North America--The Energy Picture

North America
The Energy Picture

prepared by

North American Energy Working Group

June 2002

(2) North America — Economic Overview

North America, with about 7 percent of the world’s population, accounts for around one-third of world economic output (International Monetary Fund estimates). These shares are expected to remain roughly the same through 2010.
North America’s per capita GDP (constant U.S. $1990) in 2000 was $22,200, about 5 times the world average per capita GDP. Both real GDP and real income per capita have been growing.
By 2010, North American per capita GDP is forecast to reach about $27,300 per person (constant U.S. $1990), up 80 percent from 1980 levels.

North American Population
as Percent of World Total North American Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
as Percent of World Total

North American Population as Percent of World Total

North America — Economic Trends

In 2000, Canada’s population was 31 million; Mexico’s was 97 million; and the United States’ population was about 281 million. Population annual growth rates between 2000 and 2010 are: Canada (1.0 percent), Mexico (1.1 percent), and the United States (0.6 percent).
In 2000, Canada’s GDP (constant U.S.$1990) was $749 billion, compared to $371 billion for Mexico and $8 trillion for the United States. GDP annual growth rate projections between 2000 and 2010 are: Canada (2.5 percent), Mexico (4.0 percent), and the United States (2.9 percent).
Between 2000 and 2010, per capita GDP is forecast to increase by about 13 percent in Mexico, 16 percent in Canada, and 25 percent in the United States.

Population North America: GDP, 1980-2010
(Billion 1990 U.S. Dollars)

North America in the Global Energy Economy

In 1999, North America’s per capita energy consumption was about 4 ½ times greater than the world average. North America’s per capita energy consumption is forecast to increase nearly 10 percent by 2010.
North America per capita energy consumption was approximately the same in 1999 as it was in 1980, both in absolute terms and as a percent of the world average.
North American energy consumption per unit of GDP was slightly below the world average in 1999, and is forecast to decline slightly through 2010.

Energy Consumption per Capita—
North America vs. World Energy Consumption per Unit of GDP—
North America vs. World

In 1999, North America accounted for major amounts of world energy demand. North America’s shares of demand included oil (31 percent), natural gas (31 percent), coal (24 percent), and electricity (30 percent).
As a share of the total world energy demand, North American oil, gas, coal and electricity consumption are all forecast to fall but remain very important (28 percent, 29 percent, 23 percent, and 29 percent, respectively), by 2010.
In 1999, North America accounted for around 19 percent of world oil production, 31 percent of natural gas production, 25 percent of coal production, and 32 percent of electricity generation. As a share of total world production, North American oil, gas, and coal are all forecast to fall (to 17 percent, 28 percent, 24 percent, respectively) by 2010, while electricity generation’s share remains roughly flat.

Energy Consumption—
North America as Percent of World Energy Production—
North America as Percent of World

Energy Consumption — North America as Percent of World Energy Production — North America as Percent of World

Proceed to (3) North America — Energy Supply

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North American Population as Percent of World Total	North American Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as Percent of World Total

Population	North America: GDP, 1980-2010 (Billion 1990 U.S. Dollars)

Energy Consumption per Capita— North America vs. World	Energy Consumption per Unit of GDP— North America vs. World

Energy Consumption— North America as Percent of World	Energy Production— North America as Percent of World