World Hydroelectricity Statistics
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According to the most recent statistics from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), in 2006 hydroelectricity contributed 2,997 billion kilowatthours of electricity to states around the world. All other renewable energy sources such as geothermal, solar, wind, contributed 414.31 billion kilowatthours of electricity.
Figure 1 below shows the percentage of hydroelectricity generation according to geographical regions. It shows that the vast majority of hydroelectric production (almost 88%) is evenly distributed across four of the seven regions listed: Asia/Oceania - 26.6%; North America 22.4%; Central/South America 21.3%; and Europe 17.8%.
Eurasia, consisting of Russia and neighbors represents the second tier of hydroelectric production, accounting for 8.1% of total world hydroelectric production.
Africa (3%) and the Middle East (0.8%) contribute the least amount to global hydroelectric production.
While hydroelectricity leads as a renewable energy source of electricity generation, a closer examination of the statistics shows that its popularity is based on the activities of ten states. Together their hydroelectricity generation accounts for approximately 68% of total world production.
The following below lists them. In the past decade, China's push for economic development has also moved it from the middle of the hydroelectricity producing pack to the top of the list. Canada, long the world's leader in hydroelectricty generation moved to second on the list.
Top Ten Hydroelectricity Producing States in 2006 (Billion Kilowatthours)
- China - 431.43
- Canada - 351.85
- Brazil - 345.32
- United States - 289.25
- Russia - 173.65
- Norway - 118.21
- India - 112.46
- Japan - 84.90
- Venezuela - 81.29
- Sweden - 61.11
Source: Energy Information Administration. International Energy Annual September 2008.
© 2007-2009. Patricia A. Michaels