Cyprus recorded the highest share of household energy consumption devoted to space cooling in the European Union in 2024, according to new data from Eurostat, highlighting the growing impact of rising temperatures on residential energy demand across southern Europe.
Cyprus Leads The EU In Cooling Demand
Space cooling accounted for 16% of final household energy consumption in Cyprus last year, the highest share among EU member states. Malta ranked second at 15%, while Greece allocated 7.4% of household energy use to cooling, compared with 2.5% in Spain and 2.3% in Italy.
Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram
Although larger countries such as Italy, Spain and Greece consumed more energy for air conditioning in absolute terms because of their larger populations, Cyprus stood out for the proportion of household energy dedicated to keeping homes cool.
Cooling Demand Continues To Rise
Across the European Union, household energy consumption for space cooling reached 80.4 thousand terajoules (TJ) in 2024, doubling from 40.5 thousand TJ in 2018. According to Eurostat, demand increased almost every year during that period, with only two temporary declines: a 2.5% drop in 2020 and a 1.9% decrease in 2023.
The broader trend nevertheless points to a steady increase in cooling demand as higher temperatures make air conditioning an increasingly important part of household energy use across the bloc.
Mediterranean Countries Face The Greatest Pressure
In absolute terms, Italy recorded the highest energy consumption for space cooling at 26.3 thousand TJ, followed by Spain with 14.3 thousand TJ and Greece with 11.9 thousand TJ. However, when measured as a share of household energy use, Cyprus and Malta remain the EU’s most cooling-dependent countries, reflecting the greater impact of prolonged summer heat on the two Mediterranean island states.
The latest figures illustrate how climate change is reshaping energy consumption patterns across Europe. In the bloc’s warmer regions, space cooling is becoming less of a seasonal necessity and more of a permanent component of household electricity demand.
