Share of primary energy from low-carbon energy in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Share of primary energy from low-carbon energy was 21.1% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Share of primary energy from low-carbon energy in United Kingdom, 1965–2025
Source: Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017); U.S. Energy Information Administration (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of primary energy from low-carbon energy in United Kingdom is 21.1%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 61 years on record.
The figure is up 0.2% on the previous year and up 27.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of primary energy from low-carbon energy in United Kingdom peaked at 21.1% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 2.2%, in 1965.
United Kingdom ranks 20th of 80 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of primary energy from low-carbon energy in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 2.2% | — |
| 1966 | 2.8% | +29.7% |
| 1967 | 3.2% | +14.6% |
| 1968 | 3.4% | +6.2% |
| 1969 | 3.7% | +6.2% |
| 1970 | 3.3% | -10.7% |
| 1971 | 3.5% | +6.0% |
| 1972 | 3.6% | +4.8% |
| 1973 | 3.3% | -8.5% |
| 1974 | 4.2% | +25.8% |
| 1975 | 4.0% | -4.1% |
| 1976 | 4.7% | +16.7% |
| 1977 | 5.0% | +7.7% |
| 1978 | 4.7% | -7.2% |
| 1979 | 4.6% | -1.6% |
| 1980 | 4.9% | +5.9% |
| 1981 | 5.2% | +5.8% |
| 1982 | 6.0% | +16.8% |
| 1983 | 6.8% | +12.6% |
| 1984 | 7.3% | +7.9% |
| 1985 | 7.9% | +7.8% |
| 1986 | 7.5% | -5.3% |
| 1987 | 7.0% | -6.5% |
| 1988 | 7.9% | +13.4% |
| 1989 | 8.9% | +12.4% |
| 1990 | 8.2% | -7.9% |
| 1991 | 8.6% | +4.6% |
| 1992 | 9.5% | +10.0% |
| 1993 | 10.8% | +14.3% |
| 1994 | 10.9% | +0.8% |
| 1995 | 10.9% | +0.3% |
| 1996 | 11.0% | +0.9% |
| 1997 | 11.7% | +6.2% |
| 1998 | 11.9% | +1.4% |
| 1999 | 11.5% | -2.9% |
| 2000 | 10.3% | -10.4% |
| 2001 | 10.8% | +4.6% |
| 2002 | 10.9% | +0.9% |
| 2003 | 10.9% | -0.0% |
| 2004 | 10.1% | -7.6% |
| 2005 | 10.4% | +3.5% |
| 2006 | 10.0% | -4.3% |
| 2007 | 9.0% | -10.0% |
| 2008 | 8.2% | -8.4% |
| 2009 | 10.7% | +29.6% |
| 2010 | 9.7% | -8.6% |
| 2011 | 11.8% | +20.9% |
| 2012 | 12.1% | +2.9% |
| 2013 | 13.4% | +10.6% |
| 2014 | 14.4% | +7.2% |
| 2015 | 16.5% | +15.1% |
| 2016 | 17.0% | +3.0% |
| 2017 | 17.9% | +5.0% |
| 2018 | 18.3% | +2.5% |
| 2019 | 18.6% | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 20.7% | +11.6% |
| 2021 | 19.2% | -7.3% |
| 2022 | 20.1% | +4.6% |
| 2023 | 20.0% | -0.4% |
| 2024 | 21.1% | +5.3% |
| 2025 | 21.1% | +0.2% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 21.1% is above the median for high income countries, which is 18.3%, 1.2× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 21.1% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 19.0%, 1.1× the median. (39 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 3.1% | 2.2% | 3.7% | 5 |
| 1970s | 4.1% | 3.3% | 5.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.9% | 4.9% | 8.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 10.5% | 8.2% | 11.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 10.1% | 8.2% | 10.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.0% | 9.7% | 18.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 20.4% | 19.2% | 21.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More climate change data for United Kingdom
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 37,706 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 8,697 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 29,008 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 32.82 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 1,036 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 7,083 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 7,027 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 55.89 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 26.52 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 2 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of primary energy from low-carbon energy in United Kingdom?
- Share of primary energy from low-carbon energy in United Kingdom was 21.1% in 2025, according to Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017); U.S. Energy Information Administration (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of primary energy from low-carbon energy recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 21.1% in 2025.
- What is the lowest share of primary energy from low-carbon energy recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.2% in 1965.
- How does United Kingdom rank for share of primary energy from low-carbon energy?
- United Kingdom ranks 20th out of 80 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of primary energy from low-carbon energy rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 27.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017); U.S. Energy Information Administration (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of primary energy from low-carbon energy. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 61 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Measured as a percentage of total energy supply.