In 2022, China accounted for the largest energy consumption in the world, followed by the United States and India. Projections indicate that the country will maintain its position as the world's largest consumer in the upcoming decades. India's energy consumption was predicted to nearly triple by 2050, making it the second-largest energy consumer by that year, while the U.S.' energy demand will only slightly increase during the period under consideration.
Largest energy consumers worldwide
In 2022, China's energy consumption represented over a quarter of the global primary energy consumption, compared to 15 percent consumed in the United States. However, the per capita primary energy consumption distribution painted a different picture. While both the U.S. and China’s per capita energy consumption were above the global average in 2024, the North American country’s per person consumption was double that of China. That year, the per person energy consumption in India was over 60 percent less than the global average of 21.5 kilowatt-hours per person.
Sources of energy consumption
Fossil fuels dominate the global energy mix, accounting for nearly 70 percent of primary energy demand in 2022. China, the United States, and India relied on these sources for over 80 percent of their primary energy consumption in 2024. According to a recent forecast, renewable energy sources are projected to play an increasingly significant role in the upcoming decades, with primary energy consumption from green sources forecast to grow from 70 to 170 exajoules between 2022 and 2050. However, the central contribution of fossil fuels to the global energy supply is expected to remain unwavering. Â