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Built 2026-11-05 (5 November 2026)

France vs United States: Electricity Compared

France generated 574 TWh of electricity in 2025 and the United States 4,520 TWh, according to Ember. France's largest source was nuclear (68.3%); the United States' was gas (40.0%). Each kWh generated emitted 41 gCO2/kWh in France and 384 gCO2/kWh in the United States. These are Ember annual statistics for 2025, compiled from national sources; they are not real time.

Who is bigger and who is cleaner? The United States is the bigger electricity producer, generating 7.9 times as much as France in 2025 (4,520 TWh against 574 TWh). France has the cleaner electricity by carbon intensity, at 41 gCO2/kWh against 384 gCO2/kWh in the United States 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 17.4% in the United States.
  • The United States' electricity was 9.3 times as carbon intensive as France's in 2025, at 384 gCO2/kWh against 41 gCO2/kWh.
  • Low carbon sources supplied 94.9% of France's electricity in 2025 and 43.0% of the United States'.
  • Electricity demand in 2025 was 481 TWh in France and 4,532 TWh in the United States.

Key Figures, 2025

Ember annual statistics
Measure France United States
Total generation574 TWh4,520 TWh
Electricity demand481 TWh4,532 TWh
Demand per person7.15 MWh13.06 MWh
Carbon intensity41 gCO2/kWh384 gCO2/kWh
Power sector emissions23.7 MtCO21,737 MtCO2
Low carbon share94.9%43.0%
Largest sourceNuclear 68.3%Gas 40.0%

Generation Mix, 2025

Share of generation
Source France United States
Nuclear 68.3% 17.4%
Gas 3.0% 40.0%
Coal 0.3% 16.3%
Hydro 10.3% 5.4%
Wind 8.8% 10.3%
Solar 5.6% 8.6%
Other fossil 1.8% 0.7%
Bioenergy 1.8% 1.0%
Other renewables 0.1% 0.4%

Carbon Intensity, 1990 to 2025

Ember annual statistics
Carbon intensity of electricity in France and United States, 1990 to 2025 Carbon intensity of electricity generated in France and the United States each year from 1990 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2025 it was 41 gCO2/kWh in France and 384 gCO2/kWh in the United States. 0 200 400 600 800 19901995200020052010201520202025
Carbon intensity of electricity generated in France and the United States each year from 1990 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2025 it was 41 gCO2/kWh in France and 384 gCO2/kWh in the United States.
Annual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh
Carbon intensity of electricity in France and United States, 1990 to 2025
YearFranceUnited States
1990104 gCO2/kWhn/a
1991122 gCO2/kWhn/a
1992102 gCO2/kWhn/a
199369 gCO2/kWhn/a
199467 gCO2/kWhn/a
199573 gCO2/kWhn/a
199679 gCO2/kWhn/a
199771 gCO2/kWhn/a
199897 gCO2/kWhn/a
199987 gCO2/kWhn/a
200080 gCO2/kWh608 gCO2/kWh
200169 gCO2/kWh610 gCO2/kWh
200275 gCO2/kWh601 gCO2/kWh
200381 gCO2/kWh606 gCO2/kWh
200477 gCO2/kWh602 gCO2/kWh
200586 gCO2/kWh604 gCO2/kWh
200677 gCO2/kWh595 gCO2/kWh
200780 gCO2/kWh598 gCO2/kWh
200876 gCO2/kWh591 gCO2/kWh
200976 gCO2/kWh565 gCO2/kWh
201079 gCO2/kWh571 gCO2/kWh
201175 gCO2/kWh551 gCO2/kWh
201278 gCO2/kWh533 gCO2/kWh
201376 gCO2/kWh533 gCO2/kWh
201452 gCO2/kWh529 gCO2/kWh
201559 gCO2/kWh505 gCO2/kWh
201669 gCO2/kWh483 gCO2/kWh
201778 gCO2/kWh469 gCO2/kWh
201860 gCO2/kWh463 gCO2/kWh
201960 gCO2/kWh439 gCO2/kWh
202059 gCO2/kWh412 gCO2/kWh
202160 gCO2/kWh424 gCO2/kWh
202279 gCO2/kWh410 gCO2/kWh
202353 gCO2/kWh393 gCO2/kWh
202440 gCO2/kWh384 gCO2/kWh
202541 gCO2/kWh384 gCO2/kWh

Demand per Person, 1990 to 2025

Ember annual statistics
Electricity demand per person in France and United States, 1990 to 2025 Electricity demand per person in France and the United States each year from 1990 to 2025, in MWh. In 2025 it was 7.15 MWh in France and 13.06 MWh in the United States. 0 4 8 11 15 19901995200020052010201520202025
Electricity demand per person in France and the United States each year from 1990 to 2025, in MWh. In 2025 it was 7.15 MWh in France and 13.06 MWh in the United States.
Annual statistics through 2025, MWh
Electricity demand per person in France and United States, 1990 to 2025
YearFranceUnited States
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
20007.79 MWh13.63 MWh
20017.92 MWh13.19 MWh
20027.86 MWh13.46 MWh
20038.11 MWh13.37 MWh
20048.25 MWh13.54 MWh
20058.26 MWh13.73 MWh
20068.12 MWh13.61 MWh
20078.09 MWh13.83 MWh
20088.27 MWh13.58 MWh
20097.97 MWh12.90 MWh
20108.38 MWh13.31 MWh
20118.02 MWh13.14 MWh
20128.17 MWh12.89 MWh
20138.21 MWh12.85 MWh
20147.72 MWh12.84 MWh
20157.86 MWh12.73 MWh
20167.95 MWh12.62 MWh
20177.90 MWh12.37 MWh
20187.83 MWh12.67 MWh
20197.73 MWh12.43 MWh
20207.32 MWh12.05 MWh
20217.65 MWh12.33 MWh
20227.29 MWh12.67 MWh
20237.05 MWh12.44 MWh
20247.09 MWh12.75 MWh
20257.15 MWh13.06 MWh

France history · United States 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). France vs United States: Electricity Compared. https://worldpowermonitor.com/compare/france-vs-united-states/

Plain text

World Power Monitor. France vs United States: Electricity Compared. Data as of 2025. Data from Ember. https://worldpowermonitor.com/compare/france-vs-united-states/

BibTeX 
@misc{wpm_compare_france_vs_united_states_2025,
  title = {{France vs United States: Electricity Compared}},
  author = {{World Power Monitor}},
  year = {2025},
  note = {Data as of 2025. Data from Ember.},
  url = {https://worldpowermonitor.com/compare/france-vs-united-states/}
}

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