Brazil vs Japan: Electricity Compared
Brazil generated 752 TWh of electricity in 2025 and Japan 1,030 TWh, according to Ember. Brazil's largest source was hydro (51.7%); Japan's was gas (32.8%). Each kWh generated emitted 110 gCO2/kWh in Brazil and 477 gCO2/kWh in Japan. 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 51.7% of Brazil's electricity in 2025, against 7.2% in Japan.
- Japan's electricity was 4.3 times as carbon intensive as Brazil's in 2025, at 477 gCO2/kWh against 110 gCO2/kWh.
- The average person in Japan used 8.37 MWh of electricity in 2025, 2.3 times as much as in Brazil (3.58 MWh).
- Low carbon sources supplied 88.7% of Brazil's electricity in 2025 and 32.7% of Japan's.
- Electricity demand in 2025 was 764 TWh in Brazil and 1,030 TWh in Japan.
Key Figures, 2025
Ember annual statistics| Measure | Brazil | Japan |
|---|---|---|
| Total generation | 752 TWh | 1,030 TWh |
| Electricity demand | 764 TWh | 1,030 TWh |
| Demand per person | 3.58 MWh | 8.37 MWh |
| Carbon intensity | 110 gCO2/kWh | 477 gCO2/kWh |
| Power sector emissions | 82.6 MtCO2 | 492 MtCO2 |
| Low carbon share | 88.7% | 32.7% |
| Largest source | Hydro 51.7% | Gas 32.8% |
Generation Mix, 2025
Share of generationCarbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025
Ember annual statisticsAnnual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh
| Year | Brazil | Japan |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 61 gCO2/kWh | 421 gCO2/kWh |
| 1986 | 85 gCO2/kWh | 417 gCO2/kWh |
| 1987 | 74 gCO2/kWh | 417 gCO2/kWh |
| 1988 | 66 gCO2/kWh | 427 gCO2/kWh |
| 1989 | 66 gCO2/kWh | 429 gCO2/kWh |
| 1990 | 60 gCO2/kWh | 447 gCO2/kWh |
| 1991 | 62 gCO2/kWh | 438 gCO2/kWh |
| 1992 | 63 gCO2/kWh | 445 gCO2/kWh |
| 1993 | 61 gCO2/kWh | 419 gCO2/kWh |
| 1994 | 61 gCO2/kWh | 444 gCO2/kWh |
| 1995 | 63 gCO2/kWh | 424 gCO2/kWh |
| 1996 | 68 gCO2/kWh | 423 gCO2/kWh |
| 1997 | 71 gCO2/kWh | 408 gCO2/kWh |
| 1998 | 71 gCO2/kWh | 404 gCO2/kWh |
| 1999 | 90 gCO2/kWh | 419 gCO2/kWh |
| 2000 | 89 gCO2/kWh | 424 gCO2/kWh |
| 2001 | 106 gCO2/kWh | 424 gCO2/kWh |
| 2002 | 97 gCO2/kWh | 434 gCO2/kWh |
| 2003 | 91 gCO2/kWh | 476 gCO2/kWh |
| 2004 | 102 gCO2/kWh | 450 gCO2/kWh |
| 2005 | 99 gCO2/kWh | 462 gCO2/kWh |
| 2006 | 96 gCO2/kWh | 447 gCO2/kWh |
| 2007 | 91 gCO2/kWh | 470 gCO2/kWh |
| 2008 | 114 gCO2/kWh | 485 gCO2/kWh |
| 2009 | 87 gCO2/kWh | 460 gCO2/kWh |
| 2010 | 114 gCO2/kWh | 447 gCO2/kWh |
| 2011 | 100 gCO2/kWh | 505 gCO2/kWh |
| 2012 | 128 gCO2/kWh | 595 gCO2/kWh |
| 2013 | 168 gCO2/kWh | 596 gCO2/kWh |
| 2014 | 193 gCO2/kWh | 592 gCO2/kWh |
| 2015 | 189 gCO2/kWh | 578 gCO2/kWh |
| 2016 | 150 gCO2/kWh | 567 gCO2/kWh |
| 2017 | 156 gCO2/kWh | 558 gCO2/kWh |
| 2018 | 137 gCO2/kWh | 542 gCO2/kWh |
| 2019 | 142 gCO2/kWh | 529 gCO2/kWh |
| 2020 | 133 gCO2/kWh | 528 gCO2/kWh |
| 2021 | 168 gCO2/kWh | 515 gCO2/kWh |
| 2022 | 103 gCO2/kWh | 520 gCO2/kWh |
| 2023 | 96 gCO2/kWh | 493 gCO2/kWh |
| 2024 | 106 gCO2/kWh | 484 gCO2/kWh |
| 2025 | 110 gCO2/kWh | 477 gCO2/kWh |
Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025
Ember annual statisticsAnnual statistics through 2025, MWh
| Year | Brazil | Japan |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 2.25 MWh | 8.66 MWh |
| 2001 | 2.08 MWh | 8.51 MWh |
| 2002 | 2.14 MWh | 8.65 MWh |
| 2003 | 2.23 MWh | 8.56 MWh |
| 2004 | 2.33 MWh | 8.77 MWh |
| 2005 | 2.39 MWh | 9.01 MWh |
| 2006 | 2.47 MWh | 9.10 MWh |
| 2007 | 2.57 MWh | 9.21 MWh |
| 2008 | 2.66 MWh | 9.24 MWh |
| 2009 | 2.64 MWh | 8.69 MWh |
| 2010 | 2.84 MWh | 9.02 MWh |
| 2011 | 2.91 MWh | 8.62 MWh |
| 2012 | 3.01 MWh | 8.65 MWh |
| 2013 | 3.08 MWh | 8.52 MWh |
| 2014 | 3.12 MWh | 8.34 MWh |
| 2015 | 3.05 MWh | 8.09 MWh |
| 2016 | 3.05 MWh | 8.37 MWh |
| 2017 | 3.06 MWh | 8.48 MWh |
| 2018 | 3.09 MWh | 8.53 MWh |
| 2019 | 3.17 MWh | 8.27 MWh |
| 2020 | 3.13 MWh | 8.01 MWh |
| 2021 | 3.24 MWh | 8.23 MWh |
| 2022 | 3.28 MWh | 8.33 MWh |
| 2023 | 3.43 MWh | 8.10 MWh |
| 2024 | 3.57 MWh | 8.21 MWh |
| 2025 | 3.58 MWh | 8.37 MWh |
Brazil history · Japan history
Source: Ember (ember-energy.org), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Data as of 2025.