energy
Energy use per capita
Primary energy use per person in kilograms of oil equivalent.
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Data insight
Global perspective
The world estimate was 3,246 kg oil equivalent/person in 2024, up 80.1% from 2014. Across the longer period from 2004, the global estimate changed by +1,574 kg oil equivalent/person (+94.1%). Latest country observations range from 9.73 kg oil equivalent/person in Lesotho (2007) to 16,343 kg oil equivalent/person in Qatar (2023), with the middle country observation at 1,271 kg oil equivalent/person; observation years may differ. Across the derived regional aggregates, North America reports 5,157 kg oil equivalent/person, while Africa reports 539 kg oil equivalent/person. Over roughly a decade, North America changed by +208 kg oil equivalent/person; Africa changed by -66.2 kg oil equivalent/person. Among countries with sufficient history, the largest absolute decade increase was +1,870 kg oil equivalent/person in Seychelles, while the largest decrease was -7,900 kg oil equivalent/person in Curacao. Coverage includes 177 countries; their latest observation years span 1990-2024, with a median latest year of 2023.
Belgium over time
Belgium reports 4,077.83 kg oil equivalent/person in 2024. From 2014 to 2024, Belgium decreased by 623.43 kg oil equivalent/person (13.3%). From 2004 to 2024, Belgium decreased by 1,537.58 kg oil equivalent/person (27.4%). The latest decade changed by −623.43 kg oil equivalent/person, versus −914.15 kg oil equivalent/person in the preceding decade, indicating a smaller absolute movement.
Europe and world context
This is 1,334.12 kg oil equivalent/person above Europe (2024). This is 831.37 kg oil equivalent/person above the world estimate (2024). From 2014 to 2024, Europe decreased by 641.05 kg oil equivalent/person (18.9%). The latest decade changed by −641.05 kg oil equivalent/person, versus −319.97 kg oil equivalent/person in the preceding decade, indicating a larger absolute movement.
Belgium has the 22nd-highest latest observation among 177 countries and 7th among 40 countries in Europe. Latest observation years span 1990-2024, so ranks are descriptive rather than perfectly synchronized.
- Regional spread: North America is at 5,157 kg oil equivalent/person (2024), compared with 539 kg oil equivalent/person in Africa (2024).
- Largest observed decade increase: Seychelles changed by +1,870 kg oil equivalent/person.
- Largest observed decade decrease: Curacao changed by -7,900 kg oil equivalent/person.
- Coverage: 177 countries; the median latest observation is 2023, with latest country observations spanning 1990-2024.
Source
World Bank
Source series EG.USE.PCAP.KG.OE. World and continent values are derived from available countries using population-weighted averages.