Photo: Tsy1980 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 16 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Portugal: Energy
Where does a country’s electricity come from, and who can get it?
Portugal is placed 17th of 165 countries on energy in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics. Readings behind it: Carbon Intensity of Electricity 110.64 (2024); Renewable Share of Electricity Generation 85.2 (2024).
Share
Energy
17th
of 165 countries placed
Placed from 3 of 3 key statistics
01The evidence
The 3 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Portugal 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.
110.64
Carbon intensity (gCO₂e per kWh generated)
Lower is better
Portugal: 110.64. 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 Southern Europe
- 24.7 Albania
- Land neighbours
- Spain 146.26
85.2
Renewables (% of electricity generated)
Higher is better
Portugal: 85.2. 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 Southern Europe
- 100 Albania
- Land neighbours
- Spain 57.33
Key 3 of 3
World Energy Trilemma Index
World Energy Council
2023 edition · data for 2023 · Express reuse grant (no Creative Commons licence named)
76.7
Trilemma score (0–100)
Higher is better
Ranked 17th of 99 by World Energy Council
Portugal: 76.7. 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 Southern Europe
- 78.4 Slovenia
- Land neighbours
- Spain 77.8
02Over time
Which way Portugal is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Carbon Intensity of Electricity
Carbon intensity (gCO₂e per kWh generated) · lower is better
PortugalWorld median
Portugal fell from 546.31 in 2000 to 110.64 in 2024; the world median went from 540.34 to 433.75.
Every year’s figures
Year Portugal World median 2024 110.6 433.7 2023 158.5 452.7 2022 225.0 476.3 2021 210.7 469.0 2020 248.2 482.0 2019 300.8 488.2 2018 358.9 500.4 2017 433.7 506.3 2016 343.9 521.9 2015 413.9 524.8 2014 325.7 522.3 2013 340.3 508.8 2012 441.0 525.4 2011 375.2 521.4 2010 317.2 515.5 2009 452.8 533.6 2008 471.5 517.2 2007 472.3 535.3 2006 503.9 537.5 2005 595.7 521.4 2004 541.4 523.1 2003 485.3 543.1 2002 592.7 551.3 2001 507.1 559.3 2000 546.3 540.3 Renewable Share of Electricity Generation
Renewables (% of electricity generated) · higher is better
PortugalWorld median
Portugal rose from 29.79 in 2000 to 85.2 in 2024; the world median went from 15.61 to 32.06.
Every year’s figures
Year Portugal World median 2024 85.2 32.062 2023 74.5 28.000 2022 59.6 28.881 2021 64.1 28.286 2020 58.6 27.125 2019 53.1 26.296 2018 50.4 25.505 2017 39.2 24.023 2016 54.7 22.218 2015 47.6 21.915 2014 60.9 21.151 2013 58.5 21.593 2012 42.6 19.869 2011 46.6 18.584 2010 53.0 18.572 2009 37.0 17.886 2008 32.3 15.923 2007 34.7 15.586 2006 32.5 15.392 2005 17.9 16.438 2004 27.6 16.445 2003 38.2 16.339 2002 21.4 13.826 2001 34.2 14.023 2000 29.8 15.612
03In context
Portugal 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.
Portugal and the countries it borders
Standing among all 165; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Carbon Intensity of ElectricityCarbon intensity (gCO₂e per kWh generated) | Renewable Share of Electricity GenerationRenewables (% of electricity generated) | World Energy Trilemma IndexTrilemma score (0–100) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portugal | 17th | 110.64 | 85.2 | 76.7 |
 Spaincompare | 25th | 146.26 | 57.33 | 77.8 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Southern Europe
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 165.
Placed either side on energy
The countries immediately above and below Portugal in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Portugal 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.
Ahead of the world median6
Statistics on which Portugal does better than the middle country measured.
Wind and Solar Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 5.27945.365.279No real change since 2014
Portugal: 45.36 · 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.
RISE Renewable Energy Policy ScoreESMAP · 2023 · world median 33.2679.3333.26▼ Worsened since 2013
Portugal: 79.33 · 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.
RISE Energy Efficiency Policy ScoreESMAP · 2023 · world median 48.2379.648.23▼ Worsened since 2013
Portugal: 79.6 · 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.
Low-Carbon Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 37.3285.237.32▲ Improved since 2014
Portugal: 85.2 · 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 31st of 162 · derived.
Energy Intensity of GDP (PPP)EIA · 2024 · world median 2.7382.0392.738▲ Improved since 2014
Portugal: 2.039 · 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.
Firms Owning or Sharing a GeneratorWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 24.8512.9924.85No earlier reading
Portugal: 12.99 · 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.
Behind the world median2
Statistics on which Portugal does worse than the middle country measured.
CO₂ Emissions per CapitaGlobal Carbon Project · 2024 · world median 3.213.4093.21▲ Improved since 2014
Portugal: 3.409 · 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 102nd of 210 · derived, 1st = worst.
Firms Identifying Electricity as a Major ConstraintWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 25.7730.9725.77No earlier reading
Portugal: 30.97 · 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 75th of 179 · derived, 1st = worst.
Level with the median, or no median to compare3
Access to ElectricityWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 100100100▼ Worsened since 2014
Portugal: 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.
Access to Electricity, RuralWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 100100100▼ Worsened since 2014
Portugal: 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.
Coal Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 000▲ Improved since 2014
Portugal: 0 · 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.
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.
Solar Electricity Installed CapacityEIA · 2024 · world median 0.1445.8080.144No real change since 2014
Portugal: 5.808 · 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.
Net Electricity Imports (share of generation)Ember · 2024 · world median 022.140Moved since 2014
Portugal: 22.14 · 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.
Solar Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 3.04914.993.049No real change since 2014
Portugal: 14.99 · world median 3.049 · Solar (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 50.
Operating Wind Power CapacityGlobal Energy Monitor · 2026 · world median 1005,071100No earlier reading
Portugal: 5,071 · 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.
Hydro Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 12.8531.4912.85Moved since 2014
Portugal: 31.49 · world median 12.85 · Hydropower (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100.
Primary Energy Consumption per CapitaEIA · 2024 · world median 49.572.7349.5Moved since 2014
Portugal: 72.73 · 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.
Gas Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 2.58511.92.585Moved since 2014
Portugal: 11.9 · 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.
Primary Energy ProductionEIA · 2024 · world median 0.0770.1660.077Moved since 2014
Portugal: 0.166 · 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.
Photovoltaic Power Potential (PVOUT)World Bank Group (ESMAP), data by Solargis · 2020 · world median 4.2734.3164.273No earlier reading
Portugal: 4.316 · 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.
Nuclear Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 000No real change since 2014
Portugal: 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.
Natural Gas ProductionEIA · 2024 · world median 000No real change since 2014
Portugal: 0 · 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.
Crude Oil ProductionEIA · 2025 · world median 000No real change since 2015
Portugal: 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.
Operating Coal Power CapacityGlobal Energy Monitor · 2026 · world median 5250525No earlier reading
Portugal: 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.
No current reading for Portugal
Primary Schools with Electricity (last 2021), 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 Portugal’s 16 topics
Energy is Portugal’s 3rd best-placed topic of 16. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Education & Knowledge15th of 1983/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing19th of 2004/4 keys
- Energy17th of 1653/3 keys
- Peace & Securityjoint 21st of 1774/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture22nd of 1844/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties26th of 1984/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions27th of 1944/4 keys
- Gender & Equalityjoint 26th of 1834/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade28th of 1774/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital34th of 1963/3 keys
- Risk & Resilience34th of 1934/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation32nd of 1764/4 keys
- Digital & Technology36th of 1984/4 keys
- Work & Labourjoint 58th of 1824/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality52nd of 1593/3 keys
- Environment & Sustainability88th of 1864/4 keys
06The top of the list
Who leads on energy
The three countries placed highest of 165, and the leaders Portugal can most readily be measured against.
1
BhutanSouthern Asia
1st of 165 · 2 of 3 keys
Photo: VIkramjit Kakati derivative work: ויקיג'אנקי · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
NorwayNorthern Europe
2nd of 165 · 3 of 3 keys
Photo: Ximonic , Simo Räsänen · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
UgandaEastern Africa
3rd of 165 · 2 of 3 keys
Photo: Rod Waddington from Kergunyah, Australia · CC BY-SA 2.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Europe
Norway2nd3/3 keysHighest in Southern Europe
Portugal17th3/3 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
Portugal 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 Portugal rank on energy?
Portugal is placed 17th 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 Portugal?
110.64 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 Portugal?
85.2 in 2024 (renewables (% of electricity generated)), according to Ember. The world median in the same edition was 32.06.
How does Portugal compare with Spain on energy?
Spain is placed 25th of 165, and Portugal 17th. Carbon Intensity of Electricity: Spain 146.26, Portugal 110.64; Renewable Share of Electricity Generation: Spain 57.33, Portugal 85.2; World Energy Trilemma Index: Spain 77.8, Portugal 76.7.
How have Portugal’s energy figures changed?
Carbon Intensity of Electricity fell from 546.31 in 2000 to 110.64 in 2024; Renewable Share of Electricity Generation rose from 29.79 in 2000 to 85.2 in 2024.
Which energy statistics are missing for Portugal?
No current reading is published for Portugal 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.
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
- Carbon Intensity of Electricity — Ember, CC BY 4.0
- Renewable Share of Electricity Generation — Ember, CC BY 4.0
- World Energy Trilemma Index — World Energy Council, Express reuse grant (no Creative Commons licence named)
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
Portugal’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Portugal (banner) — Tsy1980, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Bhutan — VIkramjit Kakati derivative work: ויקיג'אנקי, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Norway — Ximonic , Simo Räsänen, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Uganda — Rod Waddington from Kergunyah, Australia, CC BY-SA 2.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Portugal: Energy — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/portugal/energy