than Sweden, but Sweden's carbon emissions are lower compared to other countries. Renewable energy can be generated from water, wind, or sunlight, or any other source replenished naturally. The share of renewable energy used in Sweden continues to rise steadily. In 2012, the country achieved the government's target of 50% by 2020. For the electricity sector, the goal is to produce 100% renewable electricity by 2040.

The reason for Sweden's low emission rate is that about 75% of Sweden's electricity comes from hydropower (45%) and nuclear power (30%). Sweden currently has three nuclear power plants with six commercial operating nuclear reactors. Sweden has a plentiful supply of moving water and biomass, contributing to the country's high share of renewable energy. Hydropower (water) and bioenergy are the leading renewable sources in Sweden - hydropower primarily for electricity production and bioenergy for heating.

Energy consumption per capita: 13,480 kWh

Luxembourg has undergone a period of strong economic and population growth from 2008 to 2018. During most of that decade, energy demand and carbon dioxide emissions decreased significantly, but they began to rise again in 2016. Low energy prices for consumers are creating a barrier to the necessary investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy.

And the country has a mixed energy profile with significant use of fossil fuels driven by high demand for transportation fuels, especially from transit cargo trucks. Luxembourg participates in the European electricity market, an area undergoing rapid transformation as the increasing market share of renewable energy products such as wind and solar power can alter, increasing attention to supply security. Luxembourg stands to benefit more by implementing measures to enhance energy storage and meet the needs of its power system.

Energy consumption per capita: 13,915 kWh

The United States utilizes and produces various types and sources of energy, broadly categorized into primary and secondary energy, renewable and non-renewable energy, and fossil fuels. Primary energy sources include fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, and coal), nuclear energy, and renewable energy sources. Electricity is a secondary energy source generated from the aforementioned energy sources.

Energy sources in The United States are used by each sector differently. For example, in 2020, gasoline supplied about 90% of the energy consumption in the transportation sector but accounted for only 1% of the primary energy use in the electricity sector. After reaching record-high energy production in 2018, U.S. energy production increased by nearly 6% in 2019, while energy consumption decreased by about 1%, with production exceeding consumption annually for the first time since 1957.

Energy consumption per capita: 12,994 kWh