Global energy demand rose sharply in 2024, outpacing the average growth rate of the past decade, as electricity consumption surged worldwide, according to the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Global Energy Review. The increase was driven by record global temperatures, higher industrial activity, and the expanding use of electric vehicles, data centres, and artificial intelligence technologies.
Electricity demand soared by 4.3%—nearly 1,100 terawatt-hours—almost twice the annual average over the previous ten years. This upswing propelled broader energy consumption, reversing years of decline in advanced economies, where demand rose nearly 1% after a prolonged period of contraction.
Globally, energy demand increased by 2.2% in 2024, significantly above the 1.3% average seen between 2013 and 2023, although still trailing global GDP growth of 3.2%. Over 80% of the rise came from emerging and developing economies, despite a notable slowdown in China, where energy consumption rose by under 3%—half the rate recorded in 2023.
The report highlights the critical role played by low-emission energy sources in meeting rising demand. Renewables and nuclear power accounted for 80% of the increase in global electricity generation. Renewables alone added around 700 gigawatts of new capacity—setting a new record for the 22nd consecutive year—while nuclear additions reached their fifth-highest level in three decades. For the first time, renewables and nuclear collectively contributed 40% of total global power generation.
Natural gas-fired power generation also expanded steadily, becoming the fossil fuel with the largest demand increase last year. Global gas consumption rose by 115 billion cubic metres (2.7%), outstripping the decade-long average of 75 bcm annually.
Oil demand, however, grew more modestly at 0.8%, with its share of global energy use falling below 30% for the first time since the 1970s. The surge in electric vehicle (EV) sales—up by over 25%—helped curb oil consumption in road transport, offsetting increases in aviation and petrochemical use. One in five cars sold globally in 2024 was electric.
Coal demand grew by 1%, half the pace of the previous year. Notably, heatwaves in China and India accounted for over 90% of the global rise in coal consumption, underscoring how extreme weather events are reshaping energy demand patterns.
Despite the sharp increase in power use, the IEA found that the rapid uptake of clean energy technologies is beginning to decouple emissions from economic growth. While global energy-related CO2 emissions rose by 0.8% to 37.8 billion tonnes—largely due to higher cooling needs—technologies such as solar PV, wind, nuclear power, EVs and heat pumps now prevent an estimated 2.6 billion tonnes of CO2 annually, equivalent to 7% of global emissions.
Advanced economies saw their CO2 emissions fall by 1.1% to levels last recorded in the 1970s, despite their combined GDP tripling since then. Most of the global emissions growth originated from emerging and developing economies outside China. Although emissions growth in China slowed, the country’s per capita emissions are now 16% higher than those of advanced economies and nearly double the global average.
“There are many uncertainties in the world today and different narratives about energy – but this new data-driven IEA report puts some clear facts on the table,” said IEA Executive Director Dr Fatih Birol. “Electricity use is growing rapidly, driving up energy demand across the board. Renewables are leading the way, followed by natural gas, and we’re seeing a strong decoupling of emissions from economic growth.”
Dr Birol added that key trends the IEA had previously forecast—such as the peaking of oil demand growth, the accelerating shift to EVs, and the increasing centrality of electricity—are now being confirmed in real-world data.
