Number of deaths per terawatt-hour of electricity produced worldwide in 2020, due to air pollution and accidents, according to the energy production source
Characteristic
Number of deaths per terawatt-hour of electricity produced
Charcoal
24.6
Oil
18.4
Biomass
4.6
Natural gas
2.8
Hydraulic**
1.3
Wind power
0.04
Nuclear*
0.03
Solaire
0.02
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The source adds: One terawatt-hour is equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of 150,000 people in the European Union.
*the source includes in its calculation the deaths related to Chernobyl and Fukushima
**the race takes into account in its calculation the collapse of the Banqiao dam in China in 1975
Citation formats
Number of deaths per terawatt-hour of electricity produced by source 2020
This chart represents the number of deaths per terawatt-hour of electricity produced worldwide in 2020, according to the energy production source, taking into account deaths caused by air pollution and accidents. The by far deadliest electricity generation methods, according to calculations by the organization Our World In Data, are coal and oil.
To determine the deadliest electricity production methods, the source included in its calculation the number of victims of air pollution created by electricity production under each production method, as well as the number of victims of accidents related to that energy production method.
The number of deaths is given per terawatt-hour of electricity produced, knowing that one terawatt-hour is equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of 150,000 people in the European Union.
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OWID. (December 1, 2020). Number of deaths per terawatt-hour of electricity produced worldwide in 2020, due to air pollution and accidents, according to the energy production source [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved July 27, 2026, from /statistics/1642212/number-of-deaths-by-electricity-production-source/
OWID. "Number of deaths per terawatt-hour of electricity produced worldwide in 2020, due to air pollution and accidents, according to the energy production source." Chart. December 1, 2020. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed July 27, 2026. /statistics/1642212/number-of-deaths-by-electricity-production-source/
OWID. (2020). Number of deaths per terawatt-hour of electricity produced worldwide in 2020, due to air pollution and accidents, according to the energy production source. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 27, 2026. /statistics/1642212/number-of-deaths-by-electricity-production-source/
OWID. "Number of Deaths per Terawatt-hour of Electricity Produced Worldwide in 2020, Due to Air Pollution and Accidents, According to The Energy Production Source." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 1 Dec 2020, /statistics/1642212/number-of-deaths-by-electricity-production-source/
OWID, Number of deaths per terawatt-hour of electricity produced worldwide in 2020, due to air pollution and accidents, according to the energy production source ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/1642212/number-of-deaths-by-electricity-production-source/ (last visited July 27, 2026)
Number of deaths per terawatt-hour of electricity produced worldwide in 2020, due to air pollution and accidents, according to the energy production source [Graph], OWID, December 1, 2020. [Online]. Available: /statistics/1642212/number-of-deaths-by-electricity-production-source/
