{"id":341439,"date":"2026-07-20T11:50:16","date_gmt":"2026-07-20T15:50:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?post_type=short-read&p=341439"},"modified":"2026-07-20T11:50:16","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T15:50:16","slug":"how-global-energy-production-is-changing-in-6-charts","status":"publish","type":"short-read","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2026\/07\/20\/how-global-energy-production-is-changing-in-6-charts\/","title":{"rendered":"How global energy production is changing, in 6 charts"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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A worker carries a solar panel in Karachi, Pakistan, on June 23, 2025. (Asif Hassan\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The world is using more electricity than ever, but where this energy comes from is changing. Renewable sources like wind and solar power are growing rapidly, especially in certain parts of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s a closer look at long-term trends in global energy production, based on a Pew Research Center analysis of data from Ember<\/a>, an independent think tank focusing on global energy trends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About this research<\/summary>\n

This Pew Research Center analysis examines how global energy production has changed over the long term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why did we do this?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pew Research Center does research to help the public, media and decision-makers understand important topics. This research builds on our long-standing work on climate, energy and the environment<\/a>.

Learn more about Pew Research Center<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How did we do this?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Data in this analysis comes from Ember<\/a>, an independent think tank focusing on global energy trends, and Our World in Data<\/a>, a collaboration between researchers at the University of Oxford and the nonprofit Global Change Data Lab.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

Most electricity still comes from burning fossil fuels. But a growing share comes from wind and solar power.<\/strong> Worldwide, 57% of all electricity generated in 2025 came from burning coal, gas or other fossil fuels, down from 65% in 2000.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Fossil fuels still dominate globally, but renewable sources are growing<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
% of global electricity generated from each source<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n
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Note: \u201cOther fossil\u201d includes generation from oil and petroleum products and manufactured gases and waste. \u201cOther renewables,\u201d which includes geothermal, tidal and wave power, is not shown (<1%).<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
Source: Ember, \u201cYearly Electricity Data<\/a>\u201d (accessed June 23, 2026).<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
PEW RESEARCH CENTER<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t
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Share this chart<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t