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Built 2026-11-05 (5 November 2026)

Japan vs United Kingdom: Electricity Compared

Japan generated 1,027 TWh of electricity in 2025 and the United Kingdom 294 TWh, according to Ember. Gas was the largest source in both, at 32.7% in Japan and 31.3% in the United Kingdom. Each kWh generated emitted 474 gCO2/kWh in Japan and 218 gCO2/kWh in the United Kingdom. These are Ember annual statistics for 2025, compiled from national sources; they are not real time.

Who is bigger and who is cleaner? Japan is the bigger electricity producer, generating 3.5 times as much as the United Kingdom in 2025 (1,027 TWh against 294 TWh). The United Kingdom has the cleaner electricity by carbon intensity, at 218 gCO2/kWh against 474 gCO2/kWh in Japan 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

  • Coal supplied 31.8% of Japan's electricity in 2025, against 0.1% in the United Kingdom.
  • Japan's electricity was 2.2 times as carbon intensive as the United Kingdom's in 2025, at 474 gCO2/kWh against 218 gCO2/kWh.
  • Low carbon sources supplied 33.1% of Japan's electricity in 2025 and 64.2% of the United Kingdom's.
  • Electricity demand in 2025 was 1,027 TWh in Japan and 312 TWh in the United Kingdom.

Key Figures, 2025

Ember annual statistics
Measure Japan United Kingdom
Total generation1,027 TWh294 TWh
Electricity demand1,027 TWh312 TWh
Demand per person8.37 MWh4.62 MWh
Carbon intensity474 gCO2/kWh218 gCO2/kWh
Power sector emissions487 MtCO264.0 MtCO2
Low carbon share33.1%64.2%
Largest sourceGas 32.7%Gas 31.3%

Generation Mix, 2025

Share of generation
Source Japan United Kingdom
Gas 32.7% 31.3%
Coal 31.8% 0.1%
Wind 1.3% 29.4%
Bioenergy 4.6% 13.9%
Nuclear 9.2% 12.4%
Solar 10.8% 6.6%
Hydro 7.2% 1.8%
Other fossil 2.4% 4.4%

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics
Carbon intensity of electricity in Japan and United Kingdom, 1985 to 2025 Carbon intensity of electricity generated in Japan and the United Kingdom each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2025 it was 474 gCO2/kWh in Japan and 218 gCO2/kWh in the United Kingdom. 0 200 400 600 800 198519901995200020052010201520202025
Carbon intensity of electricity generated in Japan and the United Kingdom each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2025 it was 474 gCO2/kWh in Japan and 218 gCO2/kWh in the United Kingdom.
Annual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh
Carbon intensity of electricity in Japan and United Kingdom, 1985 to 2025
YearJapanUnited Kingdom
1985421 gCO2/kWh694 gCO2/kWh
1986417 gCO2/kWh721 gCO2/kWh
1987417 gCO2/kWh737 gCO2/kWh
1988427 gCO2/kWh710 gCO2/kWh
1989429 gCO2/kWh689 gCO2/kWh
1990447 gCO2/kWh705 gCO2/kWh
1991438 gCO2/kWh700 gCO2/kWh
1992445 gCO2/kWh665 gCO2/kWh
1993419 gCO2/kWh608 gCO2/kWh
1994444 gCO2/kWh589 gCO2/kWh
1995424 gCO2/kWh579 gCO2/kWh
1996423 gCO2/kWh557 gCO2/kWh
1997408 gCO2/kWh512 gCO2/kWh
1998404 gCO2/kWh510 gCO2/kWh
1999419 gCO2/kWh492 gCO2/kWh
2000424 gCO2/kWh522 gCO2/kWh
2001424 gCO2/kWh529 gCO2/kWh
2002434 gCO2/kWh521 gCO2/kWh
2003476 gCO2/kWh537 gCO2/kWh
2004450 gCO2/kWh536 gCO2/kWh
2005462 gCO2/kWh535 gCO2/kWh
2006447 gCO2/kWh559 gCO2/kWh
2007470 gCO2/kWh556 gCO2/kWh
2008485 gCO2/kWh554 gCO2/kWh
2009460 gCO2/kWh505 gCO2/kWh
2010447 gCO2/kWh517 gCO2/kWh
2011505 gCO2/kWh500 gCO2/kWh
2012595 gCO2/kWh537 gCO2/kWh
2013596 gCO2/kWh507 gCO2/kWh
2014592 gCO2/kWh463 gCO2/kWh
2015578 gCO2/kWh398 gCO2/kWh
2016567 gCO2/kWh333 gCO2/kWh
2017558 gCO2/kWh302 gCO2/kWh
2018542 gCO2/kWh286 gCO2/kWh
2019529 gCO2/kWh268 gCO2/kWh
2020528 gCO2/kWh243 gCO2/kWh
2021515 gCO2/kWh267 gCO2/kWh
2022520 gCO2/kWh255 gCO2/kWh
2023493 gCO2/kWh236 gCO2/kWh
2024484 gCO2/kWh216 gCO2/kWh
2025474 gCO2/kWh218 gCO2/kWh

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics
Electricity demand per person in Japan and United Kingdom, 1985 to 2025 Electricity demand per person in Japan and the United Kingdom each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2025 it was 8.37 MWh in Japan and 4.62 MWh in the United Kingdom. 0.0 2.5 5.0 7.5 10.0 198519901995200020052010201520202025
Electricity demand per person in Japan and the United Kingdom each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2025 it was 8.37 MWh in Japan and 4.62 MWh in the United Kingdom.
Annual statistics through 2025, MWh
Electricity demand per person in Japan and United Kingdom, 1985 to 2025
YearJapanUnited Kingdom
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
20008.66 MWh6.63 MWh
20018.51 MWh6.67 MWh
20028.65 MWh6.65 MWh
20038.56 MWh6.69 MWh
20048.77 MWh6.67 MWh
20059.01 MWh6.71 MWh
20069.10 MWh6.63 MWh
20079.21 MWh6.53 MWh
20089.24 MWh6.45 MWh
20098.69 MWh6.07 MWh
20109.02 MWh6.11 MWh
20118.62 MWh5.89 MWh
20128.65 MWh5.87 MWh
20138.52 MWh5.79 MWh
20148.34 MWh5.53 MWh
20158.09 MWh5.51 MWh
20168.37 MWh5.42 MWh
20178.48 MWh5.32 MWh
20188.53 MWh5.29 MWh
20198.27 MWh5.19 MWh
20208.01 MWh4.88 MWh
20218.23 MWh4.92 MWh
20228.33 MWh4.70 MWh
20238.10 MWh4.60 MWh
20248.21 MWh4.59 MWh
20258.37 MWh4.62 MWh

Japan history · United Kingdom 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). Japan vs United Kingdom: Electricity Compared. https://worldpowermonitor.com/compare/japan-vs-united-kingdom/

Plain text

World Power Monitor. Japan vs United Kingdom: Electricity Compared. Data as of 2025. Data from Ember. https://worldpowermonitor.com/compare/japan-vs-united-kingdom/

BibTeX 
@misc{wpm_compare_japan_vs_united_kingdom_2025,
  title = {{Japan vs United Kingdom: Electricity Compared}},
  author = {{World Power Monitor}},
  year = {2025},
  note = {Data as of 2025. Data from Ember.},
  url = {https://worldpowermonitor.com/compare/japan-vs-united-kingdom/}
}

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