Australia vs France: Electricity Compared

Australia generated 286 TWh of electricity in 2025 and France 574 TWh, according to Ember. Australia's largest source was coal (42.9%); France's was nuclear (68.3%). Each kWh generated emitted 518 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.

Who is bigger and who is cleaner? France is the bigger electricity producer, generating 2.0 times as much as Australia in 2025 (574 TWh against 286 TWh). France has the cleaner electricity by carbon intensity, at 41 gCO2/kWh against 518 gCO2/kWh in Australia in 2025.

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

Open this comparison in the interactive tool to add more countries or change the metric.

Key Facts

  • Nuclear supplied 68.3% of France's electricity in 2025, against none in Australia.
  • Australia's electricity was 12.6 times as carbon intensive as France's in 2025, at 518 gCO2/kWh against 41 gCO2/kWh.
  • Low carbon sources supplied 39.8% of Australia's electricity in 2025 and 94.9% of France's.
  • Electricity demand in 2025 was 286 TWh in Australia and 481 TWh in France.

Key Figures, 2025

Ember annual statistics
Measure Australia France
Total generation286 TWh574 TWh
Electricity demand286 TWh481 TWh
Demand per person10.63 MWh7.15 MWh
Carbon intensity518 gCO2/kWh41 gCO2/kWh
Power sector emissions148 MtCO223.7 MtCO2
Low carbon share39.8%94.9%
Largest sourceCoal 42.9%Nuclear 68.3%

Generation Mix, 2025

Share of generation
Source Australia France
Nuclear 0.0% 68.3%
Coal 42.9% 0.3%
Solar 20.4% 5.6%
Gas 15.5% 3.0%
Wind 13.9% 8.8%
Hydro 4.4% 10.3%
Other fossil 1.9% 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 in Australia and France, 1985 to 2025 Carbon intensity of electricity generated in Australia and France each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2025 it was 518 gCO2/kWh in Australia and 41 gCO2/kWh in France. 0 250 500 750 1,000 198519901995200020052010201520202025
Carbon intensity of electricity generated in Australia and France each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2025 it was 518 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
YearAustraliaFrance
1985759 gCO2/kWhn/a
1986761 gCO2/kWhn/a
1987772 gCO2/kWhn/a
1988771 gCO2/kWhn/a
1989777 gCO2/kWhn/a
1990786 gCO2/kWh104 gCO2/kWh
1991785 gCO2/kWh122 gCO2/kWh
1992786 gCO2/kWh102 gCO2/kWh
1993786 gCO2/kWh69 gCO2/kWh
1994788 gCO2/kWh67 gCO2/kWh
1995793 gCO2/kWh73 gCO2/kWh
1996795 gCO2/kWh79 gCO2/kWh
1997800 gCO2/kWh71 gCO2/kWh
1998804 gCO2/kWh97 gCO2/kWh
1999803 gCO2/kWh87 gCO2/kWh
2000806 gCO2/kWh80 gCO2/kWh
2001803 gCO2/kWh69 gCO2/kWh
2002795 gCO2/kWh75 gCO2/kWh
2003792 gCO2/kWh81 gCO2/kWh
2004793 gCO2/kWh77 gCO2/kWh
2005792 gCO2/kWh86 gCO2/kWh
2006791 gCO2/kWh77 gCO2/kWh
2007791 gCO2/kWh80 gCO2/kWh
2008792 gCO2/kWh76 gCO2/kWh
2009785 gCO2/kWh76 gCO2/kWh
2010776 gCO2/kWh79 gCO2/kWh
2011749 gCO2/kWh75 gCO2/kWh
2012747 gCO2/kWh78 gCO2/kWh
2013726 gCO2/kWh76 gCO2/kWh
2014734 gCO2/kWh52 gCO2/kWh
2015730 gCO2/kWh59 gCO2/kWh
2016714 gCO2/kWh69 gCO2/kWh
2017718 gCO2/kWh78 gCO2/kWh
2018689 gCO2/kWh60 gCO2/kWh
2019670 gCO2/kWh60 gCO2/kWh
2020642 gCO2/kWh59 gCO2/kWh
2021606 gCO2/kWh60 gCO2/kWh
2022578 gCO2/kWh79 gCO2/kWh
2023557 gCO2/kWh53 gCO2/kWh
2024554 gCO2/kWh40 gCO2/kWh
2025518 gCO2/kWh41 gCO2/kWh

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics
Electricity demand per person in Australia and France, 1985 to 2025 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. 0 3 6 9 12 198519901995200020052010201520202025
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
YearAustraliaFrance
1985n/an/a
1986n/an/a
1987n/an/a
1988n/an/a
1989n/an/a
1990n/an/a
1991n/an/a
1992n/an/a
1993n/an/a
1994n/an/a
1995n/an/a
1996n/an/a
1997n/an/a
1998n/an/a
1999n/an/a
200011.33 MWh7.79 MWh
200111.58 MWh7.92 MWh
200211.41 MWh7.86 MWh
200311.40 MWh8.11 MWh
200411.44 MWh8.25 MWh
200511.37 MWh8.26 MWh
200611.56 MWh8.12 MWh
200711.61 MWh8.09 MWh
200811.48 MWh8.27 MWh
200911.47 MWh7.97 MWh
201011.34 MWh8.38 MWh
201111.40 MWh8.02 MWh
201210.97 MWh8.17 MWh
201310.74 MWh8.21 MWh
201410.50 MWh7.72 MWh
201510.61 MWh7.86 MWh
201610.61 MWh7.95 MWh
201710.47 MWh7.90 MWh
201810.46 MWh7.83 MWh
201910.44 MWh7.73 MWh
202010.30 MWh7.32 MWh
202110.30 MWh7.65 MWh
202210.42 MWh7.29 MWh
202310.33 MWh7.05 MWh
202410.54 MWh7.09 MWh
202510.63 MWh7.15 MWh

Australia history · France history

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

Cite this page
APA 7

World Power Monitor. (2025). Australia vs France: Electricity Compared. https://worldpowermonitor.com/compare/australia-vs-france/

Plain text

World Power Monitor. Australia vs France: Electricity Compared. Data as of 2025. Data from Ember. https://worldpowermonitor.com/compare/australia-vs-france/

BibTeX
@misc{wpm_compare_australia_vs_france_2025,
  title = {{Australia vs France: Electricity Compared}},
  author = {{World Power Monitor}},
  year = {2025},
  note = {Data as of 2025. Data from Ember.},
  url = {https://worldpowermonitor.com/compare/australia-vs-france/}
}

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