Coal has been the main source of electricity generation worldwide for the last three decades. In 2023, global coal power generation stood at almost 10,500 terawatt-hours. Overall, coal, natural gas, and other fossil fuels accounted for approximately 60 percent of the global electricity production that year.
Renewable energy sources of electricity generation
The production of renewable energy has been increasing steadily over the past decades, with solar and wind energy showing the largest year-over-year growth between 2022 and 2023. However, the contribution of renewables to the world’s electric power mix remains small when compared to fossil fuel sources.
* Includes generation from pumped-hydro power stations until 2019. ** Solar photovoltaic until 2019, solar thermal included afterward. *** Includes oil, petroleum products, manufactured gases, and waste. **** Includes geothermal, tide, and wave generation. Includes solar thermal until 2019.
Profit from the additional features of your individual account
Currently, you are using a shared account. To use individual functions (e.g., mark statistics as favourites, set
statistic alerts) please log in with your personal account.
If you are an admin, please authenticate by logging in again.
Learn more about how Statista can support your business.
Ember. (July 4, 2024). Generation of electricity worldwide from 1990 to 2023, by energy source (in terawatt-hours) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved October 31, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/273273/world-electricity-generation-by-energy-source/
Ember. "Generation of electricity worldwide from 1990 to 2023, by energy source (in terawatt-hours)." Chart. July 4, 2024. Statista. Accessed October 31, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/273273/world-electricity-generation-by-energy-source/
Ember. (2024). Generation of electricity worldwide from 1990 to 2023, by energy source (in terawatt-hours). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: October 31, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/273273/world-electricity-generation-by-energy-source/
Ember. "Generation of Electricity Worldwide from 1990 to 2023, by Energy Source (in Terawatt-hours)." Statista, Statista Inc., 4 Jul 2024, https://www.statista.com/statistics/273273/world-electricity-generation-by-energy-source/
Ember, Generation of electricity worldwide from 1990 to 2023, by energy source (in terawatt-hours) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/273273/world-electricity-generation-by-energy-source/ (last visited October 31, 2024)
Generation of electricity worldwide from 1990 to 2023, by energy source (in terawatt-hours) [Graph], Ember, July 4, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/273273/world-electricity-generation-by-energy-source/