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Built 2026-11-05 (5 November 2026)

Iran vs United States: Electricity Compared

Iran generated 399 TWh of electricity in 2025 and the United States 4,520 TWh, according to Ember. Gas was the largest source in both, at 73.3% in Iran and 40.0% in the United States. Each kWh generated emitted 656 gCO2/kWh in Iran 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 11.3 times as much as Iran in 2025 (4,520 TWh against 399 TWh). The United States has the cleaner electricity by carbon intensity, at 384 gCO2/kWh against 656 gCO2/kWh in Iran 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

  • Gas supplied 73.3% of Iran's electricity in 2025, against 40.0% in the United States.
  • Iran's electricity was 1.7 times as carbon intensive as the United States' in 2025, at 656 gCO2/kWh against 384 gCO2/kWh.
  • Carbon intensity rose 4% in Iran between 2020 and 2025, while it fell 7% in the United States.
  • The average person in the United States used 13.06 MWh of electricity in 2025, 3.1 times as much as in Iran (4.28 MWh).
  • Low carbon sources supplied 5.2% of Iran's electricity in 2025 and 43.0% of the United States'.
  • Electricity demand in 2025 was 397 TWh in Iran and 4,532 TWh in the United States.

Key Figures, 2025

Ember annual statistics
Measure Iran United States
Total generation399 TWh4,520 TWh
Electricity demand397 TWh4,532 TWh
Demand per person4.28 MWh13.06 MWh
Carbon intensity656 gCO2/kWh384 gCO2/kWh
Power sector emissions262 MtCO21,737 MtCO2
Low carbon share5.2%43.0%
Largest sourceGas 73.3%Gas 40.0%

Generation Mix, 2025

Share of generation
Source Iran United States
Gas 73.3% 40.0%
Other fossil 21.3% 0.7%
Nuclear 1.4% 17.4%
Coal 0.2% 16.3%
Wind 0.3% 10.3%
Solar 0.6% 8.6%
Hydro 3.0% 5.4%
Bioenergy 0.0% 1.0%
Other renewables 0.0% 0.4%

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics
Carbon intensity of electricity in Iran and United States, 1985 to 2025 Carbon intensity of electricity generated in Iran and the United States each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2025 it was 656 gCO2/kWh in Iran and 384 gCO2/kWh in the United States. 0 200 400 600 800 198519901995200020052010201520202025
Carbon intensity of electricity generated in Iran and the United States each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2025 it was 656 gCO2/kWh in Iran and 384 gCO2/kWh in the United States.
Annual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh
Carbon intensity of electricity in Iran and United States, 1985 to 2025
YearIranUnited States
1985577 gCO2/kWhn/a
1986568 gCO2/kWhn/a
1987561 gCO2/kWhn/a
1988565 gCO2/kWhn/a
1989597 gCO2/kWhn/a
1990599 gCO2/kWhn/a
1991625 gCO2/kWhn/a
1992595 gCO2/kWhn/a
1993592 gCO2/kWhn/a
1994629 gCO2/kWhn/a
1995619 gCO2/kWhn/a
1996619 gCO2/kWhn/a
1997645 gCO2/kWhn/a
1998641 gCO2/kWhn/a
1999659 gCO2/kWhn/a
2000667 gCO2/kWh608 gCO2/kWh
2001668 gCO2/kWh610 gCO2/kWh
2002652 gCO2/kWh601 gCO2/kWh
2003649 gCO2/kWh606 gCO2/kWh
2004642 gCO2/kWh602 gCO2/kWh
2005636 gCO2/kWh604 gCO2/kWh
2006625 gCO2/kWh595 gCO2/kWh
2007631 gCO2/kWh598 gCO2/kWh
2008662 gCO2/kWh591 gCO2/kWh
2009667 gCO2/kWh565 gCO2/kWh
2010661 gCO2/kWh571 gCO2/kWh
2011654 gCO2/kWh551 gCO2/kWh
2012648 gCO2/kWh533 gCO2/kWh
2013634 gCO2/kWh533 gCO2/kWh
2014644 gCO2/kWh529 gCO2/kWh
2015651 gCO2/kWh505 gCO2/kWh
2016642 gCO2/kWh483 gCO2/kWh
2017642 gCO2/kWh469 gCO2/kWh
2018658 gCO2/kWh463 gCO2/kWh
2019605 gCO2/kWh439 gCO2/kWh
2020630 gCO2/kWh412 gCO2/kWh
2021658 gCO2/kWh424 gCO2/kWh
2022651 gCO2/kWh410 gCO2/kWh
2023638 gCO2/kWh393 gCO2/kWh
2024643 gCO2/kWh384 gCO2/kWh
2025656 gCO2/kWh384 gCO2/kWh

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics
Electricity demand per person in Iran and United States, 1985 to 2025 Electricity demand per person in Iran and the United States each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2025 it was 4.28 MWh in Iran and 13.06 MWh in the United States. 0 4 8 11 15 198519901995200020052010201520202025
Electricity demand per person in Iran and the United States each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2025 it was 4.28 MWh in Iran and 13.06 MWh in the United States.
Annual statistics through 2025, MWh
Electricity demand per person in Iran and United States, 1985 to 2025
YearIranUnited States
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
20001.79 MWh13.63 MWh
20011.89 MWh13.19 MWh
20022.04 MWh13.46 MWh
20032.21 MWh13.37 MWh
20042.32 MWh13.54 MWh
20052.46 MWh13.73 MWh
20062.63 MWh13.61 MWh
20072.71 MWh13.83 MWh
20082.76 MWh13.58 MWh
20092.85 MWh12.90 MWh
20103.00 MWh13.31 MWh
20112.94 MWh13.14 MWh
20123.04 MWh12.89 MWh
20133.12 MWh12.85 MWh
20143.31 MWh12.84 MWh
20153.36 MWh12.73 MWh
20163.39 MWh12.62 MWh
20173.54 MWh12.37 MWh
20183.58 MWh12.67 MWh
20193.58 MWh12.43 MWh
20203.77 MWh12.05 MWh
20213.95 MWh12.33 MWh
20224.03 MWh12.67 MWh
20234.14 MWh12.44 MWh
20244.30 MWh12.75 MWh
20254.28 MWh13.06 MWh

Iran 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). Iran vs United States: Electricity Compared. https://worldpowermonitor.com/compare/iran-vs-united-states/

Plain text

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

BibTeX 
@misc{wpm_compare_iran_vs_united_states_2025,
  title = {{Iran vs United States: Electricity Compared}},
  author = {{World Power Monitor}},
  year = {2025},
  note = {Data as of 2025. Data from Ember.},
  url = {https://worldpowermonitor.com/compare/iran-vs-united-states/}
}

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