Brazil vs United States: Electricity Compared

Brazil generated 752 TWh of electricity in 2025 and the United States 4,520 TWh, according to Ember. Brazil's largest source was hydro (51.7%); the United States' was gas (40.0%). Each kWh generated emitted 110 gCO2/kWh in Brazil and 384 gCO2/kWh in the United States. 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 5.4% in the United States.
The United States' electricity was 3.5 times as carbon intensive as Brazil's in 2025, at 384 gCO2/kWh against 110 gCO2/kWh.
The average person in the United States used 13.06 MWh of electricity in 2025, 3.6 times as much as in Brazil (3.58 MWh).
Low carbon sources supplied 88.7% of Brazil's electricity in 2025 and 43.0% of the United States'.
Electricity demand in 2025 was 764 TWh in Brazil and 4,532 TWh in the United States.

Key Figures, 2025

Ember annual statistics

Measure	Brazil	United States
Total generation	752 TWh	4,520 TWh
Electricity demand	764 TWh	4,532 TWh
Demand per person	3.58 MWh	13.06 MWh
Carbon intensity	110 gCO2/kWh	384 gCO2/kWh
Power sector emissions	82.6 MtCO2	1,737 MtCO2
Low carbon share	88.7%	43.0%
Largest source	Hydro 51.7%	Gas 40.0%

Generation Mix, 2025

Share of generation

Source	Brazil	United States
Hydro	51.7%	5.4%
Gas	7.3%	40.0%
Nuclear	2.1%	17.4%
Coal	2.3%	16.3%
Wind	15.6%	10.3%
Solar	12.0%	8.6%
Bioenergy	7.3%	1.0%
Other fossil	1.7%	0.7%
Other renewables	0.0%	0.4%

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Carbon intensity of electricity generated in Brazil and the United States each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2025 it was 110 gCO2/kWh in Brazil and 384 gCO2/kWh in the United States.

Annual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh

Carbon intensity of electricity in Brazil and United States, 1985 to 2025
Year	Brazil	United States
1985	61 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1986	85 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1987	74 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1988	66 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1989	66 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1990	60 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1991	62 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1992	63 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1993	61 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1994	61 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1995	63 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1996	68 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1997	71 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1998	71 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1999	90 gCO2/kWh	n/a
2000	89 gCO2/kWh	608 gCO2/kWh
2001	106 gCO2/kWh	610 gCO2/kWh
2002	97 gCO2/kWh	601 gCO2/kWh
2003	91 gCO2/kWh	606 gCO2/kWh
2004	102 gCO2/kWh	602 gCO2/kWh
2005	99 gCO2/kWh	604 gCO2/kWh
2006	96 gCO2/kWh	595 gCO2/kWh
2007	91 gCO2/kWh	598 gCO2/kWh
2008	114 gCO2/kWh	591 gCO2/kWh
2009	87 gCO2/kWh	565 gCO2/kWh
2010	114 gCO2/kWh	571 gCO2/kWh
2011	100 gCO2/kWh	551 gCO2/kWh
2012	128 gCO2/kWh	533 gCO2/kWh
2013	168 gCO2/kWh	533 gCO2/kWh
2014	193 gCO2/kWh	529 gCO2/kWh
2015	189 gCO2/kWh	505 gCO2/kWh
2016	150 gCO2/kWh	483 gCO2/kWh
2017	156 gCO2/kWh	469 gCO2/kWh
2018	137 gCO2/kWh	463 gCO2/kWh
2019	142 gCO2/kWh	439 gCO2/kWh
2020	133 gCO2/kWh	412 gCO2/kWh
2021	168 gCO2/kWh	424 gCO2/kWh
2022	103 gCO2/kWh	410 gCO2/kWh
2023	96 gCO2/kWh	393 gCO2/kWh
2024	106 gCO2/kWh	384 gCO2/kWh
2025	110 gCO2/kWh	384 gCO2/kWh

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Electricity demand per person in Brazil and the United States each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2025 it was 3.58 MWh in Brazil and 13.06 MWh in the United States.

Annual statistics through 2025, MWh

Electricity demand per person in Brazil and United States, 1985 to 2025
Year	Brazil	United States
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	13.63 MWh
2001	2.08 MWh	13.19 MWh
2002	2.14 MWh	13.46 MWh
2003	2.23 MWh	13.37 MWh
2004	2.33 MWh	13.54 MWh
2005	2.39 MWh	13.73 MWh
2006	2.47 MWh	13.61 MWh
2007	2.57 MWh	13.83 MWh
2008	2.66 MWh	13.58 MWh
2009	2.64 MWh	12.90 MWh
2010	2.84 MWh	13.31 MWh
2011	2.91 MWh	13.14 MWh
2012	3.01 MWh	12.89 MWh
2013	3.08 MWh	12.85 MWh
2014	3.12 MWh	12.84 MWh
2015	3.05 MWh	12.73 MWh
2016	3.05 MWh	12.62 MWh
2017	3.06 MWh	12.37 MWh
2018	3.09 MWh	12.67 MWh
2019	3.17 MWh	12.43 MWh
2020	3.13 MWh	12.05 MWh
2021	3.24 MWh	12.33 MWh
2022	3.28 MWh	12.67 MWh
2023	3.43 MWh	12.44 MWh
2024	3.57 MWh	12.75 MWh
2025	3.58 MWh	13.06 MWh

Brazil history · United States history

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

Brazil vs United States: 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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