India had 27 million ACs for 1.3 billion people
Air conditioners in use by country, 2016 (latest IEA country data), total units and units per 100 people.
ACs in India in 2016 for 1.3 billion people: 2 per 100. The US had about 116 per 100.
India's cooling need (3,084 cooling degree days) vs the US (764).
ACs projected worldwide by 2050, up from 1.6bn. China, India and Indonesia drive about half the growth.
the numbers
| ACs in use (m) | Per 100 people | |
|---|---|---|
| China | 569 | 41.1 |
| United States | 374 | 114.0 |
| Japan | 148 | 116.5 |
| European Union | 97 | 19.0 |
| Korea | 59 | 115.7 |
| Middle East | 47 | 20.3 |
| India | 27 | 2.0 |
| Brazil | 27 | 12.9 |
| Mexico | 16 | 13.0 |
| Indonesia | 12 | 4.6 |
| South Africa | 3 | 5.5 |
source notes & method
Stock includes residential and commercial units. progrss derived units per 100 people from the IEA stock and its 2016 population figures (Table 2.1), both rounded. The IEA gives no 2050 stock by country. The 2050 world figure (5.6bn) is the IEA Baseline Scenario. A later IEA WEO (2023, as reported by press) puts India at 24 ACs per 100 households, three times the 2010 level.
Published 13 Oct 2026
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