Frequently Asked Questions
How much energy does a person use in a year?
In 2011, total energy use per person (or per capita consumption) in the United States was about 313 million British thermal units (Btu). The world per capita consumption of energy1 in 2011 was about 75 million Btu.
1Consumption data for most countries does not include biomass fuels, such as wood and charcoal used for heating and cooking, which are major energy sources in many countries. The U.S. Energy Information Administration does not have an estimate for the amount of those fuels consumed in other countries.
Learn more:
Historical per capita energy consumption for the world and individual countries
Historical U.S. per capita energy consumption
Last reviewed: May 18, 2016
Other FAQs about General Energy
- Does EIA have county-level energy production data?
- Does EIA have energy consumption and price data for cities, counties, or by zip code?
- Does EIA have maps or information on the location of U.S. natural gas and oil pipelines?
- Does EIA have maps or information on the location of electric power plants and transmission lines in the United States?
- Does EIA have projections for energy production, consumption, and prices for individual states?
- How do I compare the cost of heating fuels?
- How many smart meters are installed in the United States, and who has them?
- How much does it cost to build different types of power plants in the United States?
- How much energy does a person use in a year?
- How much energy is consumed in residential and commercial buildings in the United States?
- How much energy is consumed in the world by each energy end-use sector?
- Where can I get help paying my utility bills?
- How much of world energy consumption and production is from renewable energy?
- What is the United States’ share of world energy consumption?
- What types and amounts of energy are produced in each state?