Germany vs Switzerland: Electricity Compared

Germany generated 497 TWh of electricity in 2025 and Switzerland 65.0 TWh, according to Ember. Germany's largest source was wind (26.6%); Switzerland's was hydro (52.3%). Each kWh generated emitted 334 gCO2/kWh in Germany and 39 gCO2/kWh in Switzerland. 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.

Key Facts

Hydro supplied 52.3% of Switzerland's electricity in 2025, against 3.7% in Germany.
Germany's electricity was 8.6 times as carbon intensive as Switzerland's in 2025, at 334 gCO2/kWh against 39 gCO2/kWh.
Electricity demand rose 3% in Switzerland between 2020 and 2025, while it fell 6% in Germany.
Carbon intensity rose 7% in Switzerland between 2020 and 2025, while it fell 6% in Germany.
Low carbon sources supplied 58.5% of Germany's electricity in 2025 and 97.7% of Switzerland's.
Electricity demand in 2025 was 517 TWh in Germany and 65.1 TWh in Switzerland.

Key Figures, 2025

Ember annual statistics

Measure	Germany	Switzerland
Total generation	497 TWh	65.0 TWh
Electricity demand	517 TWh	65.1 TWh
Demand per person	6.19 MWh	7.26 MWh
Carbon intensity	334 gCO2/kWh	39 gCO2/kWh
Power sector emissions	166 MtCO2	2.54 MtCO2
Low carbon share	58.5%	97.7%
Largest source	Wind 26.6%	Hydro 52.3%

Generation Mix, 2025

Share of generation

Source	Germany	Switzerland
Hydro	3.7%	52.3%
Nuclear	0.0%	29.9%
Wind	26.6%	0.2%
Coal	21.0%	0.0%
Solar	18.1%	12.1%
Gas	16.8%	0.4%
Bioenergy	10.1%	1.6%
Other fossil	3.8%	1.9%
Other renewables	0.1%	1.6%

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Carbon intensity of electricity generated in Germany and Switzerland each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2025 it was 334 gCO2/kWh in Germany and 39 gCO2/kWh in Switzerland.

Annual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh

Carbon intensity of electricity in Germany and Switzerland, 1985 to 2025
Year	Germany	Switzerland
1985	431 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1986	431 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1987	431 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1988	431 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1989	431 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1990	622 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1991	628 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1992	605 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1993	608 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1994	604 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1995	596 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1996	591 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1997	575 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1998	587 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1999	566 gCO2/kWh	n/a
2000	573 gCO2/kWh	34 gCO2/kWh
2001	565 gCO2/kWh	33 gCO2/kWh
2002	570 gCO2/kWh	34 gCO2/kWh
2003	570 gCO2/kWh	35 gCO2/kWh
2004	555 gCO2/kWh	35 gCO2/kWh
2005	546 gCO2/kWh	38 gCO2/kWh
2006	536 gCO2/kWh	36 gCO2/kWh
2007	552 gCO2/kWh	34 gCO2/kWh
2008	525 gCO2/kWh	34 gCO2/kWh
2009	522 gCO2/kWh	34 gCO2/kWh
2010	517 gCO2/kWh	36 gCO2/kWh
2011	530 gCO2/kWh	36 gCO2/kWh
2012	534 gCO2/kWh	36 gCO2/kWh
2013	538 gCO2/kWh	36 gCO2/kWh
2014	522 gCO2/kWh	34 gCO2/kWh
2015	504 gCO2/kWh	36 gCO2/kWh
2016	498 gCO2/kWh	40 gCO2/kWh
2017	470 gCO2/kWh	40 gCO2/kWh
2018	455 gCO2/kWh	36 gCO2/kWh
2019	392 gCO2/kWh	35 gCO2/kWh
2020	356 gCO2/kWh	37 gCO2/kWh
2021	395 gCO2/kWh	39 gCO2/kWh
2022	420 gCO2/kWh	37 gCO2/kWh
2023	364 gCO2/kWh	35 gCO2/kWh
2024	340 gCO2/kWh	35 gCO2/kWh
2025	334 gCO2/kWh	39 gCO2/kWh

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Electricity demand per person in Germany and Switzerland each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2025 it was 6.19 MWh in Germany and 7.26 MWh in Switzerland.

Annual statistics through 2025, MWh

Electricity demand per person in Germany and Switzerland, 1985 to 2025
Year	Germany	Switzerland
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	6.99 MWh	8.22 MWh
2001	7.11 MWh	8.39 MWh
2002	7.24 MWh	8.37 MWh
2003	7.29 MWh	8.49 MWh
2004	7.39 MWh	8.56 MWh
2005	7.42 MWh	8.63 MWh
2006	7.51 MWh	8.67 MWh
2007	7.56 MWh	8.53 MWh
2008	7.55 MWh	8.63 MWh
2009	7.11 MWh	8.34 MWh
2010	7.54 MWh	8.51 MWh
2011	7.44 MWh	8.27 MWh
2012	7.41 MWh	8.24 MWh
2013	7.37 MWh	8.19 MWh
2014	7.19 MWh	7.89 MWh
2015	7.20 MWh	7.85 MWh
2016	7.14 MWh	7.76 MWh
2017	7.12 MWh	7.77 MWh
2018	7.00 MWh	7.60 MWh
2019	6.79 MWh	7.50 MWh
2020	6.55 MWh	7.28 MWh
2021	6.69 MWh	7.52 MWh
2022	6.42 MWh	7.38 MWh
2023	6.10 MWh	7.18 MWh
2024	6.18 MWh	7.17 MWh
2025	6.19 MWh	7.26 MWh

Germany history · Switzerland history

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

Germany vs Switzerland: 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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