United Kingdom vs Vietnam: Electricity Compared

The United Kingdom generated 293 TWh of electricity in 2025 and Vietnam 311 TWh, according to Ember. The United Kingdom's largest source was gas (31.4%); Vietnam's was coal (48.3%). Each kWh generated emitted 218 gCO2/kWh in the United Kingdom and 464 gCO2/kWh in Vietnam. 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 48.3% of Vietnam's electricity in 2025, against 0.1% in the United Kingdom.
Vietnam's electricity was 2.1 times as carbon intensive as the United Kingdom's in 2025, at 464 gCO2/kWh against 218 gCO2/kWh.
Electricity demand rose 28% in Vietnam between 2020 and 2025, while it fell 4% in the United Kingdom.
Low carbon sources supplied 64.2% of the United Kingdom's electricity in 2025 and 45.3% of Vietnam's.
Electricity demand in 2025 was 311 TWh in the United Kingdom and 314 TWh in Vietnam.

Key Figures, 2025

Ember annual statistics

Measure	United Kingdom	Vietnam
Total generation	293 TWh	311 TWh
Electricity demand	311 TWh	314 TWh
Demand per person	4.62 MWh	3.09 MWh
Carbon intensity	218 gCO2/kWh	464 gCO2/kWh
Power sector emissions	64.0 MtCO2	144 MtCO2
Low carbon share	64.2%	45.3%
Largest source	Gas 31.4%	Coal 48.3%

Generation Mix, 2025

Share of generation

Source	United Kingdom	Vietnam
Coal	0.1%	48.3%
Hydro	1.9%	33.0%
Gas	31.4%	6.2%
Wind	29.4%	4.6%
Bioenergy	14.0%	0.3%
Nuclear	12.4%	0.0%
Solar	6.6%	7.4%
Other fossil	4.4%	0.2%

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Carbon intensity of electricity generated in the United Kingdom and Vietnam each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2025 it was 218 gCO2/kWh in the United Kingdom and 464 gCO2/kWh in Vietnam.

Annual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh

Carbon intensity of electricity in United Kingdom and Vietnam, 1985 to 2025
Year	United Kingdom	Vietnam
1985	694 gCO2/kWh	579 gCO2/kWh
1986	721 gCO2/kWh	609 gCO2/kWh
1987	737 gCO2/kWh	632 gCO2/kWh
1988	710 gCO2/kWh	610 gCO2/kWh
1989	689 gCO2/kWh	428 gCO2/kWh
1990	705 gCO2/kWh	320 gCO2/kWh
1991	700 gCO2/kWh	258 gCO2/kWh
1992	665 gCO2/kWh	206 gCO2/kWh
1993	608 gCO2/kWh	198 gCO2/kWh
1994	589 gCO2/kWh	202 gCO2/kWh
1995	579 gCO2/kWh	227 gCO2/kWh
1996	557 gCO2/kWh	235 gCO2/kWh
1997	512 gCO2/kWh	302 gCO2/kWh
1998	510 gCO2/kWh	356 gCO2/kWh
1999	492 gCO2/kWh	301 gCO2/kWh
2000	522 gCO2/kWh	322 gCO2/kWh
2001	529 gCO2/kWh	291 gCO2/kWh
2002	521 gCO2/kWh	344 gCO2/kWh
2003	537 gCO2/kWh	376 gCO2/kWh
2004	536 gCO2/kWh	407 gCO2/kWh
2005	535 gCO2/kWh	462 gCO2/kWh
2006	559 gCO2/kWh	448 gCO2/kWh
2007	556 gCO2/kWh	439 gCO2/kWh
2008	554 gCO2/kWh	422 gCO2/kWh
2009	505 gCO2/kWh	413 gCO2/kWh
2010	517 gCO2/kWh	452 gCO2/kWh
2011	500 gCO2/kWh	408 gCO2/kWh
2012	537 gCO2/kWh	372 gCO2/kWh
2013	507 gCO2/kWh	374 gCO2/kWh
2014	463 gCO2/kWh	404 gCO2/kWh
2015	398 gCO2/kWh	487 gCO2/kWh
2016	333 gCO2/kWh	492 gCO2/kWh
2017	302 gCO2/kWh	433 gCO2/kWh
2018	286 gCO2/kWh	486 gCO2/kWh
2019	268 gCO2/kWh	557 gCO2/kWh
2020	243 gCO2/kWh	531 gCO2/kWh
2021	267 gCO2/kWh	475 gCO2/kWh
2022	255 gCO2/kWh	415 gCO2/kWh
2023	236 gCO2/kWh	467 gCO2/kWh
2024	216 gCO2/kWh	477 gCO2/kWh
2025	218 gCO2/kWh	464 gCO2/kWh

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Electricity demand per person in the United Kingdom and Vietnam each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2025 it was 4.62 MWh in the United Kingdom and 3.09 MWh in Vietnam.

Annual statistics through 2025, MWh

Electricity demand per person in United Kingdom and Vietnam, 1985 to 2025
Year	United Kingdom	Vietnam
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	6.63 MWh	0.34 MWh
2001	6.67 MWh	0.39 MWh
2002	6.65 MWh	0.45 MWh
2003	6.69 MWh	0.51 MWh
2004	6.67 MWh	0.58 MWh
2005	6.71 MWh	0.65 MWh
2006	6.63 MWh	0.72 MWh
2007	6.53 MWh	0.80 MWh
2008	6.45 MWh	0.87 MWh
2009	6.07 MWh	0.98 MWh
2010	6.11 MWh	1.10 MWh
2011	5.89 MWh	1.19 MWh
2012	5.87 MWh	1.30 MWh
2013	5.79 MWh	1.40 MWh
2014	5.53 MWh	1.56 MWh
2015	5.51 MWh	1.76 MWh
2016	5.42 MWh	1.92 MWh
2017	5.32 MWh	2.05 MWh
2018	5.29 MWh	2.27 MWh
2019	5.19 MWh	2.45 MWh
2020	4.88 MWh	2.50 MWh
2021	4.92 MWh	2.57 MWh
2022	4.70 MWh	2.68 MWh
2023	4.60 MWh	2.79 MWh
2024	4.59 MWh	3.04 MWh
2025	4.62 MWh	3.09 MWh

United Kingdom history · Vietnam history

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

United Kingdom vs Vietnam: 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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