India vs United States: Electricity Compared

India generated 2,084 TWh of electricity in 2025 and the United States 4,520 TWh, according to Ember. India's largest source was coal (70.9%); the United States' was gas (40.0%). Each kWh generated emitted 671 gCO2/kWh in India and 384 gCO2/kWh in the United States. 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

Coal supplied 70.9% of India's electricity in 2025, against 16.3% in the United States.
India's electricity was 1.7 times as carbon intensive as the United States' in 2025, at 671 gCO2/kWh against 384 gCO2/kWh.
The average person in the United States used 13.06 MWh of electricity in 2025, 9.2 times as much as in India (1.42 MWh).
Low carbon sources supplied 26.5% of India's electricity in 2025 and 43.0% of the United States'.
Electricity demand in 2025 was 2,086 TWh in India and 4,532 TWh in the United States.

Key Figures, 2025

Ember annual statistics

Measure	India	United States
Total generation	2,084 TWh	4,520 TWh
Electricity demand	2,086 TWh	4,532 TWh
Demand per person	1.42 MWh	13.06 MWh
Carbon intensity	671 gCO2/kWh	384 gCO2/kWh
Power sector emissions	1,399 MtCO2	1,737 MtCO2
Low carbon share	26.5%	43.0%
Largest source	Coal 70.9%	Gas 40.0%

Generation Mix, 2025

Share of generation

Source	India	United States
Coal	70.9%	16.3%
Gas	2.3%	40.0%
Nuclear	2.6%	17.4%
Wind	5.0%	10.3%
Solar	9.3%	8.6%
Hydro	8.5%	5.4%
Bioenergy	1.1%	1.0%
Other fossil	0.2%	0.7%
Other renewables	0.0%	0.4%

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Carbon intensity of electricity generated in India and the United States each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2025 it was 671 gCO2/kWh in India and 384 gCO2/kWh in the United States.

Annual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh

Carbon intensity of electricity in India and United States, 1985 to 2025
Year	India	United States
1985	635 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1986	652 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1987	690 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1988	684 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1989	686 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1990	679 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1991	683 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1992	700 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1993	713 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1994	705 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1995	723 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1996	738 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1997	738 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1998	720 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1999	729 gCO2/kWh	n/a
2000	740 gCO2/kWh	608 gCO2/kWh
2001	747 gCO2/kWh	610 gCO2/kWh
2002	756 gCO2/kWh	601 gCO2/kWh
2003	758 gCO2/kWh	606 gCO2/kWh
2004	724 gCO2/kWh	602 gCO2/kWh
2005	734 gCO2/kWh	604 gCO2/kWh
2006	723 gCO2/kWh	595 gCO2/kWh
2007	718 gCO2/kWh	598 gCO2/kWh
2008	733 gCO2/kWh	591 gCO2/kWh
2009	745 gCO2/kWh	565 gCO2/kWh
2010	739 gCO2/kWh	571 gCO2/kWh
2011	722 gCO2/kWh	551 gCO2/kWh
2012	743 gCO2/kWh	533 gCO2/kWh
2013	739 gCO2/kWh	533 gCO2/kWh
2014	743 gCO2/kWh	529 gCO2/kWh
2015	751 gCO2/kWh	505 gCO2/kWh
2016	752 gCO2/kWh	483 gCO2/kWh
2017	743 gCO2/kWh	469 gCO2/kWh
2018	738 gCO2/kWh	463 gCO2/kWh
2019	723 gCO2/kWh	439 gCO2/kWh
2020	710 gCO2/kWh	412 gCO2/kWh
2021	716 gCO2/kWh	424 gCO2/kWh
2022	707 gCO2/kWh	410 gCO2/kWh
2023	714 gCO2/kWh	393 gCO2/kWh
2024	707 gCO2/kWh	384 gCO2/kWh
2025	671 gCO2/kWh	384 gCO2/kWh

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Electricity demand per person in India and the United States each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2025 it was 1.42 MWh in India and 13.06 MWh in the United States.

Annual statistics through 2025, MWh

Electricity demand per person in India and United States, 1985 to 2025
Year	India	United States
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	0.54 MWh	13.63 MWh
2001	0.55 MWh	13.19 MWh
2002	0.56 MWh	13.46 MWh
2003	0.57 MWh	13.37 MWh
2004	0.62 MWh	13.54 MWh
2005	0.61 MWh	13.73 MWh
2006	0.64 MWh	13.61 MWh
2007	0.67 MWh	13.83 MWh
2008	0.69 MWh	13.58 MWh
2009	0.72 MWh	12.90 MWh
2010	0.76 MWh	13.31 MWh
2011	0.82 MWh	13.14 MWh
2012	0.86 MWh	12.89 MWh
2013	0.88 MWh	12.85 MWh
2014	0.96 MWh	12.84 MWh
2015	0.99 MWh	12.73 MWh
2016	1.04 MWh	12.62 MWh
2017	1.07 MWh	12.37 MWh
2018	1.14 MWh	12.67 MWh
2019	1.15 MWh	12.43 MWh
2020	1.12 MWh	12.05 MWh
2021	1.19 MWh	12.33 MWh
2022	1.27 MWh	12.67 MWh
2023	1.33 MWh	12.44 MWh
2024	1.40 MWh	12.75 MWh
2025	1.42 MWh	13.06 MWh

India history · United States history

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

India vs United States: 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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