Electricity use

Electricity use reveals world discrepancies

National electricity use reveals much about the economy and technical prowess of a country, but also its multiple strategies and potential. Some factors influencing electricity use are climate (energy needs being higher in cold regions or those where air conditioning is widespread) and domestic natural resources, especially hydroelectricity and geothermal energy sources.

The highest electricity consumption figures come from countries where a combination of these factors exists, such as Iceland (29,400 kWh) and Norway (26,657 kWh). But there may be differences within the same region; Sweden, for example, consumes 40% less electricity per capita than Norway.

Several major country groups can be discerned:
- USA and Gulf countries: 14,000 to 20,000 kWh;
- Major European countries, Japan and newly industrialised Asian nations: 6,000 to 10,000 kWh
- Latin America and emerging countries: 2,000 to 5,000 kWh
- low GDP countries: under 1,000 kWh.

Even among low-income nations, electricity production may be substantial if hydroelectricity resources are available, as in Mozambique. However, production capacity does not in and of itself guarantee equitable distribution to the population.

There was a time when high electricity use was considered a sign of “development”. But now, in light of soaring energy prices and global warming, increasing importance is being attached to the ability to reduce or limit energy use.