What percentage of households have air conditioning?

You’re not imagining it; the Earth is getting warmer. According to NASA, the 10 most recent years are the warmest on record, with 2024 being the warmest. For many, the consequences have been dire. Hotter temperatures have increased heat-related deaths, while hotter, drier conditions have contributed to more frequent wildfires. All this has driven people to seek cooling solutions like air conditioners.

Globally, demand for air conditioning units has expanded rapidly. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), annual shipments of air conditioning units are now 25% higher than they were five years ago. This growth has been fuelled by the demand in emerging and developing economies. In 2024, global AC shipments reached 200 million units, the most recorded between 2020 and 2025. Shipments dipped in 2025 to 196 million units, driven by lower demand in India.

Worldwide, around 40% of the population has access to air conditioning, but access varies by region. Nearly 90% of households in Japan and the United States have an air conditioner; meanwhile, ownership rates are substantially lower in Southeast Asia, Europe, and India, despite having high demand for cooling solutions.

Over the past decade, China has seen the sharpest increase in the share of households equipped with air conditioning units, jumping from 53% in 2015 to 79% in 2025.