Australia vs New Zealand: Electricity Compared

Australia generated 287 TWh of electricity in 2025 and New Zealand 43.3 TWh, according to Ember. Australia's largest source was coal (42.7%); New Zealand's was hydro (54.8%). Each kWh generated emitted 525 gCO2/kWh in Australia and 93 gCO2/kWh in New Zealand. These are Ember annual statistics for 2025, compiled from national sources; they are not real time.

Why this comparison: similar electricity demand on the same continent.

Key Facts

Hydro supplied 54.8% of New Zealand's electricity in 2025, against 4.3% in Australia.
Australia's electricity was 5.7 times as carbon intensive as New Zealand's in 2025, at 525 gCO2/kWh against 93 gCO2/kWh.
Low carbon sources supplied 38.7% of Australia's electricity in 2025 and 88.5% of New Zealand's.
Electricity demand in 2025 was 287 TWh in Australia and 43.3 TWh in New Zealand.

Key Figures, 2025

Ember annual statistics

Measure	Australia	New Zealand
Total generation	287 TWh	43.3 TWh
Electricity demand	287 TWh	43.3 TWh
Demand per person	10.63 MWh	8.25 MWh
Carbon intensity	525 gCO2/kWh	93 gCO2/kWh
Power sector emissions	150 MtCO2	4.02 MtCO2
Low carbon share	38.7%	88.5%
Largest source	Coal 42.7%	Hydro 54.8%

Generation Mix, 2025

Share of generation

Source	Australia	New Zealand
Hydro	4.3%	54.8%
Coal	42.7%	1.1%
Other renewables	0.0%	21.8%
Solar	19.7%	0.9%
Gas	16.4%	8.9%
Wind	13.7%	9.7%
Other fossil	2.2%	1.5%
Bioenergy	1.1%	1.3%

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Carbon intensity of electricity generated in Australia and New Zealand each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2025 it was 525 gCO2/kWh in Australia and 93 gCO2/kWh in New Zealand.

Annual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh

Carbon intensity of electricity in Australia and New Zealand, 1985 to 2025
Year	Australia	New Zealand
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	n/a
1991	785 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1992	786 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1993	786 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1994	788 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1995	793 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1996	795 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1997	800 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1998	804 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1999	803 gCO2/kWh	n/a
2000	806 gCO2/kWh	185 gCO2/kWh
2001	803 gCO2/kWh	230 gCO2/kWh
2002	795 gCO2/kWh	198 gCO2/kWh
2003	792 gCO2/kWh	231 gCO2/kWh
2004	793 gCO2/kWh	204 gCO2/kWh
2005	792 gCO2/kWh	254 gCO2/kWh
2006	791 gCO2/kWh	249 gCO2/kWh
2007	791 gCO2/kWh	227 gCO2/kWh
2008	792 gCO2/kWh	247 gCO2/kWh
2009	785 gCO2/kWh	197 gCO2/kWh
2010	776 gCO2/kWh	179 gCO2/kWh
2011	749 gCO2/kWh	166 gCO2/kWh
2012	747 gCO2/kWh	198 gCO2/kWh
2013	726 gCO2/kWh	177 gCO2/kWh
2014	734 gCO2/kWh	149 gCO2/kWh
2015	730 gCO2/kWh	143 gCO2/kWh
2016	714 gCO2/kWh	115 gCO2/kWh
2017	718 gCO2/kWh	132 gCO2/kWh
2018	689 gCO2/kWh	124 gCO2/kWh
2019	670 gCO2/kWh	133 gCO2/kWh
2020	642 gCO2/kWh	142 gCO2/kWh
2021	606 gCO2/kWh	145 gCO2/kWh
2022	578 gCO2/kWh	103 gCO2/kWh
2023	557 gCO2/kWh	87 gCO2/kWh
2024	554 gCO2/kWh	112 gCO2/kWh
2025	525 gCO2/kWh	93 gCO2/kWh

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Electricity demand per person in Australia and New Zealand each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2025 it was 10.63 MWh in Australia and 8.25 MWh in New Zealand.

Annual statistics through 2025, MWh

Electricity demand per person in Australia and New Zealand, 1985 to 2025
Year	Australia	New Zealand
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	10.09 MWh
2001	11.58 MWh	10.09 MWh
2002	11.41 MWh	10.18 MWh
2003	11.40 MWh	10.04 MWh
2004	11.44 MWh	10.35 MWh
2005	11.37 MWh	10.27 MWh
2006	11.56 MWh	10.29 MWh
2007	11.61 MWh	10.27 MWh
2008	11.48 MWh	10.18 MWh
2009	11.47 MWh	9.98 MWh
2010	11.34 MWh	10.19 MWh
2011	11.40 MWh	10.01 MWh
2012	10.97 MWh	9.92 MWh
2013	10.74 MWh	9.59 MWh
2014	10.50 MWh	9.49 MWh
2015	10.61 MWh	9.44 MWh
2016	10.61 MWh	9.15 MWh
2017	10.47 MWh	9.07 MWh
2018	10.46 MWh	8.92 MWh
2019	10.44 MWh	8.77 MWh
2020	10.30 MWh	8.55 MWh
2021	10.30 MWh	8.53 MWh
2022	10.42 MWh	8.43 MWh
2023	10.33 MWh	8.29 MWh
2024	10.54 MWh	8.44 MWh
2025	10.63 MWh	8.25 MWh

Australia history · New Zealand history

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

Australia vs New Zealand: 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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