Canada vs Iran: Electricity Compared

Canada generated 652 TWh of electricity in 2025 and Iran 398 TWh, according to Ember. Canada's largest source was hydro (52.8%); Iran's was gas (88.3%). Each kWh generated emitted 191 gCO2/kWh in Canada and 658 gCO2/kWh in Iran. 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

Gas supplied 88.3% of Iran's electricity in 2025, against 17.9% in Canada.
Iran's electricity was 3.4 times as carbon intensive as Canada's in 2025, at 658 gCO2/kWh against 191 gCO2/kWh.
The average person in Canada used 16.09 MWh of electricity in 2025, 3.8 times as much as in Iran (4.28 MWh).
Low carbon sources supplied 77.0% of Canada's electricity in 2025 and 5.9% of Iran's.
Electricity demand in 2025 was 646 TWh in Canada and 397 TWh in Iran.

Key Figures, 2025

Ember annual statistics

Measure	Canada	Iran
Total generation	652 TWh	398 TWh
Electricity demand	646 TWh	397 TWh
Demand per person	16.09 MWh	4.28 MWh
Carbon intensity	191 gCO2/kWh	658 gCO2/kWh
Power sector emissions	124 MtCO2	262 MtCO2
Low carbon share	77.0%	5.9%
Largest source	Hydro 52.8%	Gas 88.3%

Generation Mix, 2025

Share of generation

Source	Canada	Iran
Gas	17.9%	88.3%
Hydro	52.8%	3.5%
Nuclear	13.1%	1.8%
Wind	7.9%	0.3%
Other fossil	1.2%	5.7%
Coal	4.0%	0.2%
Bioenergy	1.6%	0.0%
Solar	1.6%	0.2%

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Carbon intensity of electricity generated in Canada and Iran each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2025 it was 191 gCO2/kWh in Canada and 658 gCO2/kWh in Iran.

Annual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh

Carbon intensity of electricity in Canada and Iran, 1985 to 2025
Year	Canada	Iran
1985	191 gCO2/kWh	577 gCO2/kWh
1986	172 gCO2/kWh	568 gCO2/kWh
1987	190 gCO2/kWh	561 gCO2/kWh
1988	206 gCO2/kWh	565 gCO2/kWh
1989	225 gCO2/kWh	597 gCO2/kWh
1990	206 gCO2/kWh	599 gCO2/kWh
1991	202 gCO2/kWh	625 gCO2/kWh
1992	209 gCO2/kWh	595 gCO2/kWh
1993	191 gCO2/kWh	592 gCO2/kWh
1994	188 gCO2/kWh	629 gCO2/kWh
1995	199 gCO2/kWh	619 gCO2/kWh
1996	192 gCO2/kWh	619 gCO2/kWh
1997	213 gCO2/kWh	645 gCO2/kWh
1998	241 gCO2/kWh	641 gCO2/kWh
1999	235 gCO2/kWh	659 gCO2/kWh
2000	246 gCO2/kWh	667 gCO2/kWh
2001	256 gCO2/kWh	668 gCO2/kWh
2002	245 gCO2/kWh	652 gCO2/kWh
2003	252 gCO2/kWh	649 gCO2/kWh
2004	235 gCO2/kWh	642 gCO2/kWh
2005	225 gCO2/kWh	636 gCO2/kWh
2006	217 gCO2/kWh	625 gCO2/kWh
2007	228 gCO2/kWh	631 gCO2/kWh
2008	214 gCO2/kWh	662 gCO2/kWh
2009	204 gCO2/kWh	667 gCO2/kWh
2010	215 gCO2/kWh	661 gCO2/kWh
2011	206 gCO2/kWh	654 gCO2/kWh
2012	193 gCO2/kWh	648 gCO2/kWh
2013	187 gCO2/kWh	634 gCO2/kWh
2014	189 gCO2/kWh	644 gCO2/kWh
2015	184 gCO2/kWh	651 gCO2/kWh
2016	181 gCO2/kWh	642 gCO2/kWh
2017	172 gCO2/kWh	642 gCO2/kWh
2018	171 gCO2/kWh	658 gCO2/kWh
2019	170 gCO2/kWh	605 gCO2/kWh
2020	162 gCO2/kWh	630 gCO2/kWh
2021	165 gCO2/kWh	658 gCO2/kWh
2022	161 gCO2/kWh	651 gCO2/kWh
2023	174 gCO2/kWh	638 gCO2/kWh
2024	185 gCO2/kWh	643 gCO2/kWh
2025	191 gCO2/kWh	658 gCO2/kWh

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Electricity demand per person in Canada and Iran each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2025 it was 16.09 MWh in Canada and 4.28 MWh in Iran.

Annual statistics through 2025, MWh

Electricity demand per person in Canada and Iran, 1985 to 2025
Year	Canada	Iran
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	18.39 MWh	1.79 MWh
2001	18.12 MWh	1.89 MWh
2002	18.34 MWh	2.04 MWh
2003	18.30 MWh	2.21 MWh
2004	18.30 MWh	2.32 MWh
2005	18.39 MWh	2.46 MWh
2006	17.99 MWh	2.63 MWh
2007	18.23 MWh	2.71 MWh
2008	18.03 MWh	2.76 MWh
2009	17.15 MWh	2.85 MWh
2010	17.02 MWh	3.00 MWh
2011	17.41 MWh	2.94 MWh
2012	16.89 MWh	3.04 MWh
2013	17.11 MWh	3.12 MWh
2014	17.04 MWh	3.31 MWh
2015	16.73 MWh	3.36 MWh
2016	16.60 MWh	3.39 MWh
2017	16.49 MWh	3.54 MWh
2018	16.44 MWh	3.58 MWh
2019	16.11 MWh	3.58 MWh
2020	15.67 MWh	3.77 MWh
2021	15.74 MWh	3.95 MWh
2022	15.79 MWh	4.03 MWh
2023	15.61 MWh	4.14 MWh
2024	15.71 MWh	4.30 MWh
2025	16.09 MWh	4.28 MWh

Canada history · Iran history

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

Canada vs Iran: Electricity Compared

Key Facts

Key Figures, 2025

Generation Mix, 2025

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

Related