Change in electricity consumption in the European Union (EU) 2023, by country

In 2023, Germany recorded the most considerable fall in electricity demand within the European Union, amounting to over 25 terawatt-hours. Meanwhile, Ireland recorded the largest increase in demand of 0.75 terawatt-hours. On average, demand for electricity across the EU fell between 2022 and 2023.

Electricity demand in the European Union

Despite recording the largest growth in the decade, Malta still exhibited the lowest electricity demand in the European Union in 2022. The Mediterranean archipelago’s electricity consumption stood at less than three terawatt-hours that year. In contrast, Germany – with a population estimated at more than 80 million inhabitants – was the largest consumer in the region that year, with more than 554 terawatt-hours, or roughly 20 percent of the total EU’s electricity demand.

Meeting the demand

Overall, the biggest electricity consumers in the European Union are also the largest electricity producers in the region, with Germany and France taking the lead. Nevertheless, while Italy also ranked amongst the top 5 producers, the country's output falls short of meeting its demand. In recent years, Italy was the EU's largest electricity net importer, at more than 42 terawatt-hours.