A key measure of global progress on energy efficiency is set to accelerate in 2025, according to the latest annual update from the IEA, a sign of improving momentum in an important area for strengthening energy security and economic competitiveness while reducing energy costs and emissions.
Energy Efficiency 2025, the IEA’s annual report on efficiency trends around the world, finds that global primary energy intensity – the main metric for tracking efficiency progress – is on course to improve by 1.8% this year, up from just 1% in 2024.
Preliminary estimates indicate that several key economies, such as India and China, are showing some indications of stronger progress compared with their average since 2019.
The rate of global improvement in energy efficiency has been largely lackluster since 2019, averaging around 1.3% per year. That’s down significantly from the average of around 2% per year between 2010 and 2019.
“The acceleration in global progress on energy efficiency that we’re seeing in 2025 is encouraging, including positive signs in some major emerging economies. But our analysis shows that governments need to work even harder to ensure efficiency’s full range of benefits are enjoyed by as many people as possible,” said IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol.
