Energy intensity

Global energy intensity declined by nearly 2% in 2025.

Global energy intensity (total energy consumption per unit of GDP) fell by nearly 2% in 2025, in line with its historical decline over 2010-2019. Primary intensity is strongly influenced by the increased penetration of wind and solar that replace fuel power generation with a much higher efficiency (100% vs 35-45%), which tends to reduce the primary consumption, all things being equal.
In the BRICS, energy intensity decreased by 3% in 2025 but remained 24% higher than the world average. It declined by 2% in China – a slower pace than over 2010-2019, remaining 32% above the global average – and in Russia, by 6% in India, by 1% in South Africa and remained stable in Brazil (stable since 2010) and in Indonesia.
In OECD countries, where the energy intensity is 24% lower than the global average, the continuing growth of renewable power generation contributed to reduce energy intensity by nearly 1%, though at a slower pace than over the 2010-2019 period (-2%/year). Energy intensity dipped by around 2% in the EU, in Japan, South Korea, Australia, and Mexico. However, it remained stable in the USA and even slightly increased in Canada (+1%).