Global consumption of primary energy by fuel 2005-2018

The total consumption of primary energy sources is increasing worldwide. Oil is the most consumed primary energy source in the world, with 4.6 billion tons of oil equivalent consumed in 2018. Most notably, the use of renewables sources is growing at a steady rate.

Rising demand for fossil fuels

Demand for fossil fuels – such as natural gas, oil, and coal – has remained high, as consumption of primary energy has increased. The use of oil has consistently grown each year, while consumption of other non-renewable fuel types has been more varied, with natural gas briefly overtaking coal as the second-most consumed fuel in 2015. Increased natural gas consumption worldwide is predicted due to decreased costs of natural gas in the United States over the past two decades.

Natural gas use by region

North America had the largest increase in consumption of natural gas from 2017 to 2018, as the United States has become one of the largest producers in the world. High levels of U.S. supply have reduced the price of natural gas in the country in comparison to other regions. Oil consumption in Central and South America also decreased during this period and has been declining since 2014.