Costa Rica vs Honduras: Electricity Compared
Costa Rica generated 11.0 TWh of electricity in 2024 and Honduras 12.5 TWh, according to Ember. Costa Rica's largest source was hydro (72.7%); Honduras' was other fossil (44.1%). Each kWh generated emitted 26 gCO2/kWh in Costa Rica and 322 gCO2/kWh in Honduras. These are Ember annual statistics for 2024, compiled from national sources; they are not real time.
Ember's latest annual figures for Honduras are for 2024, while Costa Rica has figures to 2025, so this comparison uses 2024 for both.
Why this comparison: similar electricity demand on the same continent.
Key Facts
- Other fossil supplied 44.1% of Honduras' electricity in 2024, against 0.1% in Costa Rica.
- Honduras' electricity was 12.5 times as carbon intensive as Costa Rica's in 2024, at 322 gCO2/kWh against 26 gCO2/kWh.
- Low carbon sources supplied 99.9% of Costa Rica's electricity in 2024 and 55.4% of Honduras'.
- Electricity demand in 2024 was 11.2 TWh in Costa Rica and 12.6 TWh in Honduras.
Key Figures, 2024
Ember annual statistics| Measure | Costa Rica | Honduras |
|---|---|---|
| Total generation | 11.0 TWh | 12.5 TWh |
| Electricity demand | 11.2 TWh | 12.6 TWh |
| Demand per person | 2.19 MWh | 1.17 MWh |
| Carbon intensity | 26 gCO2/kWh | 322 gCO2/kWh |
| Power sector emissions | 0.28 MtCO2 | 4.02 MtCO2 |
| Low carbon share | 99.9% | 55.4% |
| Largest source | Hydro 72.7% | Other fossil 44.1% |
Generation Mix, 2024
Share of generation| Source | Costa Rica | Honduras |
|---|---|---|
| Hydro | 72.7% | 30.5% |
| Other fossil | 0.1% | 44.1% |
| Other renewables | 14.5% | 2.8% |
| Wind | 11.3% | 6.0% |
| Solar | 0.8% | 9.5% |
| Bioenergy | 0.6% | 6.7% |
| Coal | 0.0% | 0.5% |
Carbon Intensity, 2000 to 2025
Ember annual statisticsAnnual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh
| Year | Costa Rica | Honduras |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 31 gCO2/kWh | 266 gCO2/kWh |
| 2001 | 35 gCO2/kWh | 346 gCO2/kWh |
| 2002 | 37 gCO2/kWh | 404 gCO2/kWh |
| 2003 | 40 gCO2/kWh | 406 gCO2/kWh |
| 2004 | 31 gCO2/kWh | 455 gCO2/kWh |
| 2005 | 48 gCO2/kWh | 453 gCO2/kWh |
| 2006 | 66 gCO2/kWh | 430 gCO2/kWh |
| 2007 | 78 gCO2/kWh | 425 gCO2/kWh |
| 2008 | 73 gCO2/kWh | 422 gCO2/kWh |
| 2009 | 58 gCO2/kWh | 371 gCO2/kWh |
| 2010 | 70 gCO2/kWh | 362 gCO2/kWh |
| 2011 | 84 gCO2/kWh | 382 gCO2/kWh |
| 2012 | 80 gCO2/kWh | 379 gCO2/kWh |
| 2013 | 103 gCO2/kWh | 394 gCO2/kWh |
| 2014 | 93 gCO2/kWh | 412 gCO2/kWh |
| 2015 | 34 gCO2/kWh | 392 gCO2/kWh |
| 2016 | 38 gCO2/kWh | 371 gCO2/kWh |
| 2017 | 29 gCO2/kWh | 312 gCO2/kWh |
| 2018 | 35 gCO2/kWh | 275 gCO2/kWh |
| 2019 | 32 gCO2/kWh | 343 gCO2/kWh |
| 2020 | 28 gCO2/kWh | 328 gCO2/kWh |
| 2021 | 27 gCO2/kWh | 285 gCO2/kWh |
| 2022 | 25 gCO2/kWh | 296 gCO2/kWh |
| 2023 | 25 gCO2/kWh | 329 gCO2/kWh |
| 2024 | 26 gCO2/kWh | 322 gCO2/kWh |
| 2025 | -38 gCO2/kWh | n/a |
Demand per Person, 2000 to 2025
Ember annual statisticsAnnual statistics through 2025, MWh
| Year | Costa Rica | Honduras |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 1.62 MWh | 0.60 MWh |
| 2001 | 1.66 MWh | 0.62 MWh |
| 2002 | 1.72 MWh | 0.66 MWh |
| 2003 | 1.74 MWh | 0.70 MWh |
| 2004 | 1.84 MWh | 0.76 MWh |
| 2005 | 1.92 MWh | 0.75 MWh |
| 2006 | 2.02 MWh | 0.78 MWh |
| 2007 | 2.09 MWh | 0.80 MWh |
| 2008 | 2.10 MWh | 0.81 MWh |
| 2009 | 2.06 MWh | 0.83 MWh |
| 2010 | 2.09 MWh | 0.86 MWh |
| 2011 | 2.11 MWh | 0.88 MWh |
| 2012 | 2.17 MWh | 0.91 MWh |
| 2013 | 2.17 MWh | 0.94 MWh |
| 2014 | 2.18 MWh | 0.95 MWh |
| 2015 | 2.21 MWh | 0.99 MWh |
| 2016 | 2.27 MWh | 1.02 MWh |
| 2017 | 2.26 MWh | 1.02 MWh |
| 2018 | 2.26 MWh | 1.03 MWh |
| 2019 | 2.29 MWh | 1.10 MWh |
| 2020 | 2.23 MWh | 1.03 MWh |
| 2021 | 2.32 MWh | 1.10 MWh |
| 2022 | 2.31 MWh | 1.10 MWh |
| 2023 | 2.36 MWh | 1.19 MWh |
| 2024 | 2.19 MWh | 1.17 MWh |
| 2025 | 2.42 MWh | n/a |
Costa Rica history · Honduras history
Source: Ember (ember-energy.org), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Data as of 2024.