American Resource Consumption Per Capita

Overview

Americans consume resources at rates far exceeding most other nations. With less than 5% of the world’s population, the United States uses one-third of the world’s paper, a quarter of its oil, 23% of coal, 27% of aluminum, and 19% of copper.

Annual Per Capita Consumption

Raw Materials & Manufacturing

Minerals and Fossil Fuels

Total: 39,000 pounds (17,700 kg) per person annually
Stone: ~10,000 pounds
Sand and gravel: ~7,000 pounds

Paper Products

Toilet paper: 141 rolls per year (50 pounds or 12.7 kg)
Total paper usage: One-third of global consumption despite being only 5% of world population

Water

Daily Household Use

Individual: 82 gallons per day at home
Average family: 300+ gallons per day
Indoor use: 70% of total residential consumption

Breakdown of Indoor Water Use:

Toilets: 24% (largest single use)
Showers: Second largest
Faucets, washing machines, and other fixtures: Remaining usage

Energy

Daily Energy Consumption Per Capita:

Oil: 2.55 gallons
Coal: 7 pounds
Natural gas: 267 cubic feet
Residential electricity: 12 kWh

National Context:

Americans consume 23% of the world’s energy
U.S. per capita energy use: Double that of Great Britain, 2.5 times that of Japan

Food

Meat Consumption (2021-2023):

Total meat: 185 pounds per person annually
Chicken: 98.9 pounds
Beef: 59.1 pounds
Pork: 51.1 pounds
Seafood: 16.6 pounds

Other Food:

Vegetables: 359.1 pounds per capita (2022)
Caloric intake: 2,501 calories consumed daily (after accounting for waste)
Food supply: 4,000 calories per person per day provided

Digital & Screen Time

Daily Screen Usage:

Total: 6 hours 40 minutes to 7 hours per day
Smartphones: 3+ hours
Television: 3+ hours
Computers: 2 hours
Phone checks: 96 times per day on average

Waste & Emissions

Annual Waste:

Solid waste: 1,630 pounds per person per year
Lifetime waste (by age 75): 52 tons
Greenhouse gas emissions: 17.6 tons CO₂ equivalent per person (2023)

Consumption Patterns by Age

Spending Patterns

Total Annual Expenditures:

Under 25: $30,373
Ages 35-44: $58,784
Ages 45-54: $60,524 (peak spending years)
Ages 75+: $34,382

Food Spending by Age

Eating Patterns:

Younger adults (under 25): 55.4% of food budget on groceries, 44.6% on restaurants
Older adults (75+): 68.2% on groceries, 31.8% on restaurants

Screen Time by Generation

Gen Z (ages 14-28): 9 hours per day
Millennials: 7 hours per day
Gen X: Declining usage
Baby Boomers: Lowest screen time among adults
Teenagers (13-18): 41% exceed 8 hours daily

Transportation

Annual Transportation Spending:

Under 25: $5,672
Ages 35-54: $10,500+ (peak mobility years)
Ages 75+: $5,149

Consumption Differences by Education

Food Choices

Higher Education (>12 years) Correlates With:

More servings of whole grains and cereals
Higher dairy product consumption
More fruits and 100% fruit juices
Greater vegetable intake

Lower Education (≤12 years) Correlates With:

Higher consumption of burgers, sandwiches, and mixed dishes
Less diverse produce intake

Information Consumption

News and Media Access:

High income/education (>$100k): 98% consume news daily
Middle income ($50k-$100k): 93% consume news daily
Lower income (<$50k): 87% consume news daily

Global Comparisons

Developed Country Comparisons

Energy Consumption:

United States: 23% of global energy (5% of population)
American per capita use: 2x Great Britain, 2.5x Japan
Fossil fuel consumption: Double the UK average, 2.5x Japan’s average

Toilet Paper (Annual Per Capita):

United States: 141 rolls (12.7 kg)
Germany: 134 rolls (12.1 kg)
United Kingdom: 127 rolls (11.4 kg)
Japan: 91 rolls
France, Italy, Finland: Less than half of U.S. consumption

Water Usage:

United States: 82-159 gallons per person daily
Global average: More than half the world lives on 25 gallons daily

Solid Waste:

United States: 1,630 pounds per person annually
Americans produce 50% of the world’s solid waste with only 5% of its population

Developing Country Comparisons

Resource Consumption Disparity:

Developed nations (including U.S.): 32 times higher per capita consumption than developing nations
One American child creates 13 times the ecological damage of a child born in Brazil
Average American drains as many resources as 35 Indians or consumes 53 times more goods than someone from China

Meat Consumption:

United States: 327.8 pounds per capita
Global average: 102.5 pounds per capita
India: 30 pounds per capita
Ethiopia: 17 pounds per capita

Energy Impact:

One person in industrialized world uses as much commercial energy as 10 people in developing world
U.S. energy consumption exceeds combined consumption of the five next-largest countries by population

Thinking Ahead: Efficiency & Sustainability

Individual Behavior Changes

Water Conservation:

Install WaterSense labeled fixtures (saves 20% water)
Average family can save 13,000 gallons yearly by replacing old toilets
Fix household leaks (average household wastes 9,400 gallons annually)
Reduce outdoor water waste (50% of outdoor water lost to evaporation/inefficiency)

Energy Efficiency:

Use Energy Star appliances
Residential energy can be reduced by 20%+ through efficient fixtures
Install programmable thermostats
Switch to LED lighting
Improve home insulation

Reducing Waste:

Buy only what you need (Americans waste significant food)
Choose recycled paper products
Use reusable bags, containers, and water bottles
Compost food waste (reduces 22% of municipal solid waste)

Transportation:

Use public transit (only 7% of Americans currently do)
Carpool or bike when possible
Consider electric or hybrid vehicles
Combine errands to reduce trips

Digital Habits:

Set screen time limits (recommended: under 2 hours recreational use daily)
Use power-saving modes on devices
Unplug devices when not in use

Dietary Adjustments

Sustainable Food Choices:

Reduce meat consumption (meat production uses 2x energy of vegetarian diets)
Choose chicken over beef (beef generates 36x more GHG per gram protein than plants)
Buy local and seasonal produce
Reduce food waste through meal planning
Top 20% of U.S. diets cause 50% of food-related emissions; reducing meat cuts this by up to 73%

Technology Solutions

Smart Home Systems:

Smart thermostats learn patterns and optimize heating/cooling
Water monitoring systems detect leaks early
Smart power strips eliminate phantom energy drain
LED bulbs use 75% less energy than incandescent

Renewable Energy:

Residential solar panels
Community solar programs
Green energy utility options
Battery storage systems

Efficient Appliances:

High-efficiency washing machines (use 25-50% less water and energy)
Induction cooktops (more efficient than gas or electric)
Heat pump water heaters (2-3x more efficient than conventional)
Smart refrigerators with energy management

Community & Policy Level

Infrastructure Improvements:

Expand public transportation networks
Improve recycling programs (only 53% of Americans have automatic enrollment)
Upgrade water infrastructure (2.1 trillion gallons lost annually to faulty pipes)
Invest in renewable energy grid

Urban Planning:

Walkable neighborhoods reduce vehicle dependence
Green building standards
Community gardens and local food systems
Bike lanes and pedestrian infrastructure

Simple Daily Actions

Immediate Impact Changes:

Turn off lights when leaving rooms
Take shorter showers (standard shower: 15.8 gallons; efficient shower: under 10 gallons)
Use cold water for laundry
Air dry dishes and clothes when possible
Reduce single-use plastics
Shop with reusable bags
Buy products with minimal packaging
Repair instead of replace when possible
Choose quality over quantity
Share, borrow, or rent infrequently used items

Long-Term Perspective

Why It Matters:

Current American consumption requires 1.5 Earths to sustain
U.S. residents use 4x Earth’s sustainable capacity
Changes in eating habits alone reduced diet-related GHG emissions by 35% between 2003-2018
Small individual changes, when multiplied across millions, create substantial impact

Moving Forward:

Efficiency doesn’t mean sacrifice—it means smart choices
Technology enables comfort with lower resource use
Education drives better decision-making
Community action amplifies individual efforts
Future generations depend on choices made today

Key Takeaway

Americans consume vastly more resources per capita than any other nation. While middle-aged adults (35-54) represent peak consumption years, everyone can make meaningful changes. Simple adjustments in daily habits—combined with efficient technologies and thoughtful purchasing decisions—can dramatically reduce environmental impact while maintaining quality of life. The path forward requires both individual action and systemic change, but the data shows it’s achievable: American consumption patterns are already shifting in more sustainable directions.