Sylvie Willis
Despite the growing popularity of renewable energy sources, fossil fuels remain the world's primary energy source. In 2017, 81% of the world's energy consumption came from oil, coal, and natural gas. China, the US, India, Russia, Japan, and Germany are among the top consumers of fossil fuels. China, the largest consumer of primary energy in the world, is responsible for 56% of global coal consumption and has seen its crude oil imports increase to 11.1 million barrels per day in 2024, with Russia as its largest supplier. The US is the largest oil consumer, with over 19.1 million barrels consumed per day in 2022. India, the third-largest oil consumer, has seen its gas consumption increase by 8.5% year-on-year since April 2023, while its coal consumption surpassed the combined total of Europe and North America in 2023. Russia is a significant player in the oil market and one of the largest natural gas consumers, while Japan, with a relatively small territory, ranks fifth in fossil fuel consumption. Germany, despite its efforts to reduce emissions, remains a heavy consumer of fossil fuels. Per capita consumption varies, with countries like Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, and Qatar consuming 10 or more tons of fossil fuels per person.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Largest consumer of primary energy in the world | China |
| Second-largest consumer of primary energy in the world | United States |
| Largest oil consumer | United States |
| Third-largest oil consumer | India |
| Largest natural gas consumer | Russia |
| Fifth-largest fossil fuel consumer | Japan |
| Heavy consumer of fossil fuels | Germany |
| Top 10 fossil fuel-producing countries | United States, China, Canada, Norway, Australia, Germany, Saudi Arabia |
| Top 10 countries dominating the fuel consumption list | United States, China, India, Russia, Japan, Germany, Korea |
| Countries with the highest per capita fossil fuel consumption | Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Singapore, Qatar, Trinidad and Tobago, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait |
| Percentage of global energy consumption that was oil, coal, and natural gas in 2017 | 81% |
| Amount of fossil fuels consumed annually | 15 billion metric tons |
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What You'll Learn
China's energy usage
China's dominance in the clean energy industry is creating the conditions for a decline in fossil fuel use globally. A report by Ember, a research group focused on clean energy technologies, highlights how China's efforts to sell batteries, solar panels, and wind turbines are contributing to this shift. China has also been investing heavily in renewable energy, with billions of dollars in subsidies, which has resulted in a cost advantage for wind and solar power over fossil fuels. This has facilitated the transition to renewable energy in other countries, such as Mexico, Bangladesh, Malaysia, and several African nations.
China's own domestic energy grid has transformed rapidly due to its capacity for energy transmission and storage infrastructure development. In 2023, China added over 300 GW of renewables, equivalent to about 25% of the total US grid. This rapid addition of renewable energy capacity is helping to offset China's significant power generation needs, driven by its global manufacturing burden.
While China still heavily relies on coal, it is simultaneously integrating large amounts of renewable energy into its energy mix. The Chinese government has outlined ambitious plans to reduce carbon emissions by 65% over six years and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.
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US fossil fuel consumption
Fossil fuels—petroleum, natural gas, and coal—accounted for 79% of the 97 quadrillion British thermal units (quads) of primary energy consumption in the United States during 2021. This figure is a slight decrease from 84% in 2020. The largest sources of carbon pollution from energy in the US are petroleum (46%), natural gas (35%), and coal (19%). In 2020, petroleum products, including vehicle fuel and diesel, accounted for 44% of US fossil fuel consumption. Transport was the largest consumer of petroleum at 68%.
The US is the largest oil consumer, with over 19.1 million barrels per day as of 2022. In the same year, the US consumed 32.2 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. The US leads the world in natural gas liquids (NGL) production, which has tripled from 2000 to 2022, now making up 9% of fossil fuels.
While fossil fuel consumption remains high, the US is far from the top when it comes to per capita fossil fuel consumption. This is due in part to the country's large population of over 334 million people. Many countries that consume the most fossil fuels are also those that produce a lot of fossil fuels, such as Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, and Qatar.
The US has seen a recent decline in fossil fuel consumption, with a 9% decrease in 2020, the biggest annual fall since records began in 1949. This decline has been attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in a 15% decrease in the energy consumption of the US transportation sector, and relatively warmer weather, reducing the demand for heating fuels. While fossil fuel consumption decreases, renewable energy consumption is rising, with a record number of new renewable energy projects completed in 2020.
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India's oil and coal usage
India is the third-largest global oil consumer, with roughly 4.65 million barrels consumed daily, driven by its booming automotive industry. The country's gas consumption has also been increasing by 8.5% year-on-year since April 2023. Oil and natural gas are the second and third largest sources of electricity generated in India, after coal. In 2017-18, crude oil accounted for 10.34% and natural gas for 8.7% of the total electricity produced. The total oil refining capacity in India stood at 248.87 Mt per year as of 31 March 2021.
India's crude oil consumption has been increasing over the years, rising from 204.12 Mt in 2011-12 to 221.77 Mt in 2019-20, with a CAGR of 0.93%. However, consumption declined by 12.82% in 2020-21 compared to the previous year, likely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. High-speed diesel oil accounted for 37.42% of total consumption of petroleum products in 2020-21, followed by petrol (14.40%), liquefied petroleum gas (14%), petroleum coke (8.03%), and naphtha (7%).
India is the second-largest producer and consumer of coal in the world, after China. Coal is in high demand in India, accounting for 55% of the country's energy needs. In 2020-21, India produced 716.08 million metric tons of coal, and in 2024-25, production increased to 1,047 million metric tons. India also imports around 15% of the coal it consumes due to a demand-supply mismatch and poor-quality domestic coal. Most of the coal is burned to generate electricity, with coal-fired power plants contributing 96.7% of CO2 emissions from power generation in 2021. However, these power plants have been criticised for breaking environmental laws and contributing to health and environmental issues.
The Indian government has recognised the need to transition to clean energy and has set goals to meet 50% of its electricity demand through renewable energy sources by 2030. India has made significant strides in this direction, with wind and solar power accounting for 92% of capacity additions to its overall power generation in 2022. Additionally, India has planned to produce 15 Mt/year of compressed biogas (CBG), a carbon-neutral fuel, by 2023.
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Germany's natural gas imports
Fossil fuels, including oil, coal, and natural gas, remain the most widely used energy source globally, constituting 81% of the world's energy consumption as of 2017. While China, the United States, India, Russia, and Japan are among the top consumers of fossil fuels, this discussion will focus on Germany's natural gas imports.
Germany is one of the world's largest importers of natural gas, with approximately 95% of its gas consumption being met through imports. In 2022, Germany imported 3,524 petajoules (PJ) of natural gas, according to the Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA). Before Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia was Germany's primary supplier of natural gas, accounting for 55% of its gas imports. However, Germany has since significantly reduced its reliance on Russian gas and has turned to other sources.
In 2023, Germany's natural gas imports declined to 968 terawatt hours (TWh), with Norway, the Netherlands, and Belgium being the top sources, contributing 43%, 26%, and 22% respectively. Germany has its own small-scale gas fields, and it also injects gas into the system from other processes, mainly biogas production. The seaports of Lubmin, Brunsbuettel, Stade, and Wilhelmshaven are equipped with floating liquefied natural gas storage and regasification units to facilitate gas imports.
Germany has been transitioning towards renewable energy sources and aims for climate neutrality by 2045. While gas covered almost a quarter of Germany's primary energy use in 2023, the country is committed to phasing out coal power generation and increasing the share of electricity produced from renewable sources. Germany's energy policy priorities include generating at least 80% of gross electricity from renewables by 2030.
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Japan's fossil fuel consumption
Fossil fuels remain the most used global energy resource, with 81% of the world's energy consumed in 2017 being oil, coal, and natural gas. The United States, China, and India are some of the top consumers of fossil fuels. Despite its relatively small territory, Japan ranks fifth in fossil fuel consumption by country.
Japan was the fifth-highest energy consumer in 2021, and fossil fuels accounted for 72% of its electricity generation that year. This was a notable decrease from 2012, when fossil fuels made up 89% of its energy mix. Japan's energy consumption has been gradually declining over the past decade, but the island nation remains one of the largest energy consumers worldwide due to its leading manufacturing industry, which demands high electricity usage.
Japan's primary energy supply is largely dependent on fossil fuels such as petroleum, coal, and natural gas. In 2022, Japan consumed over 151 million metric tons of oil, imported 180.3 million tons of coal, and used approximately 100 billion cubic meters of natural gas. Japan's demand for natural gas has decreased annually since 2014, except for a slight increase in 2017. The main driver of this decline has been the electric power sector.
Japan's heavy reliance on fossil fuels is due to its lack of domestic reserves, making it highly dependent on imports. Over 99% of its crude oil supply and nearly 98% of its natural gas supply are imported, mainly from Middle Eastern countries. To reduce greenhouse gas emissions, decrease dependence on fossil fuel imports, and secure a stable electricity supply, the Japanese government aims to replace fossil fuels with renewable and nuclear energy sources.
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Frequently asked questions
China consumed 140 exajoules of fossil fuels in 2023, making it the country that consumes the most fossil fuels.
The United States is the second-largest consumer of fossil fuels, with 76 exajoules consumed in 2023.
India is the third-largest consumer of fossil fuels, with 35 exajoules consumed in 2023.
The United States is the world's top producer of fossil fuels.
Russia is the second-largest producer of fossil fuels.
