Energy Consumption and CO2 Emissions in Europe and Worldwide

Updated on 05.02.2024

10 min read

High School

Where does the European Union (EU) stand in terms of energy consumption and CO2 emissions compared to the United States, China or the African continent?  In two tables, Planète Énergies explains the major world balances.

Image of the European Union headquarters in Brussels, behind a row of European flags.

World energy consumption

Here is the total consumption - before transformation - of sources in several major regions of the World, from 2000 to 2021. Figures are given in millions of “tons of oil equivalent” (Mtoe). Beyond the absolute value of these figures, it is interesting to compare them and look at how they have evolved through the years.

To sum up:

 Source : EU Energy in figures 2023
In millions of toe200020102015201920202021Energy consumption in 2021
UE at 271 4711 5271 4091 4071 3101 3889,4%
China1 1472 5503 0133 4033 5143 75125,4%
United State2 2732 2162 1842 2122 0352 13914,5%

Asia except China
2 2933 1583 4633 8093 6753 84526,0%
Africa4956857738388188535,8%
World10 02612 85013 59114 54414 00414 759     100% 

According to the upcoming figures, consumption in 2022 continued to grow (+1.1% worldwide).

Comments on the table:
  • The 27 countries of the EU consume less than a tenth of world energy.
  • Consumption in the EU and the United States have stabilized since the year 2000, thanks to technological advances and efforts in terms of energy saving.
  • China overtook the United States in 2010 and today consumes 75% more than it does.
  • Consumption in Asia excluding China (India, Japan, Indonesia, etc.) has also strongly increase over the past 20 years.
  • The temporary drop in 2020 is due to the economic crisis started by the Covid-19 pandemic. 
 

How much of the world's energy does Asia consume (China, India, Japan, Indonesia, etc.)?

More than half.

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Which continent represents 18% of the world's population but consumes less than 6% of the world's energy?

Africa.

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Comment

The consumption of a geographical area is related to the number of inhabitants, but highly significant differences are sometimes observed that reflect the inequalities in living standards and development:  

  • The EU (606 million inhabitants) consumes almost twice as much energy as Africa (1.5 billion inhabitants).
  • The United States (303 million inhabitants) consumes half as much energy again as the amount consumed by the EU (606 million inhabitants).

 

World CO2 emissions

CO2 emissions are closely linked to the consumption of fossil fuels, particularly in transport, housing and industry. They tend to slow down or decrease during periods of slower economic growth.

Here is the evolution between 2000 and 2021. Quantities emitted are expressed in millions of tonnes of CO2.  

Source: EU Energy in figures
In millions of tons of CO2200020102015201920202021CO2 emissions in 2021
UE at 273 2693 1382 8272 6552 3982 5798%
China3 1387 8729 1789 99210 08810 68333%
United States5 7305 3524 9294 7454 2584 54914%
Asia except China5 0507 1488 1388 8448 4558 83227%
Africa6611 0231 1711 2471 1441 2184%
World23 26630 61632 37832 34930 80732 587100%

According to the upcoming figures, emissions will be almost 1% higher in 2022 than in 2021.

Comments on the table:
  • China has become the world's biggest emitter of CO2: it emits more than twice as much as the USA and four times as much as the EU.
  • EU emissions are decreasing thanks to improved and energy-saving solutions. The significant decrease in the United States has been boosted by the gradual shift from to gas in the production of .
  • If the emissions are compared to the number of inhabitants, an African emits 14 times less than an American.
  • World CO2 emissions decreased in 2020. The decrease in emissions however, is due essentially to the Covid pandemic which generated a drop in world economic growth.
 

How much of the world's emissions does Asia as a whole (China, India, Japan, Indonesia, etc.) generates?

60%

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Who emits more CO₂ between Africa and the European Union? 

The European Union emits twice as much.

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Comment

A territory’s emissions do not always reflect its actual “carbon footprint”. For example, China produces a lot of export goods, which are consumed in Europe and the United States, but the CO emissions they generated are attributed to China.  So the carbon footprint for Europe is approximately 30% higher than the footprint generated by its local consumption.

 

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