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Built 2026-11-05 (5 November 2026)

Australia vs New Zealand: Electricity Compared

Australia generated 286 TWh of electricity in 2025 and New Zealand 44.0 TWh, according to Ember. Australia's largest source was coal (42.9%); New Zealand's was hydro (54.0%). Each kWh generated emitted 518 gCO2/kWh in Australia and 97 gCO2/kWh in New Zealand. These are Ember annual statistics for 2025, compiled from national sources; they are not real time.

Who is bigger and who is cleaner? Australia is the bigger electricity producer, generating 6.5 times as much as New Zealand in 2025 (286 TWh against 44.0 TWh). New Zealand has the cleaner electricity by carbon intensity, at 97 gCO2/kWh against 518 gCO2/kWh in Australia in 2025.

Why this comparison: similar electricity demand on the same continent and a well known regional or sporting rivalry.

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

Key Facts

  • Hydro supplied 54.0% of New Zealand's electricity in 2025, against 4.4% in Australia.
  • Australia's electricity was 5.4 times as carbon intensive as New Zealand's in 2025, at 518 gCO2/kWh against 97 gCO2/kWh.
  • Low carbon sources supplied 39.8% of Australia's electricity in 2025 and 88.2% of New Zealand's.
  • Electricity demand in 2025 was 286 TWh in Australia and 44.0 TWh in New Zealand.

Key Figures, 2025

Ember annual statistics
Measure Australia New Zealand
Total generation286 TWh44.0 TWh
Electricity demand286 TWh44.0 TWh
Demand per person10.63 MWh8.25 MWh
Carbon intensity518 gCO2/kWh97 gCO2/kWh
Power sector emissions148 MtCO24.25 MtCO2
Low carbon share39.8%88.2%
Largest sourceCoal 42.9%Hydro 54.0%

Generation Mix, 2025

Share of generation
Source Australia New Zealand
Hydro 4.4% 54.0%
Coal 42.9% 1.7%
Other renewables 0.0% 22.2%
Solar 20.4% 1.1%
Gas 15.5% 8.7%
Wind 13.9% 9.6%
Other fossil 1.9% 1.5%
Bioenergy 1.1% 1.3%

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics
Carbon intensity of electricity in Australia and New Zealand, 1985 to 2025 Carbon intensity of electricity generated in Australia and New Zealand each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2025 it was 518 gCO2/kWh in Australia and 97 gCO2/kWh in New Zealand. 0 250 500 750 1,000 198519901995200020052010201520202025
Carbon intensity of electricity generated in Australia and New Zealand each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2025 it was 518 gCO2/kWh in Australia and 97 gCO2/kWh in New Zealand.
Annual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh
Carbon intensity of electricity in Australia and New Zealand, 1985 to 2025
YearAustraliaNew Zealand
1985759 gCO2/kWhn/a
1986761 gCO2/kWhn/a
1987772 gCO2/kWhn/a
1988771 gCO2/kWhn/a
1989777 gCO2/kWhn/a
1990786 gCO2/kWhn/a
1991785 gCO2/kWhn/a
1992786 gCO2/kWhn/a
1993786 gCO2/kWhn/a
1994788 gCO2/kWhn/a
1995793 gCO2/kWhn/a
1996795 gCO2/kWhn/a
1997800 gCO2/kWhn/a
1998804 gCO2/kWhn/a
1999803 gCO2/kWhn/a
2000806 gCO2/kWh185 gCO2/kWh
2001803 gCO2/kWh230 gCO2/kWh
2002795 gCO2/kWh198 gCO2/kWh
2003792 gCO2/kWh231 gCO2/kWh
2004793 gCO2/kWh204 gCO2/kWh
2005792 gCO2/kWh254 gCO2/kWh
2006791 gCO2/kWh249 gCO2/kWh
2007791 gCO2/kWh227 gCO2/kWh
2008792 gCO2/kWh247 gCO2/kWh
2009785 gCO2/kWh197 gCO2/kWh
2010776 gCO2/kWh179 gCO2/kWh
2011749 gCO2/kWh166 gCO2/kWh
2012747 gCO2/kWh198 gCO2/kWh
2013726 gCO2/kWh177 gCO2/kWh
2014734 gCO2/kWh149 gCO2/kWh
2015730 gCO2/kWh143 gCO2/kWh
2016714 gCO2/kWh115 gCO2/kWh
2017718 gCO2/kWh132 gCO2/kWh
2018689 gCO2/kWh124 gCO2/kWh
2019670 gCO2/kWh133 gCO2/kWh
2020642 gCO2/kWh142 gCO2/kWh
2021606 gCO2/kWh145 gCO2/kWh
2022578 gCO2/kWh103 gCO2/kWh
2023557 gCO2/kWh87 gCO2/kWh
2024554 gCO2/kWh112 gCO2/kWh
2025518 gCO2/kWh97 gCO2/kWh

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics
Electricity demand per person in Australia and New Zealand, 1985 to 2025 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. 0 3 6 9 12 198519901995200020052010201520202025
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
YearAustraliaNew Zealand
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 MWh10.09 MWh
200111.58 MWh10.09 MWh
200211.41 MWh10.18 MWh
200311.40 MWh10.04 MWh
200411.44 MWh10.35 MWh
200511.37 MWh10.27 MWh
200611.56 MWh10.29 MWh
200711.61 MWh10.27 MWh
200811.48 MWh10.18 MWh
200911.47 MWh9.98 MWh
201011.34 MWh10.19 MWh
201111.40 MWh10.01 MWh
201210.97 MWh9.92 MWh
201310.74 MWh9.59 MWh
201410.50 MWh9.49 MWh
201510.61 MWh9.44 MWh
201610.61 MWh9.15 MWh
201710.47 MWh9.07 MWh
201810.46 MWh8.92 MWh
201910.44 MWh8.77 MWh
202010.30 MWh8.55 MWh
202110.30 MWh8.53 MWh
202210.42 MWh8.43 MWh
202310.33 MWh8.29 MWh
202410.54 MWh8.44 MWh
202510.63 MWh8.25 MWh

Australia history · New Zealand 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 New Zealand: Electricity Compared. https://worldpowermonitor.com/compare/australia-vs-new-zealand/

Plain text

World Power Monitor. Australia vs New Zealand: Electricity Compared. Data as of 2025. Data from Ember. https://worldpowermonitor.com/compare/australia-vs-new-zealand/

BibTeX 
@misc{wpm_compare_australia_vs_new_zealand_2025,
  title = {{Australia vs New Zealand: Electricity Compared}},
  author = {{World Power Monitor}},
  year = {2025},
  note = {Data as of 2025. Data from Ember.},
  url = {https://worldpowermonitor.com/compare/australia-vs-new-zealand/}
}

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