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Built 2026-11-05 (5 November 2026)

United Kingdom vs United States: Electricity Compared

The United Kingdom generated 294 TWh of electricity in 2025 and the United States 4,520 TWh, according to Ember. Gas was the largest source in both, at 31.3% in the United Kingdom and 40.0% in the United States. Each kWh generated emitted 218 gCO2/kWh in the United Kingdom 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 15.4 times as much as the United Kingdom in 2025 (4,520 TWh against 294 TWh). The United Kingdom has the cleaner electricity by carbon intensity, at 218 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

  • Wind supplied 29.4% of the United Kingdom's electricity in 2025, against 10.3% in the United States.
  • The United States' electricity was 1.8 times as carbon intensive as the United Kingdom's in 2025, at 384 gCO2/kWh against 218 gCO2/kWh.
  • Electricity demand rose 11% in the United States between 2020 and 2025, while it fell 4% in the United Kingdom.
  • The average person in the United States used 13.06 MWh of electricity in 2025, 2.8 times as much as in the United Kingdom (4.62 MWh).
  • Low carbon sources supplied 64.2% of the United Kingdom's electricity in 2025 and 43.0% of the United States'.
  • Electricity demand in 2025 was 312 TWh in the United Kingdom and 4,532 TWh in the United States.

Key Figures, 2025

Ember annual statistics
Measure United Kingdom United States
Total generation294 TWh4,520 TWh
Electricity demand312 TWh4,532 TWh
Demand per person4.62 MWh13.06 MWh
Carbon intensity218 gCO2/kWh384 gCO2/kWh
Power sector emissions64.0 MtCO21,737 MtCO2
Low carbon share64.2%43.0%
Largest sourceGas 31.3%Gas 40.0%

Generation Mix, 2025

Share of generation
Source United Kingdom United States
Gas 31.3% 40.0%
Wind 29.4% 10.3%
Nuclear 12.4% 17.4%
Coal 0.1% 16.3%
Bioenergy 13.9% 1.0%
Solar 6.6% 8.6%
Hydro 1.8% 5.4%
Other fossil 4.4% 0.7%
Other renewables 0.0% 0.4%

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics
Carbon intensity of electricity in United Kingdom and United States, 1985 to 2025 Carbon intensity of electricity generated in the United Kingdom and the United States each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2025 it was 218 gCO2/kWh in the United Kingdom and 384 gCO2/kWh in the United States. 0 200 400 600 800 198519901995200020052010201520202025
Carbon intensity of electricity generated in the United Kingdom and the United States each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2025 it was 218 gCO2/kWh in the United Kingdom and 384 gCO2/kWh in the United States.
Annual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh
Carbon intensity of electricity in United Kingdom and United States, 1985 to 2025
YearUnited KingdomUnited States
1985694 gCO2/kWhn/a
1986721 gCO2/kWhn/a
1987737 gCO2/kWhn/a
1988710 gCO2/kWhn/a
1989689 gCO2/kWhn/a
1990705 gCO2/kWhn/a
1991700 gCO2/kWhn/a
1992665 gCO2/kWhn/a
1993608 gCO2/kWhn/a
1994589 gCO2/kWhn/a
1995579 gCO2/kWhn/a
1996557 gCO2/kWhn/a
1997512 gCO2/kWhn/a
1998510 gCO2/kWhn/a
1999492 gCO2/kWhn/a
2000522 gCO2/kWh608 gCO2/kWh
2001529 gCO2/kWh610 gCO2/kWh
2002521 gCO2/kWh601 gCO2/kWh
2003537 gCO2/kWh606 gCO2/kWh
2004536 gCO2/kWh602 gCO2/kWh
2005535 gCO2/kWh604 gCO2/kWh
2006559 gCO2/kWh595 gCO2/kWh
2007556 gCO2/kWh598 gCO2/kWh
2008554 gCO2/kWh591 gCO2/kWh
2009505 gCO2/kWh565 gCO2/kWh
2010517 gCO2/kWh571 gCO2/kWh
2011500 gCO2/kWh551 gCO2/kWh
2012537 gCO2/kWh533 gCO2/kWh
2013507 gCO2/kWh533 gCO2/kWh
2014463 gCO2/kWh529 gCO2/kWh
2015398 gCO2/kWh505 gCO2/kWh
2016333 gCO2/kWh483 gCO2/kWh
2017302 gCO2/kWh469 gCO2/kWh
2018286 gCO2/kWh463 gCO2/kWh
2019268 gCO2/kWh439 gCO2/kWh
2020243 gCO2/kWh412 gCO2/kWh
2021267 gCO2/kWh424 gCO2/kWh
2022255 gCO2/kWh410 gCO2/kWh
2023236 gCO2/kWh393 gCO2/kWh
2024216 gCO2/kWh384 gCO2/kWh
2025218 gCO2/kWh384 gCO2/kWh

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics
Electricity demand per person in United Kingdom and United States, 1985 to 2025 Electricity demand per person in the United Kingdom and the United States each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2025 it was 4.62 MWh in the United Kingdom and 13.06 MWh in the United States. 0 4 8 11 15 198519901995200020052010201520202025
Electricity demand per person in the United Kingdom and the United States each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2025 it was 4.62 MWh in the United Kingdom and 13.06 MWh in the United States.
Annual statistics through 2025, MWh
Electricity demand per person in United Kingdom and United States, 1985 to 2025
YearUnited KingdomUnited 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
20006.63 MWh13.63 MWh
20016.67 MWh13.19 MWh
20026.65 MWh13.46 MWh
20036.69 MWh13.37 MWh
20046.67 MWh13.54 MWh
20056.71 MWh13.73 MWh
20066.63 MWh13.61 MWh
20076.53 MWh13.83 MWh
20086.45 MWh13.58 MWh
20096.07 MWh12.90 MWh
20106.11 MWh13.31 MWh
20115.89 MWh13.14 MWh
20125.87 MWh12.89 MWh
20135.79 MWh12.85 MWh
20145.53 MWh12.84 MWh
20155.51 MWh12.73 MWh
20165.42 MWh12.62 MWh
20175.32 MWh12.37 MWh
20185.29 MWh12.67 MWh
20195.19 MWh12.43 MWh
20204.88 MWh12.05 MWh
20214.92 MWh12.33 MWh
20224.70 MWh12.67 MWh
20234.60 MWh12.44 MWh
20244.59 MWh12.75 MWh
20254.62 MWh13.06 MWh

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

Plain text

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

BibTeX 
@misc{wpm_compare_united_kingdom_vs_united_states_2025,
  title = {{United Kingdom vs United States: Electricity Compared}},
  author = {{World Power Monitor}},
  year = {2025},
  note = {Data as of 2025. Data from Ember.},
  url = {https://worldpowermonitor.com/compare/united-kingdom-vs-united-states/}
}

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