Photo: Elemaki · CC BY 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 16 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Uruguay: Energy
Where does a country’s electricity come from, and who can get it?
Uruguay is placed 10th of 165 countries on energy in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics. Readings behind it: Carbon Intensity of Electricity 68.81 (2024); Renewable Share of Electricity Generation 98.88 (2024).
Share
Energy
10th
of 165 countries placed
Placed from 3 of 3 key statistics
01The evidence
The 3 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Uruguay 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.
68.81
Carbon intensity (gCO₂e per kWh generated)
Lower is better
Uruguay: 68.81. 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 South America
- 24.85 Paraguay
98.88
Renewables (% of electricity generated)
Higher is better
Uruguay: 98.88. 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 South America
- 100 Paraguay
Key 3 of 3
World Energy Trilemma Index
World Energy Council
2023 edition · data for 2023 · Express reuse grant (no Creative Commons licence named)
75.9
Trilemma score (0–100)
Higher is better
Ranked 21st of 99 by World Energy Council
Uruguay: 75.9. 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 South America
- 75.9 Uruguay
- Land neighbours
- Argentina 70 · Brazil 68.3
02Over time
Which way Uruguay 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
UruguayWorld median
Uruguay rose from 66.53 in 2000 to 68.81 in 2024; the world median went from 540.34 to 433.75.
Every year’s figures
Year Uruguay World median 2024 69 433.7 2023 113 452.7 2022 110 476.3 2021 151 469.0 2020 95 482.0 2019 61 488.2 2018 68 500.4 2017 64 506.3 2016 75 521.9 2015 99 524.8 2014 85 522.3 2013 148 508.8 2012 272 525.4 2011 205 521.4 2010 112 515.5 2009 244 533.6 2008 289 517.2 2007 109 535.3 2006 250 537.5 2005 104 521.4 2004 141 523.1 2003 25 543.1 2002 27 551.3 2001 26 559.3 2000 67 540.3 Renewable Share of Electricity Generation
Renewables (% of electricity generated) · higher is better
UruguayWorld median
Uruguay rose from 93.41 in 2000 to 98.88 in 2024; the world median went from 15.61 to 32.06.
Every year’s figures
Year Uruguay World median 2024 98.88 32.062 2023 92.43 28.000 2022 90.78 28.881 2021 84.62 28.286 2020 94.03 27.125 2019 98.26 26.296 2018 97.54 25.505 2017 98.47 24.023 2016 96.83 22.218 2015 93.16 21.915 2014 94.76 21.151 2013 84.13 21.593 2012 64.62 19.869 2011 74.66 18.584 2010 89.20 18.572 2009 68.17 17.886 2008 61.23 15.923 2007 86.99 15.586 2006 64.63 15.392 2005 87.50 16.438 2004 81.70 16.445 2003 99.88 16.339 2002 99.69 13.826 2001 99.78 14.023 2000 93.41 15.612
03In context
Uruguay 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.
Uruguay 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uruguay | 10th | 68.81 | 98.88 | 75.9 |
 Argentina | not placed | — | — | 70 |
 Brazil | not placed | — | — | 68.3 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across South America
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 165.
Placed either side on energy
The countries immediately above and below Uruguay in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Uruguay is ahead of the world, and behind
23 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 median7
Statistics on which Uruguay does better than the middle country measured.
Low-Carbon Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 37.3298.8837.32▲ Improved since 2014
Uruguay: 98.88 · 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 8th of 162 · derived.
Wind and Solar Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 5.27942.785.279▲ Improved since 2014
Uruguay: 42.78 · 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.
Firms Owning or Sharing a GeneratorWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 24.8512.5224.85No earlier reading
Uruguay: 12.52 · 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.
RISE Renewable Energy Policy ScoreESMAP · 2023 · world median 33.2653.8133.26No real change since 2013
Uruguay: 53.81 · 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 48.2361.8248.23No real change since 2013
Uruguay: 61.82 · 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.
Energy Intensity of GDP (PPP)EIA · 2024 · world median 2.7382.1652.738▼ Worsened since 2014
Uruguay: 2.165 · 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.
CO₂ Emissions per CapitaGlobal Carbon Project · 2024 · world median 3.212.3543.21No real change since 2014
Uruguay: 2.354 · 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 122nd of 210 · derived, 1st = worst.
Behind the world median2
Statistics on which Uruguay does worse than the middle country measured.
Access to Electricity, RuralWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 10099.3100▼ Worsened since 2014
Uruguay: 99.3 · 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.
Firms Identifying Electricity as a Major ConstraintWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 25.7774.6825.77No earlier reading
Uruguay: 74.68 · 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 4th of 179 · derived, 1st = worst.
Level with the median, or no median to compare2
Access to ElectricityWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 100100100▲ Improved since 2014
Uruguay: 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.
Coal Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 000No real change since 2014
Uruguay: 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 end12
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Net Electricity Imports (share of generation)Ember · 2024 · world median 08.6010Moved since 2014
Uruguay: 8.601 · 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.
Operating Wind Power CapacityGlobal Energy Monitor · 2026 · world median 1001,526100No earlier reading
Uruguay: 1,526 · 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 12.8533.6612.85Moved since 2014
Uruguay: 33.66 · world median 12.85 · Hydropower (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100.
Solar Electricity Installed CapacityEIA · 2024 · world median 0.1440.330.144Moved since 2014
Uruguay: 0.33 · 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.
Solar Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 3.0494.1883.049Moved since 2014
Uruguay: 4.188 · world median 3.049 · Solar (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 50.
Primary Energy Consumption per CapitaEIA · 2024 · world median 49.553.9149.5No real change since 2014
Uruguay: 53.91 · 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.
Photovoltaic Power Potential (PVOUT)World Bank Group (ESMAP), data by Solargis · 2020 · world median 4.2734.3044.273No earlier reading
Uruguay: 4.304 · 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.
Primary Energy ProductionEIA · 2024 · world median 0.0770.0630.077No real change since 2014
Uruguay: 0.063 · 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.
Nuclear Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 000No real change since 2014
Uruguay: 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
Uruguay: 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
Uruguay: 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.
Gas Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 2.58502.585Moved since 2014
Uruguay: 0 · 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.
No current reading for Uruguay
Operating Coal Power Capacity, Primary Schools with Electricity (last 2023), 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 Uruguay’s 16 topics
Energy is Uruguay’s best-placed topic of 16. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Energy10th of 1653/3 keys
- Peace & Security14th of 1774/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties23rd of 1984/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions31st of 1944/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade37th of 1773/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainability40th of 1863/4 keys
- Digital & Technology43rd of 1984/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital45th of 1963/3 keys
- Health & Wellbeing54th of 2004/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge55th of 1984/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation51st of 1764/4 keys
- Gender & Equality59th of 1834/4 keys
- Work & Labour62nd of 1824/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience81st of 1934/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality78th of 1593/3 keys
- Food & Agriculture105th of 1844/4 keys
06The top of the list
Who leads on energy
The three countries placed highest of 165, and the leaders Uruguay 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 Americas
Venezuela=8th2/3 keysThis page
Uruguay10th3/3 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
Uruguay 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 Uruguay rank on energy?
Uruguay is placed 10th 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 Uruguay?
68.81 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 Uruguay?
98.88 in 2024 (renewables (% of electricity generated)), according to Ember. The world median in the same edition was 32.06.
How does Uruguay compare with Brazil on energy?
Brazil is not placed on Energy, holding too few of its key statistics, and Uruguay 10th. World Energy Trilemma Index: Brazil 68.3, Uruguay 75.9.
How have Uruguay’s energy figures changed?
Carbon Intensity of Electricity rose from 66.53 in 2000 to 68.81 in 2024; Renewable Share of Electricity Generation rose from 93.41 in 2000 to 98.88 in 2024.
Which energy statistics are missing for Uruguay?
No current reading is published for Uruguay on Operating Coal Power Capacity, 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 23 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
Uruguay’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Uruguay (banner) — Elemaki, CC BY 3.0
- 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). Uruguay: Energy — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/uruguay/energy