Primary energy - global consumption 1998-2018

Consumption of primary energy worldwide reached 13.86 billion metric tons of oil equivalent in 2018. In comparison, primary energy consumption in 2000 stood at roughly 9.39 billion metric tons of oil equivalent. Overall, global energy consumption is projected to increase over the next few decades.

Effect of the financial crisis

Consumption of energy rose consistently every year over the last two decades except for in 2009, following the global financial crisis. When crude oil prices reached a peak in 2008, primary energy use decreased. Prices dropped by nearly a third in 2009, but consumption quickly rose to a new record high the year after.

Most common types of fuel

Oil is the most-used primary energy source in the world, followed by other fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas. Each of these three sources had consumption levels of more than three billion metric tons of oil equivalent in 2018, while other fuel types consumed less than one million. In recent years, renewables have become a more frequently used source of primary energy and worldwide investment in clean energy has nearly doubled.