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Built 2026-11-05 (5 November 2026)

China vs France: Electricity Compared

China generated 10,506 TWh of electricity in 2025 and France 574 TWh, according to Ember. China's largest source was coal (54.8%); France's was nuclear (68.3%). Each kWh generated emitted 528 gCO2/kWh in China and 41 gCO2/kWh in France. These are Ember annual statistics for 2025, compiled from national sources; they are not real time.

Who is bigger and who is cleaner? China is the bigger electricity producer, generating 18.3 times as much as France in 2025 (10,506 TWh against 574 TWh). France has the cleaner electricity by carbon intensity, at 41 gCO2/kWh against 528 gCO2/kWh in China in 2025.

Why this comparison: both among the 20 largest electricity users.

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

Key Facts

  • Nuclear supplied 68.3% of France's electricity in 2025, against 4.6% in China.
  • China's electricity was 12.8 times as carbon intensive as France's in 2025, at 528 gCO2/kWh against 41 gCO2/kWh.
  • Low carbon sources supplied 41.1% of China's electricity in 2025 and 94.9% of France's.
  • Electricity demand in 2025 was 10,486 TWh in China and 481 TWh in France.

Key Figures, 2025

Ember annual statistics
Measure China France
Total generation10,506 TWh574 TWh
Electricity demand10,486 TWh481 TWh
Demand per person7.46 MWh7.15 MWh
Carbon intensity528 gCO2/kWh41 gCO2/kWh
Power sector emissions5,550 MtCO223.7 MtCO2
Low carbon share41.1%94.9%
Largest sourceCoal 54.8%Nuclear 68.3%

Generation Mix, 2025

Share of generation
Source China France
Nuclear 4.6% 68.3%
Coal 54.8% 0.3%
Hydro 13.3% 10.3%
Solar 11.2% 5.6%
Wind 10.7% 8.8%
Gas 3.2% 3.0%
Other fossil 0.9% 1.8%
Bioenergy 1.3% 1.8%
Other renewables 0.0% 0.1%

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics
Carbon intensity of electricity in China and France, 1985 to 2025 Carbon intensity of electricity generated in China and France each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2025 it was 528 gCO2/kWh in China and 41 gCO2/kWh in France. 0 200 400 600 800 198519901995200020052010201520202025
Carbon intensity of electricity generated in China and France each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2025 it was 528 gCO2/kWh in China and 41 gCO2/kWh in France.
Annual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh
Carbon intensity of electricity in China and France, 1985 to 2025
YearChinaFrance
1985709 gCO2/kWhn/a
1986728 gCO2/kWhn/a
1987739 gCO2/kWhn/a
1988740 gCO2/kWhn/a
1989740 gCO2/kWhn/a
1990745 gCO2/kWh104 gCO2/kWh
1991766 gCO2/kWh122 gCO2/kWh
1992778 gCO2/kWh102 gCO2/kWh
1993759 gCO2/kWh69 gCO2/kWh
1994761 gCO2/kWh67 gCO2/kWh
1995753 gCO2/kWh73 gCO2/kWh
1996771 gCO2/kWh79 gCO2/kWh
1997772 gCO2/kWh71 gCO2/kWh
1998774 gCO2/kWh97 gCO2/kWh
1999787 gCO2/kWh87 gCO2/kWh
2000784 gCO2/kWh80 gCO2/kWh
2001763 gCO2/kWh69 gCO2/kWh
2002773 gCO2/kWh75 gCO2/kWh
2003791 gCO2/kWh81 gCO2/kWh
2004779 gCO2/kWh77 gCO2/kWh
2005782 gCO2/kWh86 gCO2/kWh
2006787 gCO2/kWh77 gCO2/kWh
2007785 gCO2/kWh80 gCO2/kWh
2008747 gCO2/kWh76 gCO2/kWh
2009753 gCO2/kWh76 gCO2/kWh
2010742 gCO2/kWh79 gCO2/kWh
2011754 gCO2/kWh75 gCO2/kWh
2012722 gCO2/kWh78 gCO2/kWh
2013719 gCO2/kWh76 gCO2/kWh
2014696 gCO2/kWh52 gCO2/kWh
2015670 gCO2/kWh59 gCO2/kWh
2016653 gCO2/kWh69 gCO2/kWh
2017646 gCO2/kWh78 gCO2/kWh
2018639 gCO2/kWh60 gCO2/kWh
2019622 gCO2/kWh60 gCO2/kWh
2020609 gCO2/kWh59 gCO2/kWh
2021602 gCO2/kWh60 gCO2/kWh
2022590 gCO2/kWh79 gCO2/kWh
2023586 gCO2/kWh53 gCO2/kWh
2024559 gCO2/kWh40 gCO2/kWh
2025528 gCO2/kWh41 gCO2/kWh

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics
Electricity demand per person in China and France, 1985 to 2025 Electricity demand per person in China and France each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2025 it was 7.46 MWh in China and 7.15 MWh in France. 0.0 2.5 5.0 7.5 10.0 198519901995200020052010201520202025
Electricity demand per person in China and France each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2025 it was 7.46 MWh in China and 7.15 MWh in France.
Annual statistics through 2025, MWh
Electricity demand per person in China and France, 1985 to 2025
YearChinaFrance
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
20001.06 MWh7.79 MWh
20011.15 MWh7.92 MWh
20021.28 MWh7.86 MWh
20031.47 MWh8.11 MWh
20041.69 MWh8.25 MWh
20051.90 MWh8.26 MWh
20062.17 MWh8.12 MWh
20072.47 MWh8.09 MWh
20082.61 MWh8.27 MWh
20092.76 MWh7.97 MWh
20103.10 MWh8.38 MWh
20113.46 MWh8.02 MWh
20123.63 MWh8.17 MWh
20133.93 MWh8.21 MWh
20144.17 MWh7.72 MWh
20154.16 MWh7.86 MWh
20164.36 MWh7.95 MWh
20174.67 MWh7.90 MWh
20185.04 MWh7.83 MWh
20195.26 MWh7.73 MWh
20205.44 MWh7.32 MWh
20215.97 MWh7.65 MWh
20226.20 MWh7.29 MWh
20236.64 MWh7.05 MWh
20247.10 MWh7.09 MWh
20257.46 MWh7.15 MWh

China history · France 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). China vs France: Electricity Compared. https://worldpowermonitor.com/compare/china-vs-france/

Plain text

World Power Monitor. China vs France: Electricity Compared. Data as of 2025. Data from Ember. https://worldpowermonitor.com/compare/china-vs-france/

BibTeX 
@misc{wpm_compare_china_vs_france_2025,
  title = {{China vs France: Electricity Compared}},
  author = {{World Power Monitor}},
  year = {2025},
  note = {Data as of 2025. Data from Ember.},
  url = {https://worldpowermonitor.com/compare/china-vs-france/}
}

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