Green
Ranked: Latin American Countries By Green Energy Use
Ranked: Latin American Countries By Green Energy Use
The global push for increasing green energy use is well underway, as countries around the world are feeling pressure to revamp their climate-impacting practices.
But with different populations, energy use requirements, and access to natural resources, certain regions will have a more significant role to play. With a population of 664 million and an abundance of natural resources, Latin America (LatAm) is one such region.
How green is LatAm’s energy today? This graphic from Latinometrics charts countries’ electricity production from renewables relative to fossil fuels and highlights the significant disparities between certain nations.
Green Energy Use in Latin America
As of 2020, many LatAm countries actually produced 50% or more of their electricity from renewable sources including nuclear energy. Let’s take a deeper look at some of the outliers:
Paraguay
Hydropower is Paraguay’s primary renewable energy source, and plentiful. In fact, the country produces surplus electricity and exports the remainder to Argentina and Brazil. Altogether, 60% of Paraguay’s hydroelectric power is exported, contributing to 6% of its GDP.
The primary resource for this hydropower—the Itaipú Dam—sits between Paraguay and Brazil and is jointly owned by both. The dam is responsible for 79% of Paraguay’s total power capacity.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica has been running on at least 98% renewable energy since 2014. Both within the Americas and on a global scale, the country’s green energy usage ranks extremely high, primarily driven by hydropower:
Costa Rica's Renewable Energy Sources | % of Renewable Energy (2019) |
---|---|
Hydropower | 67.5% |
Wind power | 17.0% |
Geothermal power | 13.5% |
Backup plants | 1.16% |
Solar panels | 0.84% |
But notably, Costa Rica’s volcanoes are also utilized as a source of geothermal power.
Mexico
Mexico ranks considerably lower on the green energy spectrum. The country produces 303 TWh (Terrawatt hours) of electricity a year, but over two-thirds comes from fossil fuel sources.
Lately, intense political discussions within Mexico have emerged regarding energy policies. The country has attractive solar energy potential, with some of the greatest levels of sunlight globally, but has yet to fully tap into this renewable source. Recent actions from the current administration is reversing prior decisions towards renewables and is prioritizing domestic coal production, whilst enabling anti-competitive practices for state-owned entities.
Based on current assessments by energy analysts, Mexico may see increases in carbon emissions in the decades to come.
Brazil
Brazil is Latin America’s largest economy and the 12th largest in the world, with a GDP of about $1.5 trillion. Its oil industry remains a crucial component of the economy and ranks 9th in the world by output—producing roughly 3.2 million barrels a day.
While this may suggest Brazil relies heavily on fossil fuels, the country’s electricity production from green energy actually ranks extremely high. Of Brazil’s 606 TWh of electricity produced per year, 86% comes from nuclear or renewable sources.
Given its size and strength, Brazil is positioned to act as a leader within the continent on the path to net-zero. In 2021, Brazil dedicated $12 billion in investments towards energy transitions, putting it in the top 10 countries by spending.
Argentina
Relative to its more green-energy friendly neighbors, Argentina is falling behind on its renewable energy efforts. It produces 135 TWh of electricity per year, but only around 30% comes from nuclear or renewable energy.
Extended periods of economic instability are a driving cause, which are constantly shifting the country’s priorities elsewhere. Some years ago, it launched the Argentina Renewable Energy Auction program to try and improve renewable electricity production by 2025, but many projects were scrapped due to financing issues.
However, southern Argentina is a particularly windy region within Latin America, making it a desirable spot for future wind power generation and investment.
How LatAm Compares on a Global Scale
More than a quarter of LatAm’s energy comes from renewable energy, double the global average.
While countries around the world are striving for renewable energy to make up half or more of electricity generation by 2050, nearly two-thirds of LatAm countries have already done so. Additionally, Paraguay is one of only seven countries in the world to derive 100% of its electricity production from green energy.
How will other countries by influenced by Latin America’s green energy leaders in the years to come, and how will the region’s green energy usage evolve?

This article was published as a part of Visual Capitalist's Creator Program, which features data-driven visuals from some of our favorite Creators around the world.
Green
Infographic: How Long Does Plastic Take to Decompose?
Plastics can take 20 to 500 years to decompose.

Infographic: How Long Does Plastic Take to Decompose?
This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources.
Key Takeaways
- Plastics can take 20 to 500 years to decompose, depending on the material and structure
- The breakdown rate of plastic also depends on sunlight exposure (UV radiation)
- Single-use plastic grocery bags take about 20 years to break down
- Plastic water bottles (made of polyethylene terephthalate – PET) take around 450 years to fully break down
Not Natural
Plastic is everywhere—from everyday packaging to essential medical tools. But once discarded, these items don’t just disappear. They linger for decades, centuries even, posing long-term environmental threats. Meanwhile, only 9% of plastic gets recycled globally.
Plastic is derived from petroleum and doesn’t occur in nature. Its carbon bonds differ from those in nature, making it harder and more energy-intensive to break down.
The quickest to break down, cigarette butts, still take five years. Plastic bags follow at 20 years, and plastic-lined coffee cups at 30 years, according to data from Chariot Energy.
Material | Estimated Decomposition |
---|---|
Cigarette butts | 5 years |
Plastic bags | 20 years |
Plastic-lined coffee cups | 30 years |
Plastic straws | 200 years |
Soda can rings | 400 years |
Plastic bottles | 450 years |
Toothbrushes | 500 years |
Disposable diapers | 500 years |
Styrofoam | 500 years |
Fishing line | 600 years |
More durable items last far longer. Plastic straws take 200 years to decompose, soda can rings 400 years, and plastic bottles 450 years. Everyday hygiene items like toothbrushes and diapers take about 500 years—just as long as styrofoam.
At the top of the chart is fishing line, which can persist in the environment for 600 years. This is especially harmful to marine life, often entangling animals or being ingested with fatal consequences.
It’s also important to note that plastic can usually only be recycled once or twice before it degrades and becomes unusable. This means that even recycled plastics will eventually end up in a landfill, be incinerated, or find their way into the ocean.
Learn More on the Voronoi App 
If you enjoyed this post, check out How Much Plastic Waste Actually Gets Recycled Globally? on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.
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