Australia vs France: Electricity Compared

Australia generated 287 TWh of electricity in 2025 and France 570 TWh, according to Ember. Australia's largest source was coal (42.7%); France's was nuclear (68.8%). Each kWh generated emitted 525 gCO2/kWh in Australia and 41 gCO2/kWh in France. 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

Nuclear supplied 68.8% of France's electricity in 2025, against none in Australia.
Australia's electricity was 12.7 times as carbon intensive as France's in 2025, at 525 gCO2/kWh against 41 gCO2/kWh.
Low carbon sources supplied 38.7% of Australia's electricity in 2025 and 94.9% of France's.
Electricity demand in 2025 was 287 TWh in Australia and 476 TWh in France.

Key Figures, 2025

Ember annual statistics

Measure	Australia	France
Total generation	287 TWh	570 TWh
Electricity demand	287 TWh	476 TWh
Demand per person	10.63 MWh	7.15 MWh
Carbon intensity	525 gCO2/kWh	41 gCO2/kWh
Power sector emissions	150 MtCO2	23.6 MtCO2
Low carbon share	38.7%	94.9%
Largest source	Coal 42.7%	Nuclear 68.8%

Generation Mix, 2025

Share of generation

Source	Australia	France
Nuclear	0.0%	68.8%
Coal	42.7%	0.3%
Solar	19.7%	5.6%
Gas	16.4%	3.0%
Wind	13.7%	8.2%
Hydro	4.3%	10.4%
Other fossil	2.2%	1.8%
Bioenergy	1.1%	1.8%
Other renewables	0.0%	0.1%

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Carbon intensity of electricity generated in Australia and France each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2025 it was 525 gCO2/kWh in Australia and 41 gCO2/kWh in France.

Annual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh

Carbon intensity of electricity in Australia and France, 1985 to 2025
Year	Australia	France
1985	759 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1986	761 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1987	772 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1988	771 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1989	777 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1990	786 gCO2/kWh	104 gCO2/kWh
1991	785 gCO2/kWh	122 gCO2/kWh
1992	786 gCO2/kWh	102 gCO2/kWh
1993	786 gCO2/kWh	69 gCO2/kWh
1994	788 gCO2/kWh	67 gCO2/kWh
1995	793 gCO2/kWh	73 gCO2/kWh
1996	795 gCO2/kWh	79 gCO2/kWh
1997	800 gCO2/kWh	71 gCO2/kWh
1998	804 gCO2/kWh	97 gCO2/kWh
1999	803 gCO2/kWh	87 gCO2/kWh
2000	806 gCO2/kWh	80 gCO2/kWh
2001	803 gCO2/kWh	69 gCO2/kWh
2002	795 gCO2/kWh	75 gCO2/kWh
2003	792 gCO2/kWh	81 gCO2/kWh
2004	793 gCO2/kWh	77 gCO2/kWh
2005	792 gCO2/kWh	86 gCO2/kWh
2006	791 gCO2/kWh	77 gCO2/kWh
2007	791 gCO2/kWh	80 gCO2/kWh
2008	792 gCO2/kWh	76 gCO2/kWh
2009	785 gCO2/kWh	76 gCO2/kWh
2010	776 gCO2/kWh	79 gCO2/kWh
2011	749 gCO2/kWh	75 gCO2/kWh
2012	747 gCO2/kWh	78 gCO2/kWh
2013	726 gCO2/kWh	76 gCO2/kWh
2014	734 gCO2/kWh	52 gCO2/kWh
2015	730 gCO2/kWh	59 gCO2/kWh
2016	714 gCO2/kWh	69 gCO2/kWh
2017	718 gCO2/kWh	78 gCO2/kWh
2018	689 gCO2/kWh	60 gCO2/kWh
2019	670 gCO2/kWh	60 gCO2/kWh
2020	642 gCO2/kWh	59 gCO2/kWh
2021	606 gCO2/kWh	60 gCO2/kWh
2022	578 gCO2/kWh	79 gCO2/kWh
2023	557 gCO2/kWh	53 gCO2/kWh
2024	554 gCO2/kWh	40 gCO2/kWh
2025	525 gCO2/kWh	41 gCO2/kWh

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Electricity demand per person in Australia and France each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2025 it was 10.63 MWh in Australia and 7.15 MWh in France.

Annual statistics through 2025, MWh

Electricity demand per person in Australia and France, 1985 to 2025
Year	Australia	France
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	7.79 MWh
2001	11.58 MWh	7.92 MWh
2002	11.41 MWh	7.86 MWh
2003	11.40 MWh	8.11 MWh
2004	11.44 MWh	8.25 MWh
2005	11.37 MWh	8.26 MWh
2006	11.56 MWh	8.12 MWh
2007	11.61 MWh	8.09 MWh
2008	11.48 MWh	8.27 MWh
2009	11.47 MWh	7.97 MWh
2010	11.34 MWh	8.38 MWh
2011	11.40 MWh	8.02 MWh
2012	10.97 MWh	8.17 MWh
2013	10.74 MWh	8.21 MWh
2014	10.50 MWh	7.72 MWh
2015	10.61 MWh	7.86 MWh
2016	10.61 MWh	7.95 MWh
2017	10.47 MWh	7.90 MWh
2018	10.46 MWh	7.83 MWh
2019	10.44 MWh	7.73 MWh
2020	10.30 MWh	7.32 MWh
2021	10.30 MWh	7.65 MWh
2022	10.42 MWh	7.29 MWh
2023	10.33 MWh	7.05 MWh
2024	10.54 MWh	7.09 MWh
2025	10.63 MWh	7.15 MWh

Australia history · France history

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

Australia vs France: 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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