France vs Germany: Electricity Compared

France generated 570 TWh of electricity in 2025 and Germany 497 TWh, according to Ember. France's largest source was nuclear (68.8%); Germany's was wind (26.6%). Each kWh generated emitted 41 gCO2/kWh in France and 334 gCO2/kWh in Germany. These are Ember annual statistics for 2025, compiled from national sources; they are not real time.

Why this comparison: neighbours by land border or interconnector, both among the 20 largest electricity users and similar electricity demand on the same continent.

Key Facts

Nuclear supplied 68.8% of France's electricity in 2025, against none in Germany.
Germany's electricity was 8.1 times as carbon intensive as France's in 2025, at 334 gCO2/kWh against 41 gCO2/kWh.
Low carbon sources supplied 94.9% of France's electricity in 2025 and 58.5% of Germany's.
Electricity demand in 2025 was 476 TWh in France and 517 TWh in Germany.

Key Figures, 2025

Ember annual statistics

Measure	France	Germany
Total generation	570 TWh	497 TWh
Electricity demand	476 TWh	517 TWh
Demand per person	7.15 MWh	6.19 MWh
Carbon intensity	41 gCO2/kWh	334 gCO2/kWh
Power sector emissions	23.6 MtCO2	166 MtCO2
Low carbon share	94.9%	58.5%
Largest source	Nuclear 68.8%	Wind 26.6%

Generation Mix, 2025

Share of generation

Source	France	Germany
Nuclear	68.8%	0.0%
Wind	8.2%	26.6%
Coal	0.3%	21.0%
Solar	5.6%	18.1%
Gas	3.0%	16.8%
Hydro	10.4%	3.7%
Bioenergy	1.8%	10.1%
Other fossil	1.8%	3.8%
Other renewables	0.1%	0.1%

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Carbon intensity of electricity generated in France and Germany each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2025 it was 41 gCO2/kWh in France and 334 gCO2/kWh in Germany.

Annual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh

Carbon intensity of electricity in France and Germany, 1985 to 2025
Year	France	Germany
1985	n/a	431 gCO2/kWh
1986	n/a	431 gCO2/kWh
1987	n/a	431 gCO2/kWh
1988	n/a	431 gCO2/kWh
1989	n/a	431 gCO2/kWh
1990	104 gCO2/kWh	622 gCO2/kWh
1991	122 gCO2/kWh	628 gCO2/kWh
1992	102 gCO2/kWh	605 gCO2/kWh
1993	69 gCO2/kWh	608 gCO2/kWh
1994	67 gCO2/kWh	604 gCO2/kWh
1995	73 gCO2/kWh	596 gCO2/kWh
1996	79 gCO2/kWh	591 gCO2/kWh
1997	71 gCO2/kWh	575 gCO2/kWh
1998	97 gCO2/kWh	587 gCO2/kWh
1999	87 gCO2/kWh	566 gCO2/kWh
2000	80 gCO2/kWh	573 gCO2/kWh
2001	69 gCO2/kWh	565 gCO2/kWh
2002	75 gCO2/kWh	570 gCO2/kWh
2003	81 gCO2/kWh	570 gCO2/kWh
2004	77 gCO2/kWh	555 gCO2/kWh
2005	86 gCO2/kWh	546 gCO2/kWh
2006	77 gCO2/kWh	536 gCO2/kWh
2007	80 gCO2/kWh	552 gCO2/kWh
2008	76 gCO2/kWh	525 gCO2/kWh
2009	76 gCO2/kWh	522 gCO2/kWh
2010	79 gCO2/kWh	517 gCO2/kWh
2011	75 gCO2/kWh	530 gCO2/kWh
2012	78 gCO2/kWh	534 gCO2/kWh
2013	76 gCO2/kWh	538 gCO2/kWh
2014	52 gCO2/kWh	522 gCO2/kWh
2015	59 gCO2/kWh	504 gCO2/kWh
2016	69 gCO2/kWh	498 gCO2/kWh
2017	78 gCO2/kWh	470 gCO2/kWh
2018	60 gCO2/kWh	455 gCO2/kWh
2019	60 gCO2/kWh	392 gCO2/kWh
2020	59 gCO2/kWh	356 gCO2/kWh
2021	60 gCO2/kWh	395 gCO2/kWh
2022	79 gCO2/kWh	420 gCO2/kWh
2023	53 gCO2/kWh	364 gCO2/kWh
2024	40 gCO2/kWh	340 gCO2/kWh
2025	41 gCO2/kWh	334 gCO2/kWh

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Electricity demand per person in France and Germany each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2025 it was 7.15 MWh in France and 6.19 MWh in Germany.

Annual statistics through 2025, MWh

Electricity demand per person in France and Germany, 1985 to 2025
Year	France	Germany
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	7.79 MWh	6.99 MWh
2001	7.92 MWh	7.11 MWh
2002	7.86 MWh	7.24 MWh
2003	8.11 MWh	7.29 MWh
2004	8.25 MWh	7.39 MWh
2005	8.26 MWh	7.42 MWh
2006	8.12 MWh	7.51 MWh
2007	8.09 MWh	7.56 MWh
2008	8.27 MWh	7.55 MWh
2009	7.97 MWh	7.11 MWh
2010	8.38 MWh	7.54 MWh
2011	8.02 MWh	7.44 MWh
2012	8.17 MWh	7.41 MWh
2013	8.21 MWh	7.37 MWh
2014	7.72 MWh	7.19 MWh
2015	7.86 MWh	7.20 MWh
2016	7.95 MWh	7.14 MWh
2017	7.90 MWh	7.12 MWh
2018	7.83 MWh	7.00 MWh
2019	7.73 MWh	6.79 MWh
2020	7.32 MWh	6.55 MWh
2021	7.65 MWh	6.69 MWh
2022	7.29 MWh	6.42 MWh
2023	7.05 MWh	6.10 MWh
2024	7.09 MWh	6.18 MWh
2025	7.15 MWh	6.19 MWh

France history · Germany history

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

France vs Germany: 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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