Global Fossil Fuel Consumption
Provided by: Our World in Data|Published on: July 20, 2021|Last updated: September 26, 2026
Grades: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Type: Data, Graphs, and Maps
Subjects: Science, Geography, Mathematics
Authors: Hannah Ritchie, Max Roser
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This resource includes an interactive graph and table that shows global primary energy consumption, measured in terawatt-hours, by fossil fuel type, beginning in the year 1800.
- Students can hover over the graph to get more information or use the sliding scale at the bottom to zoom into various time periods.
Teaching Materials
Positives
- The site explains how the data was collected.
- Students can toggle on and off the relative amount that each type of fuel contributed to the total amount of emissions under the Settings menu.
Prerequisites
- Learners should be aware of where most electricity comes from and/or how it is produced.
- The linked graph is only for the world as a whole, but there are links for data by country, per capita, and many others to choose from.
Differentiation & Implementation
- Consider using this graph in math classes to support ratios and proportions lessons or lessons about graphing data in a stacked graph vs. individual graphs for each dependent variable.
- This resource can be used to create awareness about one or more of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- Compare this graph to a graph of global greenhouse gas concentrations over time and then have students write a paragraph describing how the two graphs are related.
Fossil fuel consumption is shown to be increasing from 1985 to the present globally. This resource is recommended for students to explore the rate of consumption of energy from nonrenewable energy sources.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
Learn about our review process →
