As of 2021, the leading energy source for electricity generation in the United States was fossil fuels, namely natural gas. Natural gas accounted for 38 percent of electricity generation of the country, and coal accounted for 22 percent that year. In comparison, nuclear power accounted for 19 percent of electricity production and renewables for approximately 15 percent.
Distribution of electricity generation in the United States in 2021, by source
Basic Account
Get to know the platform
You only have access to basic statistics.
This statistic is not included in your account.
Starter Account
The ideal entry-level account for individual users
- Instant access to 1m statistics
- Download in XLS, PDF & PNG format
- Detailed references
$199 USD / Month *
Professional Account
Full access
Business Solutions including all features.
* Prices do not include sales tax.
Other statistics that may interest you Statistics on
About the industry
10
- Basic Statistic Global electricity generation 1990-2022, by source
- Premium Statistic Installed electricity generation capacity in Brazil 2021, by fuel
- Premium Statistic Electricity supply of Exelon Corporation 2019-2021, by source
- Basic Statistic ERCOT electricity demand and production in February 2021
- Basic Statistic African electricity generation outlook 2010-2040
- Premium Statistic Global supplier share of electricity meters by country 2017
- Basic Statistic Outlook on North America's electricity generation share by source 2015-2025
- Premium Statistic Power production breakdown in New Zealand 2022, by source
- Premium Statistic Exelon Corporation's employment figures 2016-2023
- Basic Statistic Net electricity production in Italy 2023, by source
About the region
9
- Premium Statistic Expenditure on nuclear fuels in the U.S. 2022, by major state
- Basic Statistic Number of electric industry ultimate customers U.S. 2022
- Premium Statistic U.S. industrial energy consumption share by source 2018
- Premium Statistic U.S. industrial coal price by select state 2017
- Premium Statistic U.S. industrial natural gas price by select state 2017
- Basic Statistic U.S. industrial petroleum price by select state 2017
- Basic Statistic Electricity generation in the U.S. 1990-2023, by fuel
- Premium Statistic Geothermal power generation in the U.S. 2005-2023
- Premium Statistic Duke Energy's electricity generation share FY 2023, by source
Selected statistics
5
- Basic Statistic U.S. electricity: noncoincident summer peak load for NERC region MRO
- Basic Statistic Average retail electricity prices by sector in Florida 1998-2015
- Premium Statistic E.ON's power sales 2005-2023
- Basic Statistic Major retailers of electricity in Iowa by sector 2015
- Basic Statistic UK power market: electricity generation market share of UK utilities
Other regions
10
- Premium Statistic Breakdown of wind power electricity generated in Italy 2022, by company
- Premium Statistic Number of new energy businesses Thailand 2018-2019
- Premium Statistic Revenues of Agder Energi 2009-2022
- Basic Statistic OECD electricity generation share by resource 2017
- Premium Statistic Total renewable power generation of RWE in Europe 2006-2017
- Premium Statistic Turnover of Enedis in France 2012-2017
- Premium Statistic Canada's electricity generation market share by utility 2016
- Basic Statistic Tanzania's generation of electricity by energy source 1990-2016
- Premium Statistic Africa's onshore wind capacity forecast by country 2019-2023
- Premium Statistic Domestic electricity supply in Denmark 2009-2023
Related statistics
9
- Basic Statistic Global installed electricity capacity 2022, by source
- Premium Statistic Global investment in electricity grids 2023, by region or country
- Basic Statistic Transmission entry capacity of major power producers in the UK 2017-2022, by fuel
- Premium Statistic Installed electricity generation capacity in Chile 2010-2021
- Premium Statistic Breakdown of solar electricity production by major energy firm in Italy 2022
- Basic Statistic Electricity availability in the United Kingdom 2002-2022
- Premium Statistic Power mix in all-island Ireland 2023
- Premium Statistic Net electricity generated by Enel in Italy 2015-2023
- Basic Statistic Global fuel mix of primary energy, electricity, and CO2 emissions 2018
Further related statistics
10
- Coal consumption in South Africa 1998-2022
- Oil consumption in Canada 1990-2022
- Coal consumption volume in China 1998-2022
- Poland - coal consumption in oil equivalent 2009-2022
- Oil production in Libya 1998-2022
- OPEC's crude oil production 1998-2022
- Oil exports from the U.S. 1998-2022
- Oil exports from the Middle East 1998-2022
- Primary energy consumption change in China 2000-2022
- Global natural gas production 2022, by country
Further Content: You might find this interesting as well
Statistics
- Coal consumption in South Africa 1998-2022
- Oil consumption in Canada 1990-2022
- Coal consumption volume in China 1998-2022
- Poland - coal consumption in oil equivalent 2009-2022
- Oil production in Libya 1998-2022
- OPEC's crude oil production 1998-2022
- Oil exports from the U.S. 1998-2022
- Oil exports from the Middle East 1998-2022
- Primary energy consumption change in China 2000-2022
- Global natural gas production 2022, by country
Visual Capitalist. (January 12, 2023). Distribution of electricity generation in the United States in 2021, by source [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved May 28, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1361661/us-electricity-production-shares-by-source/
Visual Capitalist. "Distribution of electricity generation in the United States in 2021, by source." Chart. January 12, 2023. Statista. Accessed May 28, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1361661/us-electricity-production-shares-by-source/
Visual Capitalist. (2023). Distribution of electricity generation in the United States in 2021, by source. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: May 28, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1361661/us-electricity-production-shares-by-source/
Visual Capitalist. "Distribution of Electricity Generation in The United States in 2021, by Source." Statista, Statista Inc., 12 Jan 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1361661/us-electricity-production-shares-by-source/
Visual Capitalist, Distribution of electricity generation in the United States in 2021, by source Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1361661/us-electricity-production-shares-by-source/ (last visited May 28, 2024)
Distribution of electricity generation in the United States in 2021, by source [Graph], Visual Capitalist, January 12, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1361661/us-electricity-production-shares-by-source/