Australia vs Canada: Electricity Compared

Australia generated 287 TWh of electricity in 2025 and Canada 652 TWh, according to Ember. Australia's largest source was coal (42.7%); Canada's was hydro (52.8%). Each kWh generated emitted 525 gCO2/kWh in Australia and 191 gCO2/kWh in Canada. These are Ember annual statistics for 2025, compiled from national sources; they are not real time.

Why this comparison: both among the 20 largest electricity users.

Key Facts

Hydro supplied 52.8% of Canada's electricity in 2025, against 4.3% in Australia.
Australia's electricity was 2.8 times as carbon intensive as Canada's in 2025, at 525 gCO2/kWh against 191 gCO2/kWh.
Carbon intensity rose 18% in Canada between 2020 and 2025, while it fell 18% in Australia.
Low carbon sources supplied 38.7% of Australia's electricity in 2025 and 77.0% of Canada's.
Electricity demand in 2025 was 287 TWh in Australia and 646 TWh in Canada.

Key Figures, 2025

Ember annual statistics

Measure	Australia	Canada
Total generation	287 TWh	652 TWh
Electricity demand	287 TWh	646 TWh
Demand per person	10.63 MWh	16.09 MWh
Carbon intensity	525 gCO2/kWh	191 gCO2/kWh
Power sector emissions	150 MtCO2	124 MtCO2
Low carbon share	38.7%	77.0%
Largest source	Coal 42.7%	Hydro 52.8%

Generation Mix, 2025

Share of generation

Source	Australia	Canada
Hydro	4.3%	52.8%
Coal	42.7%	4.0%
Solar	19.7%	1.6%
Gas	16.4%	17.9%
Wind	13.7%	7.9%
Nuclear	0.0%	13.1%
Other fossil	2.2%	1.2%
Bioenergy	1.1%	1.6%

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Carbon intensity of electricity generated in Australia and Canada each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2025 it was 525 gCO2/kWh in Australia and 191 gCO2/kWh in Canada.

Annual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh

Carbon intensity of electricity in Australia and Canada, 1985 to 2025
Year	Australia	Canada
1985	759 gCO2/kWh	191 gCO2/kWh
1986	761 gCO2/kWh	172 gCO2/kWh
1987	772 gCO2/kWh	190 gCO2/kWh
1988	771 gCO2/kWh	206 gCO2/kWh
1989	777 gCO2/kWh	225 gCO2/kWh
1990	786 gCO2/kWh	206 gCO2/kWh
1991	785 gCO2/kWh	202 gCO2/kWh
1992	786 gCO2/kWh	209 gCO2/kWh
1993	786 gCO2/kWh	191 gCO2/kWh
1994	788 gCO2/kWh	188 gCO2/kWh
1995	793 gCO2/kWh	199 gCO2/kWh
1996	795 gCO2/kWh	192 gCO2/kWh
1997	800 gCO2/kWh	213 gCO2/kWh
1998	804 gCO2/kWh	241 gCO2/kWh
1999	803 gCO2/kWh	235 gCO2/kWh
2000	806 gCO2/kWh	246 gCO2/kWh
2001	803 gCO2/kWh	256 gCO2/kWh
2002	795 gCO2/kWh	245 gCO2/kWh
2003	792 gCO2/kWh	252 gCO2/kWh
2004	793 gCO2/kWh	235 gCO2/kWh
2005	792 gCO2/kWh	225 gCO2/kWh
2006	791 gCO2/kWh	217 gCO2/kWh
2007	791 gCO2/kWh	228 gCO2/kWh
2008	792 gCO2/kWh	214 gCO2/kWh
2009	785 gCO2/kWh	204 gCO2/kWh
2010	776 gCO2/kWh	215 gCO2/kWh
2011	749 gCO2/kWh	206 gCO2/kWh
2012	747 gCO2/kWh	193 gCO2/kWh
2013	726 gCO2/kWh	187 gCO2/kWh
2014	734 gCO2/kWh	189 gCO2/kWh
2015	730 gCO2/kWh	184 gCO2/kWh
2016	714 gCO2/kWh	181 gCO2/kWh
2017	718 gCO2/kWh	172 gCO2/kWh
2018	689 gCO2/kWh	171 gCO2/kWh
2019	670 gCO2/kWh	170 gCO2/kWh
2020	642 gCO2/kWh	162 gCO2/kWh
2021	606 gCO2/kWh	165 gCO2/kWh
2022	578 gCO2/kWh	161 gCO2/kWh
2023	557 gCO2/kWh	174 gCO2/kWh
2024	554 gCO2/kWh	185 gCO2/kWh
2025	525 gCO2/kWh	191 gCO2/kWh

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Electricity demand per person in Australia and Canada each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2025 it was 10.63 MWh in Australia and 16.09 MWh in Canada.

Annual statistics through 2025, MWh

Electricity demand per person in Australia and Canada, 1985 to 2025
Year	Australia	Canada
1985	n/a	n/a
1986	n/a	n/a
1987	n/a	n/a
1988	n/a	n/a
1989	n/a	n/a
1990	n/a	n/a
1991	n/a	n/a
1992	n/a	n/a
1993	n/a	n/a
1994	n/a	n/a
1995	n/a	n/a
1996	n/a	n/a
1997	n/a	n/a
1998	n/a	n/a
1999	n/a	n/a
2000	11.33 MWh	18.39 MWh
2001	11.58 MWh	18.12 MWh
2002	11.41 MWh	18.34 MWh
2003	11.40 MWh	18.30 MWh
2004	11.44 MWh	18.30 MWh
2005	11.37 MWh	18.39 MWh
2006	11.56 MWh	17.99 MWh
2007	11.61 MWh	18.23 MWh
2008	11.48 MWh	18.03 MWh
2009	11.47 MWh	17.15 MWh
2010	11.34 MWh	17.02 MWh
2011	11.40 MWh	17.41 MWh
2012	10.97 MWh	16.89 MWh
2013	10.74 MWh	17.11 MWh
2014	10.50 MWh	17.04 MWh
2015	10.61 MWh	16.73 MWh
2016	10.61 MWh	16.60 MWh
2017	10.47 MWh	16.49 MWh
2018	10.46 MWh	16.44 MWh
2019	10.44 MWh	16.11 MWh
2020	10.30 MWh	15.67 MWh
2021	10.30 MWh	15.74 MWh
2022	10.42 MWh	15.79 MWh
2023	10.33 MWh	15.61 MWh
2024	10.54 MWh	15.71 MWh
2025	10.63 MWh	16.09 MWh

Australia history · Canada history

Source: Ember (ember-energy.org), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Data as of 2025.

Australia vs Canada: Electricity Compared

Key Facts

Key Figures, 2025

Generation Mix, 2025

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

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