COUNTRIES · EAST ASIA AND THE PACIFIC
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New Zealand

Heat is 36% of the energy New Zealand uses.

New Zealand is a high-income country in East Asia and the Pacific with 5.3 million people, most of them living in cities. Heat makes up 36% of the energy it uses, well below the world average of about 47%.

Natural gas is the largest source of heat (38%), followed by oil (30%). In total, 81% of the heat comes from coal, oil and gas. Electricity, apart from household heating, makes up 23% of energy use and is generated mainly from hydropower (60%).

The country

Population5.3 million2025
GDP per capitaUS$ 49,6002025
Area267,700 km²2024
Urban population84%2025
Access to electricity100%2024
Access to clean cooking99%2024
Final energy use142 TWh2023

Where the energy goes

Final energy use in New Zealand, 2023: 142 TWh.
Heat: 36%36%Electricity: 23%23%Transport: 41%41%
  • Heat36%
  • Electricity23%
  • Transport41%

Heat in five numbers

Heatshare of all final energy use36%
Fossil heatshare of heat that comes from coal, oil and gas81%
Natural gasthe largest single source of heat38%
Electricityshare of final energy use, excluding transport and household heating23%
Fossil electricityshare of electricity generated from coal, oil and gas12%

Heat is all fuel and district heating used in industry, buildings and agriculture, plus the electricity households use for heating, hot water and cooking. Electricity that becomes heat in offices and industry is counted as electricity, so the true heat share is somewhat higher. Fossil heat and the largest source are shares of the fuel and district heating part.

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