Hydro Power Around the World: Generation by Country
Hydro generated 4,422 TWh worldwide in 2025, 14.0% of all electricity. The largest producers are China, Brazil and Canada. Figures are Ember annual statistics. Hydro is conventional hydroelectric generation; Ember excludes pumped storage, which moves electricity rather than making it.
Key Facts
- Hydro generated 4,422 TWh of electricity worldwide in 2025, 14.0% of the total.
- China was the largest hydro power producer, with 1,392 TWh in 2025.
- Brazil was the second largest hydro power producer, with 389 TWh in 2025.
- Canada was the third largest hydro power producer, with 345 TWh in 2025.
- Hydro was the largest source of electricity in 57 countries in their latest Ember year.
- Hydro's share of world electricity peaked at 17.2% in 2000.
- Bhutan got the highest share of its electricity from hydro among countries producing at least 1 TWh, 100.0% in 2024.
World Hydro Generation
2000 to 2025, TWhAnnual statistics through 2025, TWh
| Year | Hydro |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 2,630 TWh |
| 2001 | 2,564 TWh |
| 2002 | 2,612 TWh |
| 2003 | 2,612 TWh |
| 2004 | 2,803 TWh |
| 2005 | 2,912 TWh |
| 2006 | 3,018 TWh |
| 2007 | 3,063 TWh |
| 2008 | 3,245 TWh |
| 2009 | 3,241 TWh |
| 2010 | 3,428 TWh |
| 2011 | 3,488 TWh |
| 2012 | 3,660 TWh |
| 2013 | 3,791 TWh |
| 2014 | 3,871 TWh |
| 2015 | 3,882 TWh |
| 2016 | 4,015 TWh |
| 2017 | 4,054 TWh |
| 2018 | 4,177 TWh |
| 2019 | 4,228 TWh |
| 2020 | 4,347 TWh |
| 2021 | 4,290 TWh |
| 2022 | 4,330 TWh |
| 2023 | 4,247 TWh |
| 2024 | 4,444 TWh |
| 2025 | 4,422 TWh |
| Year | World generation | Share of world electricity |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4,422 TWh | 14.0% |
| 2024 | 4,444 TWh | 14.4% |
| 2023 | 4,247 TWh | 14.3% |
| 2022 | 4,330 TWh | 15.0% |
| 2021 | 4,290 TWh | 15.2% |
| 2020 | 4,347 TWh | 16.3% |
| 2019 | 4,228 TWh | 15.8% |
| 2018 | 4,177 TWh | 15.8% |
| 2017 | 4,054 TWh | 16.0% |
| 2016 | 4,015 TWh | 16.3% |
Largest Hydro Power Producers
Each country's latest Ember year| Country | Year | Generation | Share of the country's electricity |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | 2025 | 1,392 TWh | 13.3% |
| Brazil | 2025 | 389 TWh | 51.7% |
| Canada | 2025 | 345 TWh | 52.8% |
| United States | 2025 | 242 TWh | 5.4% |
| Russia | 2025 | 200 TWh | 16.7% |
| India | 2025 | 178 TWh | 8.5% |
| Norway | 2025 | 145 TWh | 90.0% |
| Vietnam | 2025 | 102 TWh | 31.0% |
| Japan | 2025 | 73.9 TWh | 7.2% |
| Venezuela | 2024 | 73.0 TWh | 91.1% |
| Sweden | 2025 | 68.2 TWh | 40.0% |
| Colombia | 2025 | 62.5 TWh | 69.2% |
| France | 2025 | 59.4 TWh | 10.4% |
| Turkey | 2025 | 57.3 TWh | 16.2% |
| Paraguay | 2025 | 45.1 TWh | 99.5% |
| Italy | 2025 | 41.9 TWh | 15.8% |
| Laos | 2024 | 40.0 TWh | 76.5% |
| Pakistan | 2025 | 39.4 TWh | 23.1% |
| Austria | 2025 | 38.1 TWh | 52.1% |
| Malaysia | 2025 | 34.6 TWh | 16.5% |
| Switzerland | 2025 | 34.0 TWh | 52.3% |
| Peru | 2025 | 33.9 TWh | 56.0% |
| Spain | 2025 | 32.8 TWh | 11.4% |
| Ethiopia | 2025 | 32.2 TWh | 96.5% |
| Mexico | 2025 | 28.8 TWh | 8.1% |
| Ecuador | 2025 | 28.5 TWh | 77.9% |
| Indonesia | 2024 | 27.3 TWh | 7.3% |
| Argentina | 2025 | 26.3 TWh | 17.1% |
| New Zealand | 2025 | 23.8 TWh | 54.8% |
| Tajikistan | 2025 | 22.7 TWh | 94.4% |
Highest Share of Hydro
Countries generating at least 1 TWh from hydro| Country | Year | Share | Generation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bhutan | 2024 | 100.0% | 11.0 TWh |
| Paraguay | 2025 | 99.5% | 45.1 TWh |
| Nepal | 2024 | 98.8% | 11.0 TWh |
| Ethiopia | 2025 | 96.5% | 32.2 TWh |
| Kyrgyzstan | 2025 | 94.7% | 12.0 TWh |
| Tajikistan | 2025 | 94.4% | 22.7 TWh |
| Albania | 2025 | 94.3% | 6.71 TWh |
| Malawi | 2024 | 92.4% | 1.69 TWh |
| Venezuela | 2024 | 91.1% | 73.0 TWh |
| Norway | 2025 | 90.0% | 145 TWh |
| Zambia | 2024 | 86.2% | 17.0 TWh |
| Uganda | 2024 | 86.1% | 5.00 TWh |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | 2024 | 84.2% | 13.4 TWh |
| Mozambique | 2024 | 82.4% | 16.3 TWh |
| Costa Rica | 2025 | 82.2% | 9.58 TWh |
| Georgia | 2025 | 78.8% | 10.6 TWh |
| Ecuador | 2025 | 77.9% | 28.5 TWh |
| Sudan | 2024 | 77.9% | 11.5 TWh |
| Laos | 2024 | 76.5% | 40.0 TWh |
| Guinea | 2024 | 74.4% | 3.00 TWh |
Source: Ember (ember-energy.org), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Data as of 2025. Country rows use each country's latest available year, which can differ between countries.