2. General energy policy

Key data

(2018 provisional)

TPES: 2 228.3 Mtoe (oil 36.2%, natural gas 31.7%, coal 14.2%, nuclear 9.8%, bioenergy and waste 4.8%, hydro 1.1%, wind 1.1%, solar 0.5%, geothermal 0.5%, electricity 0.2%), -2.1% since 2008

TPES per capita: 6.8 toe per capita (IEA average: 4.2 toe)

TPES per unit of GDP: 125 toe per USD million PPP (IEA average: 105 toe)

Energy production: 2 176.6 Mtoe (natural gas 32.9%, oil 31.8%, coal 16.9%. nuclear 10.1%, bioenergy and waste 5.1%, hydro 1.2%, wind 1.1%, geothermal 0.5%, solar 0.5%), +27.9% since 2008

Note: All figures in Chapter 2, “General Energy Policy” are IEA annual data in a unified energy unit (Mtoe) based on country data submissions. Oil and gas chapters include volumetric units (barrels and cubic metres) based on country submissions of monthly data, and may differ from annual figures due to timing, availability and coverage.

Country overview

The United States (US) is the world’s largest economy based on nominal GDP value. It is also the third-largest country by geographic footprint, and the third largest in terms of population. The United States covers a total area of 9 833 517 square kilometres (including land and water) and has a diverse landscape that ranges from beaches to mountains, plains, forests and deserts (CIA, 2019). As such, the United States has highly varied climates across the nation. The country is situated in the middle of the North American continent, sharing a border with Canada to the north and Mexico to the south. Its west coast faces the Pacific Ocean, while the east coast borders the Atlantic Ocean.

The United States comprises 50 states plus the District of Columbia, a federal district that serves as the nation’s capital. While 48 of these states are contiguous and situated between Canada and Mexico, Alaska is located to the northwest of Canada, and Hawaii is a group of islands in the Pacific Ocean. The United States also has five major territories, which are self-governing entities that fall under federal government control.

The United States is among the most populous countries in the world. As of February 2019, the US Census estimated the country’s total population to be 328 498 078 (United States Cesus Bureau, 2019). The most populous states are (in order) California, Texas, Florida and New York, while the most populous cities are New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. Notably, despite an ageing population, the United States continues to post steady population growth, with immigration being a key driver of growth. In 2014, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) estimated a population growth rate of 0.75%.

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ENERGY INSIGHTS

IEA. All rights reserved.

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IEA (2019). All rights reserved.

IEA. All rights reserved.