The bar charts compare the proportions of energy consumed from five different sources in the UK and the USA in 2000 and 2006.
Overall, oil and coal were the dominant energy sources in both countries throughout the period. However, while the USA relied more heavily on oil and coal, the UK showed a significantly greater dependence on gas, particularly in 2006. Nuclear power and renewable sources accounted for the smallest shares in both nations.
In 2000, oil represented the highest proportion of energy consumption in both countries, accounting for approximately 37% in the USA and 28% in the UK. Coal was also widely used, making up around 35% of American energy consumption compared with 30% in the UK. By contrast, the UK consumed more gas than the USA, at roughly 20% and 14% respectively. A similar pattern can be seen for nuclear power and renewable energy, where the UK figures were moderately higher.
By 2006, several notable changes had occurred. In the USA, oil usage increased slightly to 40%, remaining the largest energy source, whereas coal consumption fell markedly to about 25%. In the UK, the most dramatic change was in gas consumption, which rose sharply to nearly 40%, making it the country’s primary source of energy. Meanwhile, coal usage in the UK dropped significantly to around 15%.
Consumption of nuclear power declined slightly in both countries over the period. Renewable energy remained the least utilised source overall, although the UK continued to use a slightly higher proportion than the USA.