A quick energy story in per capita numbers

Here are some interesting numbers related to the energy sector that I obtained from WolframAlpha and the 2012 CO2 Report.

1. Coal consumption
USA 1.122 billion tonnes per year (2008)
India 637.5 million tonnes per year (2008)

2. Oil consumption
USA 18.69 million barrels per day (2009)
India 2.98 million barrels per day (2009)

3. Greenhouse gases (CO2 equivalent) [1]
USA 5500 million tonnes per year (2011)
India 2000 million tonnes per year (2011)

To make it more interesting, let us look at these numbers per person. (The population estimates used here are from 2010.)

1. Coal consumption
USA 3.63 tonnes per person per year
India 0.525 tonnes per person per year

2. Oil consumption
USA 22.1 barrels per person per year
India 0.896 barrels per person per year

3. Greenhouse gases (CO2 equivalent)
USA 17.8 tonnes per person per year
India 1.65 tonnes per person per year

And now, to make it sensational look at the ratios!
An average American uses 7 times more coal, 25 times more oil and produces 11 times more CO2 than an average Indian.


[1] Oliver JGJ, Janssens-Maenhout G and Peters JAHW (2012), "Trends in global CO2 emissions;" 2012 Report, The Hague: PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency; Ispra: Joint Research Centre. [Available online at http://edgar.jrc.ec.europa.eu/CO2REPORT2012.pdf. Last viewed July 22, 2012]