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Topic 16 of 18 · Country Index 2026

Ireland: Energy

Where does a country’s electricity come from, and who can get it?

Ireland is placed 41st of 165 countries on energy in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics. Readings behind it: Carbon Intensity of Electricity 270.75 (2024); Renewable Share of Electricity Generation 46.51 (2024).

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Energy

41st

of 165 countries placed

Placed from 3 of 3 key statistics

Country Index 2026, all topics11th of 183 →

01The evidence

The 3 key statistics that decide it

Only these place Ireland on energy — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.

Why these keys

  1. Key 1 of 3

    Carbon Intensity of Electricity

    Ember

    Why it is a key

    2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0

    270.75

    Carbon intensity (gCO₂e per kWh generated)

    Lower is better

    Ireland: 270.75. Across the 165 countries in this edition, values run from 23.73 (Bhutan) to 1,306 (Turkmenistan); the world median is 433.75.

    World median
    433.75
    Best in Northern Europe
    27.82 Iceland

  2. Key 2 of 3

    Renewable Share of Electricity Generation

    Ember

    Why it is a key

    2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0

    46.51

    Renewables (% of electricity generated)

    Higher is better

    Ireland: 46.51. Across the 165 countries in this edition, values run from 0 (Gambia) to 100 (Paraguay); the world median is 32.06.

    World median
    32.06
    Best in Northern Europe
    100 Iceland

  3. Key 3 of 3

    World Energy Trilemma Index

    World Energy Council

    Why it is a key

    2023 edition · data for 2023 · Express reuse grant (no Creative Commons licence named)

    76.3

    Trilemma score (0–100)

    Higher is better

    Ranked 19th of 99 by World Energy Council

    Ireland: 76.3. Across the 126 countries in this edition, values run from 27.7 (Niger) to 83.2 (Denmark); the world median is 63.8.

    World median
    63.8
    Best in Northern Europe
    83.2 Denmark
    Land neighbours
    United Kingdom 80

03In context

Ireland beside its neighbours

A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 165 countries on energy, never a place within the region.

Northern Europe
1st165thNot placed · 59 countries with too few key statisticsNo data

The whole world on energy

Ireland and the countries it borders

Standing among all 165; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.

CountryStandingCarbon Intensity of ElectricityCarbon intensity (gCO₂e per kWh generated)Renewable Share of Electricity GenerationRenewables (% of electricity generated)World Energy Trilemma IndexTrilemma score (0–100)
Ireland41st270.7546.5176.3
United Kingdomnot placed——80

“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is

Placed either side on energy

The countries immediately above and below Ireland in the topic’s list.

04Context, no vote

Where Ireland is ahead of the world, and behind

24 more statistics filed under energy, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.

Every country

Ahead of the world median7

Statistics on which Ireland does better than the middle country measured.

  • RISE Renewable Energy Policy ScoreESMAP · 2023 · world median 33.2684.63▲ Improved since 2013

    Ireland: 84.63 · world median 33.26 · Renewable energy policy score (0–100). World Bank Group (ESMAP), 2023 edition, data for 2023.

    Published values in that edition run from 3.056 to 89.52; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Wind and Solar Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 5.27940.82▼ Worsened since 2014

    Ireland: 40.82 · world median 5.279 · Wind and solar (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 69.12; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Energy Intensity of GDP (PPP)EIA · 2024 · world median 2.7381.043▲ Improved since 2014

    Ireland: 1.043 · world median 2.738 · Energy use per dollar of GDP (thousand Btu per US$ at PPP). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.666 to 17.45; lower is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • RISE Energy Efficiency Policy ScoreESMAP · 2023 · world median 48.2378.33▼ Worsened since 2013

    Ireland: 78.33 · world median 48.23 · Energy efficiency policy score (0–100). World Bank Group (ESMAP), 2023 edition, data for 2023.

    Published values in that edition run from 1.975 to 95.93; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Firms Identifying Electricity as a Major ConstraintWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 25.7710.7No earlier reading

    Ireland: 10.7 · world median 25.77 · Firms rating electricity a major or very severe constraint (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 84.77; lower is better.

    Position 142nd of 179 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2026 dataset

  • Low-Carbon Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 37.3246.51▲ Improved since 2014

    Ireland: 46.51 · world median 37.32 · Low-carbon sources (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.

    Position 74th of 162 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Firms Owning or Sharing a GeneratorWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 24.8523.77No earlier reading

    Ireland: 23.77 · world median 24.85 · Firms owning or sharing a generator (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.158 to 90.51; lower is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2026 dataset

Behind the world median2

Statistics on which Ireland does worse than the middle country measured.

  • Coal Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 02.027▲ Improved since 2014

    Ireland: 2.027 · world median 0 · Coal (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 98.25; lower is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • CO₂ Emissions per CapitaGlobal Carbon Project · 2024 · world median 3.216.339No real change since 2014

    Ireland: 6.339 · world median 3.21 · Fossil CO₂ (tonnes per person). Global Carbon Project, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.054 to 41.27; lower is better.

    Position 44th of 210 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

Level with the median, or no median to compare2

  • Access to ElectricityWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 100100▼ Worsened since 2014

    Ireland: 100 · world median 100 · Population with electricity access (%). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 5.4 to 100; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Access to Electricity, RuralWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 100100▼ Worsened since 2014

    Ireland: 100 · world median 100 · Rural population with electricity access (%). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.7 to 100; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

No better end13

These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.

  • Operating Wind Power CapacityGlobal Energy Monitor · 2026 · world median 1004,381No earlier reading

    Ireland: 4,381 · world median 100 · Wind farm capacity in operation (megawatts). Global Energy Monitor, 2026 edition, data for 2026.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 542,758.

    Chart and every countryThe 2026 dataset

  • Net Electricity Imports (share of generation)Ember · 2024 · world median 016.28Moved since 2014

    Ireland: 16.28 · world median 0 · Net electricity imports (% of domestic generation). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from -70.16 to 707.07.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Gas Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 2.58548.6Moved since 2014

    Ireland: 48.6 · world median 2.585 · Natural gas (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 99.97.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Primary Energy Consumption per CapitaEIA · 2024 · world median 49.5111.37No real change since 2014

    Ireland: 111.37 · world median 49.5 · Energy use per person (million Btu). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.95 to 766.07.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Solar Electricity Installed CapacityEIA · 2024 · world median 0.1441.34Moved since 2014

    Ireland: 1.34 · world median 0.144 · Solar generating capacity installed (gigawatts). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 886.66.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Natural Gas ProductionEIA · 2024 · world median 01.099Moved since 2014

    Ireland: 1.099 · world median 0 · Dry natural gas produced (billion cubic metres). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 1,069.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Primary Energy ProductionEIA · 2024 · world median 0.0770.099Moved since 2014

    Ireland: 0.099 · world median 0.077 · Primary energy produced (quadrillion Btu). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 130.76.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Solar Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 3.0493.508Moved since 2014

    Ireland: 3.508 · world median 3.049 · Solar (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 50.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Nuclear Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 00No real change since 2014

    Ireland: 0 · world median 0 · Nuclear (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 67.4.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Hydro Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 12.852.478No real change since 2014

    Ireland: 2.478 · world median 12.85 · Hydropower (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Crude Oil ProductionEIA · 2025 · world median 00No real change since 2015

    Ireland: 0 · world median 0 · Crude oil produced (thousand barrels per day). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 13,586.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Operating Coal Power CapacityGlobal Energy Monitor · 2026 · world median 5250No earlier reading

    Ireland: 0 · world median 525 · Coal-fired capacity in operation (megawatts). Global Energy Monitor, 2026 edition, data for 2026.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 1,263,101.

    Chart and every countryThe 2026 dataset

  • Photovoltaic Power Potential (PVOUT)World Bank Group (ESMAP), data by Solargis · 2020 · world median 4.2732.513No earlier reading

    Ireland: 2.513 · world median 4.273 · Practical solar power potential (kWh per kWp per day, long-term average). World Bank Group (ESMAP), data by Solargis, 2020 edition, data for 2020.

    Published values in that edition run from 2.513 to 5.379.

    Chart and every countryThe 2020 dataset

No current reading for Ireland

Primary Schools with Electricity, RISE Clean Cooking Policy Score and RISE Electricity Access Policy Score. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.

“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing

05Country Index 2026

Energy among Ireland’s 16 topics

Energy is Ireland’s 14th best-placed topic of 16. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.

On the profile
  1. Development & Human Capital6th of 196
  2. Democracy & Civil Libertiesjoint 8th of 198
  3. Governance & Institutionsjoint 10th of 194
  4. Poverty & Inequality9th of 159
  5. Peace & Security13th of 177
  6. Food & Agriculture17th of 184
  7. Economy & Innovation19th of 176
  8. Risk & Resilience22nd of 193
  9. Education & Knowledge23rd of 198
  10. Gender & Equality22nd of 183
  11. Digital & Technologyjoint 28th of 198
  12. Mobility & Trade33rd of 177
  13. Health & Wellbeing40th of 200
  14. Energy41st of 165
  15. Work & Labourjoint 83rd of 182
  16. Environment & Sustainability101st of 186

06The top of the list

Who leads on energy

The three countries placed highest of 165, and the leaders Ireland can most readily be measured against.

All 165 countries
  1. 1

    Bhutan

    Southern Asia

    1st of 165 · 2 of 3 keys

    Photo: VIkramjit Kakati derivative work: ויקיג'אנקי · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale

  2. 2

    Norway

    Northern Europe

    2nd of 165 · 3 of 3 keys

    Photo: Ximonic , Simo Räsänen · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale

  3. 3

    Uganda

    Eastern Africa

    3rd of 165 · 2 of 3 keys

    Photo: Rod Waddington from Kergunyah, Australia · CC BY-SA 2.0, greyscale

Placed highest nearby

  1. Highest in Europe

    Norway2nd3/3 keys

  2. This page

    Ireland41st3/3 keys

Positions out of 165 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.

07Questions

Ireland on energy: questions answered

Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.

How does Ireland rank on energy?

Ireland is placed 41st of 165 countries on Energy in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics (Carbon Intensity of Electricity, Renewable Share of Electricity Generation and World Energy Trilemma Index). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.

What is the latest Carbon Intensity of Electricity figure for Ireland?

270.75 in 2024 (carbon intensity (gCO₂e per kWh generated)), according to Ember. The world median in the same edition was 433.75.

What is the latest Renewable Share of Electricity Generation figure for Ireland?

46.51 in 2024 (renewables (% of electricity generated)), according to Ember. The world median in the same edition was 32.06.

How does Ireland compare with United Kingdom on energy?

United Kingdom is not placed on Energy, holding too few of its key statistics, and Ireland 41st. World Energy Trilemma Index: United Kingdom 80, Ireland 76.3.

How have Ireland’s energy figures changed?

Carbon Intensity of Electricity fell from 632.71 in 2000 to 270.75 in 2024; Renewable Share of Electricity Generation rose from 5.036 in 2000 to 46.51 in 2024.

Which energy statistics are missing for Ireland?

No current reading is published for Ireland on Primary Schools with Electricity, RISE Clean Cooking Policy Score and RISE Electricity Access Policy Score. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.

08Method

Method, sources and how to cite

What this topic does not measure

This is deliberately the electricity and energy-system subject, not an infrastructure one: roads, railways, ports, water and telecommunications would each need a global series this site does not hold. Emissions are under Environment & Sustainability. Access to electricity is published here in full but takes no part in any ranking — more than half the world’s countries now report 100%, and a position derived from that would read “1, 1, 1 … 123”, which is noise rather than information.

About energy, in full

How the Energy standing is decided

A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 3 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 3 keys to be placed.

The energy method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built

The key statistics and their licences

The other 24 statistics on this page come from 7 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.

The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Photographs

Ireland’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.

Cite this page

Nations Inquiry (2026). Ireland: Energy — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/ireland/energy

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