This paper is a review of worldwide direct applications of geothermal energy. It attempts to update the surveys presented at and after the World Geothermal Congresses of 1995, 2000 and 2005. Seventy-two countries report direct utilization of geothermal energy. In May 2005, the direct-Use projects had an estimated installed thermal capacity of 28,268 MWt. The thermal energy usage is 273,372 TJ/year (75,943 GWh/year), a 43% increase over 2000; the annual compound growth rate is 7.5%. The distribution of thermal energy used by category is approximately 32% for geothermal heat pumps, 30% for bathing and swimming (including balneology), 20% for space heating (of which 83% is for district heating), 7.5% for greenhouse and open-ground heating, 4% for industrial process heat, 4% for aquaculture pond and raceway heating, < 1% for agricultural drying, < 1% for snow melting and cooling, and < 0.5% for other uses. The equivalent annual savings in fuel oil amounts to 170 million barrels (25.4 million tonnes) and 24 million tonnes in carbon emissions to the atmosphere. (c) 2005 CNR. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.