Hydro share of electricity — all countries

Hydro share of electricity — High-income countries

Hydro share of electricity in high-income countries in 2021 — 12.89%. Since 2000, the indicator has fallen by 1.58 pp.

2021 12.89% −0.72 pp vs 2020
World rank
Period maximum 14.47%2000
Period minimum 12.63%2007

Trend over time

2000–2021 · % of generation

Hydro share of electricity — High-income countries, 2000–202112.51313.51414.5200020032006200920122015201820212000: 14.47%2001: 13.81%2002: 13.75%2003: 13.3%2004: 13.33%2005: 13.11%2006: 13.04%2007: 12.63%2008: 12.77%2009: 13.3%2010: 12.76%2011: 12.95%2012: 12.9%2013: 13.27%2014: 13.21%2015: 12.73%2016: 13.01%2017: 12.93%2018: 13%2019: 12.75%2020: 13.61%2021: 12.89%
Change over the period: −1.58 pp Annual average: -0.08 pp

Comparison, 2021

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: High-income countries

High-income countries 12.89%
World 15.41%
Hydro share of electricity — High-income countries, by year High-income countries All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2021 12.89 −0.72 pp
2020 13.61 +0.86 pp
2019 12.75 −0.24 pp
2018 13 +0.07 pp
2017 12.93 −0.08 pp
2016 13.01 +0.27 pp
2015 12.73 −0.48 pp
2014 13.21 −0.06 pp
2013 13.27 +0.37 pp
2012 12.9 −0.04 pp
2011 12.95 +0.19 pp
2010 12.76 −0.55 pp
2009 13.3 +0.53 pp
2008 12.77 +0.14 pp
2007 12.63 −0.4 pp
2006 13.04 −0.08 pp
2005 13.11 −0.22 pp
2004 13.33 +0.03 pp
2003 13.3 −0.45 pp
2002 13.75 −0.05 pp
2001 13.81 −0.67 pp
2000 14.47

About the indicator

The share of electricity generated at hydroelectric plants. The oldest of the renewable sources and still the largest: hydro yields more electricity than solar and wind together. The share is set by terrain and water availability rather than by policy, so in a number of countries it exceeds ninety percent — and that makes them vulnerable to drought: in a dry year such a country has to burn fuel or buy electricity.

Important: Aggregates are weighted by generation in terawatt-hours and computed from 2000 onward. The series swings noticeably from year to year with water availability, and that is not a data error.

Source: World Development Indicators (World Bank), license CC BY 4.0.