Colombia vs Venezuela: Electricity Compared
Colombia generated 89.1 TWh of electricity in 2024 and Venezuela 80.1 TWh, according to Ember. Hydro was the largest source in both, at 54.8% in Colombia and 91.1% in Venezuela. Each kWh generated emitted 298 gCO2/kWh in Colombia and 86 gCO2/kWh in Venezuela. These are Ember annual statistics for 2024, compiled from national sources; they are not real time.
Ember's latest annual figures for Venezuela are for 2024, while Colombia has figures to 2025, so this comparison uses 2024 for both.
Why this comparison: similar electricity demand on the same continent.
Key Facts
- Hydro supplied 91.1% of Venezuela's electricity in 2024, against 54.8% in Colombia.
- Colombia's electricity was 3.5 times as carbon intensive as Venezuela's in 2024, at 298 gCO2/kWh against 86 gCO2/kWh.
- Electricity demand rose 12% in Colombia between 2019 and 2024, while it fell 5% in Venezuela.
- Carbon intensity rose 24% in Colombia between 2019 and 2024, while it fell 73% in Venezuela.
- Low carbon sources supplied 61.4% of Colombia's electricity in 2024 and 91.1% of Venezuela's.
- Electricity demand in 2024 was 88.6 TWh in Colombia and 80.1 TWh in Venezuela.
Key Figures, 2024
Ember annual statistics| Measure | Colombia | Venezuela |
|---|---|---|
| Total generation | 89.1 TWh | 80.1 TWh |
| Electricity demand | 88.6 TWh | 80.1 TWh |
| Demand per person | 1.69 MWh | 2.82 MWh |
| Carbon intensity | 298 gCO2/kWh | 86 gCO2/kWh |
| Power sector emissions | 26.6 MtCO2 | 6.88 MtCO2 |
| Low carbon share | 61.4% | 91.1% |
| Largest source | Hydro 54.8% | Hydro 91.1% |
Generation Mix, 2024
Share of generationCarbon Intensity, 2000 to 2025
Ember annual statisticsAnnual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh
| Year | Colombia | Venezuela |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 190 gCO2/kWh | 213 gCO2/kWh |
| 2001 | 198 gCO2/kWh | 262 gCO2/kWh |
| 2002 | 183 gCO2/kWh | 274 gCO2/kWh |
| 2003 | 172 gCO2/kWh | 264 gCO2/kWh |
| 2004 | 149 gCO2/kWh | 229 gCO2/kWh |
| 2005 | 160 gCO2/kWh | 211 gCO2/kWh |
| 2006 | 159 gCO2/kWh | 207 gCO2/kWh |
| 2007 | 155 gCO2/kWh | 218 gCO2/kWh |
| 2008 | 137 gCO2/kWh | 216 gCO2/kWh |
| 2009 | 211 gCO2/kWh | 222 gCO2/kWh |
| 2010 | 230 gCO2/kWh | 252 gCO2/kWh |
| 2011 | 152 gCO2/kWh | 227 gCO2/kWh |
| 2012 | 179 gCO2/kWh | 280 gCO2/kWh |
| 2013 | 236 gCO2/kWh | 298 gCO2/kWh |
| 2014 | 237 gCO2/kWh | 341 gCO2/kWh |
| 2015 | 275 gCO2/kWh | 319 gCO2/kWh |
| 2016 | 260 gCO2/kWh | 357 gCO2/kWh |
| 2017 | 166 gCO2/kWh | 321 gCO2/kWh |
| 2018 | 188 gCO2/kWh | 321 gCO2/kWh |
| 2019 | 241 gCO2/kWh | 321 gCO2/kWh |
| 2020 | 271 gCO2/kWh | 185 gCO2/kWh |
| 2021 | 196 gCO2/kWh | 174 gCO2/kWh |
| 2022 | 202 gCO2/kWh | 180 gCO2/kWh |
| 2023 | 260 gCO2/kWh | 92 gCO2/kWh |
| 2024 | 298 gCO2/kWh | 86 gCO2/kWh |
| 2025 | 187 gCO2/kWh | n/a |
Demand per Person, 2000 to 2025
Ember annual statisticsAnnual statistics through 2025, MWh
| Year | Colombia | Venezuela |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 1.10 MWh | 3.48 MWh |
| 2001 | 1.08 MWh | 3.61 MWh |
| 2002 | 1.09 MWh | 3.62 MWh |
| 2003 | 1.10 MWh | 3.54 MWh |
| 2004 | 1.15 MWh | 3.76 MWh |
| 2005 | 1.14 MWh | 3.91 MWh |
| 2006 | 1.21 MWh | 4.04 MWh |
| 2007 | 1.25 MWh | 4.11 MWh |
| 2008 | 1.24 MWh | 4.24 MWh |
| 2009 | 1.26 MWh | 4.19 MWh |
| 2010 | 1.33 MWh | 3.93 MWh |
| 2011 | 1.33 MWh | 4.03 MWh |
| 2012 | 1.36 MWh | 4.33 MWh |
| 2013 | 1.56 MWh | 4.51 MWh |
| 2014 | 1.50 MWh | 3.78 MWh |
| 2015 | 1.65 MWh | 4.14 MWh |
| 2016 | 1.61 MWh | 3.77 MWh |
| 2017 | 1.63 MWh | 3.36 MWh |
| 2018 | 1.60 MWh | 3.31 MWh |
| 2019 | 1.59 MWh | 2.91 MWh |
| 2020 | 1.56 MWh | 2.81 MWh |
| 2021 | 1.65 MWh | 2.94 MWh |
| 2022 | 1.61 MWh | 2.92 MWh |
| 2023 | 1.66 MWh | 2.54 MWh |
| 2024 | 1.69 MWh | 2.82 MWh |
| 2025 | 1.72 MWh | n/a |
Colombia history · Venezuela history
Source: Ember (ember-energy.org), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Data as of 2024.