Energy Shift
Top Countries by Fossil Fuel Consumption in 2023
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Top Countries by Fossil Fuel Consumption in 2023
This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources.
Fossil fuel consumption reached new record highs in 2023, driven by increased coal and oil use in China, despite the global boom in renewable energy.
Together, gas, oil, and coal accounted for 81.5% of the global energy mix last year, slightly down from 82% in 2022.
This graphic shows the top 12 countries by fossil fuel consumption in 2023. Data is from the Energy Institute, 2024 Statistical Review of World Energy, released in June 2024.
China and U.S. Account for Nearly Half of Global Fossil Fuel Use
China and the U.S. are responsible for almost half (47%) of global fossil fuel consumption.
| Country | Oil (Exajoules) | Natural Gas | Coal | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇨🇳 China | 33 | 15 | 92 | 140 |
| 🇺🇸 U.S. | 36 | 32 | 8 | 76 |
| 🇮🇳 India | 11 | 2 | 22 | 35 |
| 🇷🇺 Russia | 7 | 16 | 4 | 27 |
| 🇯🇵 Japan | 7 | 3 | 5 | 15 |
| 🇮🇷 Iran | 4 | 9 | 0 | 12 |
| 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | 7 | 4 | 0 | 12 |
| 🇰🇷 South Korea | 5 | 2 | 3 | 10 |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | 4 | 4 | 0 | 9 |
| 🇮🇩 Indonesia | 3 | 2 | 4 | 9 |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | 4 | 3 | 2 | 9 |
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 3 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| 🌍 Rest of the World | 72 | 50 | 24 | 146 |
In 2023, China consumed 140 exajoules of fossil fuels, equivalent to approximately 5.8 billion tonnes of hard coal. The U.S. followed with 76 exajoules, while India was third with 35 exajoules.
Crude oil consumption surpassed 100 million barrels per day for the first time, and coal demand exceeded the previous year’s record.
China remains the largest coal consumer, accounting for 56% of global consumption, a new record for the country. Additionally, in 2023, India’s coal consumption surpassed the combined total of Europe and North America for the first time.
If you like this graphic, be sure to check out ‘Visualizing Global Energy Production in 2023.’ This graphic illustrates the sources of energy used worldwide last year.
Energy Shift
Charted: Coal Still Dominates Global Electricity Generation
Fossil fuels account for nearly 60% of power generation.
Charted: Coal Still Dominates Global Electricity Generation
This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources.
Key Takeaways
- Fossil fuels made up nearly 60% of 2024 electricity generation.
- Coal accounts for 35% of total power generation.
Fossil Fuels Still Power Most of the World
Global energy demand grew faster than average in 2024, driven by rising electricity use across sectors. The power sector led the surge, with demand growing nearly twice as fast as overall energy use—fueled by increased cooling needs, industrial activity, transport electrification, and the expansion of data centers and AI.
Despite a growing push toward cleaner energy sources, coal remains the leading source of electricity generation worldwide. In 2024, fossil fuels accounted for nearly 60% of global power generation, with coal alone contributing 35%, according to the International Energy Agency.
While renewable energy continues to expand, making up about one-third of total electricity production, the global energy mix still leans heavily on traditional sources.
| Country | Coal | Natural Gas | Oil | Renewables | Nuclear |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇮🇳 India | 73.4% | 3.3% | 0.2% | 20.5% | 2.6% |
| 🇨🇳 China | 58.4% | 3.2% | 0.1% | 33.9% | 4.4% |
| 🇺🇸 U.S. | 15.6% | 42.6% | 0.7% | 23.3% | 17.9% |
| 🇪🇺 EU | 10.7% | 15.6% | 1.5% | 48.7% | 23.6% |
| 🌍 Global | 34.5% | 21.8% | 2.4% | 32.1% | 9.1% |
In emerging markets and developing economies, coal continues to be the backbone of power systems. China, the world’s largest energy consumer, generated nearly 60% of its electricity from coal. In India, coal’s dominance is even more pronounced, providing close to three-quarters of all electricity produced.
In contrast, advanced economies are increasingly relying on cleaner sources. In 2024, the European Union made significant strides in renewable energy adoption—nearly half of its electricity came from renewables, far exceeding the global average.
In the United States, natural gas led the power mix, accounting for over 40% of electricity generation in 2024. President Trump’s pro-coal policies and the surge in energy demand from AI innovation are expected to boost coal production in the U.S. over the next few years.
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If you enjoyed this topic, check out this graphic that shows how 36 companies are responsible for half of the fossil fuel and cement CO2 emissions.
Energy Shift
How the Largest Importers of Russian Fossil Fuels Have Changed (2022 vs. 2025)
Despite sanctions against Moscow, the EU remains a key consumer of Russian fossil fuels.
How the Largest Importers of Russian Fossil Fuels Have Changed (2022 vs. 2025)
This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources.
Since the war in Ukraine began on February 24, 2022, Russia has earned $915 billion from fossil fuel exports, with EU countries accounting for over $223 billion.
Despite sanctions against Moscow, the EU remains a key consumer of Russian fossil fuels.
This graphic highlights the largest importers of Russian fossil fuels, based on the daily flow of oil and gas, using data from the CREA Fossil Fuel Tracker as of March 2025.
China Becomes the Biggest Buyer
In June 2022, China overtook the EU as the largest importer of Russian fossil fuels. Today, China imports nearly six times more than the EU. India and Turkey have also emerged as major buyers.
| Country | 2022-01-14 (tonnes) | 2025-03-13 (tonnes) |
|---|---|---|
| 🇨🇳 China | 435,025 | 607,288 |
| 🇪🇺 EU | 928,998 | 104,646 |
| 🌍 Others | 244,945 | 275,747 |
| 🇮🇳 India | 28,907 | 344,848 |
| 🇹🇷 Turkey | 138,860 | 239,662 |
| 🇰🇷 South Korea | 93,267 | 30,255 |
| 🇺🇸 United States | 33,468 | 0 |
| 🇬🇧 UK | 49,062 | 0 |
Meanwhile, imports from the U.S. and UK, which were relatively small before the invasion, have dropped to zero.
EU Reliance on Russian Fuel
A report released by Ember estimates that European purchases of Russian gas amounted to €21.9 billion ($23.6 billion) in 2024.
Additionally, data collected by Kpler and analyzed by POLITICO Europe revealed that in the first 15 days of 2025, the 27 EU countries imported a record-high 837,300 metric tons of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia. This has raised concerns that billions of dollars could be fueling Moscow’s war in Ukraine.
Russia’s Position in Global Oil Production
Russia remains one of the world’s top oil producers, frequently competing with Saudi Arabia for the second spot behind the United States.
Following the fall of the Soviet Union, Russia’s oil industry was privatized, but in 2021, the state forced a consolidation and restructuring of the sector. Today, Gazprom, Rosneft, and Lukoil are Russia’s leading oil and gas producers.
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If you enjoyed this topic, check out this graphic that shows Ukraine’s mineral resources.
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