Ranked: Where Households Pay the Highest Energy Bills
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Key Takeaways
- Sweden has the world’s highest household energy spending, at $1,926 per person in 2025.
- Europe accounts for 24 of the top 30 countries, highlighting the region’s unusually high household energy costs.
- The U.S. ranks 16th, while spending falls sharply across most emerging economies.
This visualization ranks select countries by annual household energy spending per person in 2025.
The figures include electricity, gas, heating, and other fuels used in the home, but exclude transportation costs.
European countries dominate the upper end of the ranking, while household energy spending is substantially lower across much of Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
The data for this visualization comes from the International Energy Agency’s Household Energy Expenditure Database.
Europe Dominates the Top of the Ranking
Sweden ranks first, with annual household energy spending of $1,926 per person. Finland follows at $1,786, while Austria places third at $1,709.
View where all 66 countries from the analysis fall in the following table:
| Rank | Country | Energy spending per person, 2025 (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sweden | $1,926 |
| 2 | Finland | $1,786 |
| 3 | Austria | $1,709 |
| 4 | Denmark | $1,583 |
| 5 | Germany | $1,450 |
| 6 | Switzerland | $1,388 |
| 7 | Czechia | $1,214 |
| 8 | France | $1,195 |
| 9 | Italy | $1,139 |
| 10 | Netherlands | $1,137 |
| 11 | Greenland | $1,132 |
| 12 | Norway | $1,127 |
| 13 | Luxembourg | $1,111 |
| 14 | Belgium | $1,107 |
| 15 | Ireland | $1,087 |
| 16 | U.S. | $1,042 |
| 17 | UK | $965 |
| 18 | Cyprus | $951 |
| 19 | Slovenia | $812 |
| 20 | Poland | $786 |
| 21 | Greece | $764 |
| 22 | Canada | $748 |
| 23 | Spain | $710 |
| 24 | Moldova | $695 |
| 25 | Lithuania | $692 |
| 26 | Japan | $683 |
| 27 | New Zealand | $675 |
| 28 | Croatia | $637 |
| 29 | Portugal | $633 |
| 30 | Slovakia | $594 |
| 31 | Chile | $587 |
| 32 | Serbia | $587 |
| 33 | Uruguay | $574 |
| 34 | Romania | $464 |
| 35 | North Macedonia | $451 |
| 36 | Botswana | $450 |
| 37 | Bulgaria | $444 |
| 38 | Korea | $428 |
| 39 | Montenegro | $424 |
| 40 | Hungary | $378 |
| 41 | Singapore | $342 |
| 42 | Malta | $318 |
| 43 | Kosovo | $294 |
| 44 | Taiwan | $273 |
| 45 | Brazil | $256 |
| 46 | Albania | $247 |
| 47 | Costa Rica | $213 |
| 48 | Armenia | $200 |
| 49 | China | $173 |
| 50 | Philippines | $160 |
| 51 | Georgia | $143 |
| 52 | Ukraine | $136 |
| 53 | Türkiye | $135 |
| 54 | Dominican Republic | $134 |
| 55 | Belarus | $123 |
| 56 | Ecuador | $119 |
| 57 | Jordan | $116 |
| 58 | Kazakhstan | $102 |
| 59 | Viet Nam | $95 |
| 60 | Senegal | $89 |
| 61 | Tunisia | $72 |
| 62 | Pakistan | $54 |
| 63 | India | $52 |
| 64 | Egypt | $35 |
| 65 | Algeria | $29 |
| 66 | Bolivia | $25 |
At the opposite end of the ranking, Bolivia records spending of just $25 per person, followed by Algeria at $29 and Egypt at $35.
Why Some Countries Spend More on Energy Bills
High household energy spending reflects a mix of factors rather than prices alone. Colder climates require more heating, higher incomes often support larger homes and greater energy use, including air conditioning, and many European countries also face relatively high retail electricity and gas prices.
Outside Europe, the United States, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Chile, and Uruguay are among the few economies appearing near the top of the ranking.
Even within Europe, spending varies considerably, reflecting differences in climate, fuel mix, housing efficiency, and government support.
North America Sits Below Europe’s Leaders
The United States ranks 16th, with household energy spending of $1,042 per person. This is less than Sweden’s total, but still significantly higher than spending across most of Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
Canada ranks 22nd at $748 per person, despite its colder climate.
Large Gaps Across Emerging Markets
Household energy spending drops sharply further down the ranking. China records annual spending of $173 per person, while India spends $52 and Pakistan spends $54. Several African countries appear near the bottom, including Senegal at $89, Tunisia at $72, Egypt at $35, and Algeria at $29.
Lower household energy spending should not be interpreted as greater efficiency. It can also reflect lower incomes, limited access to modern energy services, smaller living spaces, warmer climates, government subsidies, or lower electricity and fuel prices.
Learn More on the Voronoi App
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