Why does energy matter so much?
Nations with the highest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) consume the most energy, with energy consumption per capita tending to serve as an indicator of GDP size per capita. For example, the United States consumes over 10 kW per capita and has a GDP of over $35,000 per capita, while the world average consumes just over 2 kW per capita and has a GDP per capita of approximately $5,000.
Out of the seven largest markets in the world, namely, energy, agriculture, telecom, auto, chemicals, packaged foods, and pharma, the energy market, at approximately $5.8 trillion per year, surpasses all others by a minimum margin of approximately $3.3 trillion dollars per year. The growing demand for energy drives market size projections to $10.4 trillion per year by 2020, helping energy maintain its dominant position in the world markets.
Source: 2006 Key world energy statistics, IEA; World Trade Organization; CIA World Factbook; OICA.net; IMS Health; just-food.com; Gartner
