Global Renewable vs. Fossil Fuel Energy Trends (2000–2022): A Comprehensive Country-Level Statistical Analysis

The global energy transition toward renewable sources represents one of the most significant structural shifts in modern economic history. This paper presents an extensive statistical analysis of country-level energy consumption patterns from 2000 to 2022, quantifying the evolving shares of renewable and fossil fuel energy across 217 nations. While renewable energy adoption has accelerated substantially–reaching approximately 30% of global electricity generation in 2022, with wind and solar contributing about 12%–fossil fuels continue to dominate the global energy landscape, accounting for over 80% of total primary energy consumption. Utilizing a comprehensive dataset of 4,857 country-year records, we employ multiple regression models, cluster analysis, and trend decomposition to identify patterns, quantify disparities, and project future trajectories. Our findings reveal a complex energy transition landscape where high renewable shares are predominantly concentrated in low-income, hydropower-dependent economies, while major industrialized nations maintain significant fossil fuel dependen- cies despite technological advancements. The analysis quantifies regional divergences, identifies policy effectiveness metrics, and provides evidence-based recommendations for accelerating the global energy transition.