Estimated global use of fossil fuels for 2024-2025 in terms of energy content.*
Use of Fossil Fuels by Sector
- Electric power generation (35-40%): This remains the largest single use of fossil fuels, and is mainly coal.
- Transportation (25-28%): Primarily oil. (See breakdown below.)
- Industry/Direct Use (20-25%): This includes high temperature processes in steel, cement and other manufacturing.
- Petrochemicals (8-12%): Demand for oil producing chemicals grew significantly in 2024.
- Residential/Other (5-10%): This includes direct burning of gas or coal for heating and cooking.
Breakdown of Transportation Fuel Use
- Passenger vehicles (45-50%): Mostly automobiles and light duty trucks.
- Road freight (25-30%): Heavy trucks and vans are the second largest consumers.
- Aviation (8-11%): Aviation demand surged in 2024, reaching record levels.
- Shipping (9-11%): Maritime transport remains heavily dependent on heavy fuel oil and diesel fuel.
- Rail (2-3%): Rail is the most energy-efficient mode and has the highest electrification rate.
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*Energy content is used instead of volume or value to allow "apples-to-apples" comparison of coal, oil and gas.
Sources: The International Energy Agency's World Energy Outlook 2024 and the Energy Institute's Global Energy Review 2025 and the Statistical Review of World Energy 2024.