Frequently Asked Questions
How much energy is consumed in the world by each sector?
World marketed energy consumption was about 505 quadrillion Btu in 2008.1 There are four major energy end-use sectors: commercial, industrial, residential, and transportation. The electric power sector also consumes energy. The electricity it produces is consumed by the end-use sectors. There are also losses in electricity generation, transmission, and distribution. The electricity consumed by the four major energy end-use sectors and electricity losses can be apportioned to these respective end-use sectors to calculate their total energy use. Losses are the difference between the amount of energy used to generate electricity and the energy content of the electricity consumed at the point of end use.
World energy consumption by end use sector (quadrillion Btu) and shares of total energy use, 2008 (includes losses in electricity generation, transmission, and distribution):
| Energy End-Use2 | Electricity Losses3 | Total Energy Use4 | Share of Total Energy Use | |
| End-Use Sectors | ||||
| Commercial |
28
|
32
|
60
|
12%
|
| Industrial |
191
|
64
|
255
|
51%
|
| Residential |
52
|
37
|
89
|
18%
|
| Transportation |
98
|
2
|
100
|
20%
|
| Total End-Use Sectors |
369
|
|||
| Electric Power Sector4 |
194
|
39%
|
||
| Total Electricity losses3 |
135
|
|||
| Total Energy Use |
505
|
1This is the most recent year for which data are available at the time of update.
2Energy end-use includes end-use of electricity but excludes losses.
3Electricity losses includes generation, transmission, and distribution losses.
4Total energy use includes electricity losses.
Learn more:
International Energy Outlook 2011
International Energy Outlook (Appendix D1)
Created: January 30, 2013
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