26 Countries That Consume More Energy Than They Produce

A relatively small country of just 4.9 million people, New Zealand consumed just 235 terawatt-hours of energy in 2019 — less than any of the 44 other countries reviewed. Still, the country relies on foreign trading partners to meet much of that demand and imported about $4 billion in crude and refined petroleum in 2019.

New Zealand’s natural resources include both coal and natural gas — each of which contributes to the country’s energy mix. However, the bulk of New Zealand’s energy demands are met with renewable sources, including hydroelectricity, wind, and geothermal power. Partially as a result, the country has lower carbon emissions than any country reviewed.

Sweden consumed 547 terawatt-hours of energy in 2019, about 34% more than it produced that year. Without any natural fossil fuel supply, the country generates electricity through both nuclear and hydroelectric power. Both of those sources are low carbon emitters, and partially as a result, Sweden produced 43.3 tons of CO2 in 2019, less than several countries with much smaller populations.

Still, lacking in substantial amounts of natural resources used for power generation, Sweden relies heavily on trading partners to meet energy demand. Two of the country’s top three imports in 2019 by total value were crude petroleum and refined petroleum.

Romania consumes nearly 35% more energy than it produces. Domestic energy production in the country is a mix of renewable, nuclear, and natural gas sources. To help meet demand, the country imported $2.4 billion in refined petroleum in 2019.

Romania’s two nuclear plants generate about 20% of the country’s electricity and the country outperforms most other European Union member states in renewable energy production. Renewable sources accounted for 23.4% of all energy consumption (and 41.2% of electricity consumption) in the country in 2019 compared to the 18.9% average across the EU. Romania has also committed to a target of 30.5% renewable energy by 2030. Already, the country emits less carbon emissions from fuel combustion than many countries with much smaller populations, including EU partners Belgium and the Czech Republic.

The United Kingdom, like many other countries with highly advanced economies, is one of the world’s biggest energy consumers. To meet demand, the country’s domestic energy mix is predominantly a combination of oil, natural gas, coal, and nuclear power. Nuclear power accounts for about one-fifth of electricity generation in the country, and renewable sources account for over a third.

The U.K.’s transportation and industrial sectors drive up demand for energy, and to meet that demand, the country imported nearly $45 billion in both refined and crude petroleum in 2019. Imported crude oil in the U.K. comes primarily from Norway as well as Nigeria, Algeria, and Russia.

The former Soviet country of Ukraine consumes about 48% more energy than it produces. Unlike many other countries that rely on imports to meet energy demand, Ukraine has considerable natural resources. The country is home to some of the deepest coal mines in Europe, and as a Soviet member state, Ukraine was a major petroleum and natural gas producer. In addition to fossil fuels, nuclear power accounts for a large share of the country’s energy, even though the country is home to Chernobyl, the site of what was perhaps the worst nuclear disaster in history.

To meet energy demand, Ukraine imported $4.3 billion in refined petroleum in 2019, more than any other import that year.