Summer Peaking and Winter Peaking Countries
Of 88 countries with monthly electricity demand data, 28 peak in summer, 48 peak in winter and 12 peak in a spring or autumn month or barely vary through the year (Ember monthly data through August 2026, demand per day averaged by calendar month over each country's last complete years). Among the 10 biggest electricity generators in the table, 5 peak in summer and 5 in winter; the summer peakers are China, the United States, India, Brazil and South Korea.
When Each Country's Demand Peaks
88 countries, Ember monthly, to August 2026| Country | Class | Busiest month |
|---|---|---|
| Argentina | Summer peaking | January |
| Armenia | Winter peaking | December |
| Australia | Winter peaking | July |
| Austria | Winter peaking | January |
| Azerbaijan | Summer peaking | August |
| Bangladesh | Shoulder or flat | September |
| Belarus | Winter peaking | December |
| Belgium | Winter peaking | January |
| Bolivia | Shoulder or flat | October |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Winter peaking | December |
| Brazil | Summer peaking | February |
| Bulgaria | Winter peaking | January |
| Canada | Winter peaking | January |
| Chile | Winter peaking | June |
| China | Summer peaking | August |
| Colombia | Shoulder or flat | September |
| Costa Rica | Shoulder or flat | March |
| Croatia | Summer peaking | July |
| Cyprus | Summer peaking | July |
| Czechia | Winter peaking | January |
| Denmark | Winter peaking | January |
| Dominican Republic | Shoulder or flat | September |
| Ecuador | Shoulder or flat | March |
| Egypt | Summer peaking | July |
| El Salvador | Summer peaking | July |
| Estonia | Winter peaking | January |
| Finland | Winter peaking | January |
| France | Winter peaking | January |
| Georgia | Winter peaking | December |
| Germany | Winter peaking | February |
| Greece | Summer peaking | July |
| Hungary | Winter peaking | January |
| Iceland | Winter peaking | January |
| India | Summer peaking | June |
| Iran | Summer peaking | August |
| Ireland | Winter peaking | December |
| Italy | Summer peaking | July |
| Japan | Winter peaking | January |
| Kazakhstan | Winter peaking | February |
| Kenya | Shoulder or flat | November |
| Kosovo | Winter peaking | December |
| Kuwait | Summer peaking | July |
| Kyrgyzstan | Winter peaking | December |
| Latvia | Winter peaking | January |
| Lithuania | Winter peaking | January |
| Luxembourg | Winter peaking | February |
| Malaysia | Shoulder or flat | May |
| Malta | Summer peaking | August |
| Mexico | Summer peaking | August |
| Moldova | Winter peaking | December |
| Mongolia | Winter peaking | December |
| Montenegro | Winter peaking | January |
| Morocco | Summer peaking | July |
| Netherlands | Winter peaking | January |
| New Zealand | Winter peaking | July |
| Nigeria | Shoulder or flat | November |
| North Macedonia | Winter peaking | January |
| Norway | Winter peaking | January |
| Oman | Summer peaking | June |
| Pakistan | Summer peaking | August |
| Peru | Summer peaking | December |
| Philippines | Summer peaking | June |
| Poland | Winter peaking | January |
| Portugal | Winter peaking | January |
| Puerto Rico | Summer peaking | June |
| Qatar | Summer peaking | August |
| Romania | Winter peaking | January |
| Russia | Winter peaking | December |
| Serbia | Winter peaking | December |
| Singapore | Shoulder or flat | May |
| Slovakia | Winter peaking | January |
| Slovenia | Winter peaking | January |
| South Africa | Winter peaking | June |
| South Korea | Summer peaking | August |
| Spain | Winter peaking | January |
| Sri Lanka | Summer peaking | July |
| Sweden | Winter peaking | January |
| Switzerland | Winter peaking | January |
| Taiwan | Summer peaking | July |
| Tajikistan | Winter peaking | January |
| Thailand | Shoulder or flat | May |
| Tunisia | Summer peaking | July |
| Turkey | Summer peaking | August |
| Ukraine | Winter peaking | January |
| United Kingdom | Winter peaking | January |
| United States | Summer peaking | July |
| Uruguay | Winter peaking | July |
| Vietnam | Shoulder or flat | November |
Key Facts, to August 2026
- 88 countries have monthly demand data in Ember's statistics with at least 3 complete calendar years; the latest month is August 2026.
- 28 countries peak in summer (June to August in the northern hemisphere, December to February in the southern), 48 peak in winter and 12 are shoulder or flat.
- Among the 10 biggest generators with monthly data, 5 peak in summer, 5 in winter and 0 in shoulder months or flat.
- The biggest summer peaking countries are China, the United States and India.
- The biggest winter peaking countries are Russia, Japan and Canada.
- Kyrgyzstan has the largest seasonal swing: demand per day in December is 147% above April.
- Costa Rica has the flattest year: its busiest month, March, is only 4.9% above its quietest, July.
- These 88 countries generated 92% of the electricity generated by all countries in Ember's annual statistics (each at its own latest year); the other countries publish no monthly data.
Every Country, by Peak Season
Summer, then winter, then shoulder or flat; biggest generators first| Country | Class | Busiest month | Quietest month | Swing | Peak vs average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 馃嚚馃嚦 China | Summer peaking | August | February | 27.5% | +13.2% |
| 馃嚭馃嚫 United States | Summer peaking | July | April | 34.6% | +18.2% |
| 馃嚠馃嚦 India | Summer peaking | June | November | 17.4% | +7.1% |
| 馃嚙馃嚪 Brazil | Summer peaking | February | July | 12.1% | +6.3% |
| 馃嚢馃嚪 South Korea | Summer peaking | August | May | 21.6% | +10.2% |
| 馃嚠馃嚪 Iran | Summer peaking | August | January | 60.5% | +27.2% |
| 馃嚥馃嚱 Mexico | Summer peaking | August | December | 29.4% | +12.7% |
| 馃嚬馃嚪 Turkey | Summer peaking | August | April | 24.7% | +14.1% |
| 馃嚬馃嚰 Taiwan | Summer peaking | July | February | 27.0% | +12.4% |
| 馃嚠馃嚬 Italy | Summer peaking | July | April | 24.9% | +13.7% |
| 馃嚜馃嚞 Egypt | Summer peaking | July | January | 36.3% | +19.9% |
| 馃嚨馃嚢 Pakistan | Summer peaking | August | February | 77.5% | +31.2% |
| 馃嚘馃嚪 Argentina | Summer peaking | Januarynear tie: July (0.6%) | April | 25.0% | +10.0% |
| 馃嚨馃嚟 Philippines | Summer peaking | June | January | 23.9% | +9.9% |
| 馃嚢馃嚰 Kuwait | Summer peaking | July | January | 127.2% | +43.2% |
| 馃嚨馃嚜 Peru | Summer peakingtropical | December | May | 7.8% | +3.4% |
| 馃嚞馃嚪 Greece | Summer peaking | July | May | 45.1% | +23.6% |
| 馃嚩馃嚘 Qatar | Summer peaking | August | January | 110.6% | +37.0% |
| 馃嚧馃嚥 Oman | Summer peaking | June | January | 107.2% | +33.5% |
| 馃嚥馃嚘 Morocco | Summer peaking | July | January | 20.4% | +11.9% |
| 馃嚘馃嚳 Azerbaijan | Summer peaking | August | May | 30.1% | +12.7% |
| 馃嚬馃嚦 Tunisia | Summer peaking | July | April | 67.0% | +39.3% |
| 馃嚨馃嚪 Puerto Rico | Summer peaking | June | January | 25.4% | +9.7% |
| 馃嚤馃嚢 Sri Lanka | Summer peakingtropical | July | April | 7.8% | +3.0% |
| 馃嚟馃嚪 Croatia | Summer peaking | July | May | 25.8% | +11.9% |
| 馃嚫馃嚮 El Salvador | Summer peaking | July | January | 11.1% | +3.7% |
| 馃嚚馃嚲 Cyprus | Summer peaking | July | April | 73.6% | +33.7% |
| 馃嚥馃嚬 Malta | Summer peaking | August | May | 40.8% | +20.9% |
| 馃嚪馃嚭 Russia | Winter peaking | December | June | 32.4% | +15.5% |
| 馃嚡馃嚨 Japan | Winter peaking | Januarynear tie: August (0.7%) | May | 33.2% | +12.2% |
| 馃嚚馃嚘 Canada | Winter peaking | January | May | 36.0% | +19.0% |
| 馃嚝馃嚪 France | Winter peaking | January | August | 61.5% | +30.4% |
| 馃嚛馃嚜 Germany | Winter peaking | February | August | 16.9% | +9.1% |
| 馃嚞馃嚙 United Kingdom | Winter peaking | January | August | 30.3% | +15.3% |
| 馃嚜馃嚫 Spain | Winter peaking | Januarynear tie: July (0.2%) | May | 15.1% | +7.1% |
| 馃嚘馃嚭 Australia | Winter peaking | Julynear tie: February (0.7%) | April | 12.7% | +5.2% |
| 馃嚳馃嚘 South Africa | Winter peaking | June | December | 14.3% | +6.4% |
| 馃嚨馃嚤 Poland | Winter peaking | January | May | 16.8% | +7.9% |
| 馃嚫馃嚜 Sweden | Winter peaking | January | July | 68.8% | +26.2% |
| 馃嚦馃嚧 Norway | Winter peaking | January | July | 64.9% | +25.7% |
| 馃嚦馃嚤 Netherlands | Winter peaking | January | May | 15.6% | +9.0% |
| 馃嚢馃嚳 Kazakhstan | Winter peaking | February | August | 26.1% | +13.3% |
| 馃嚭馃嚘 Ukraine | Winter peaking | January | May | 36.4% | +18.5% |
| 馃嚚馃嚤 Chile | Winter peaking | Junenear tie: December (0.1%) | April | 5.9% | +2.6% |
| 馃嚝馃嚠 Finland | Winter peaking | January | July | 50.1% | +22.3% |
| 馃嚚馃嚳 Czechia | Winter peaking | January | July | 31.8% | +14.6% |
| 馃嚘馃嚬 Austria | Winter peaking | January | May | 24.3% | +12.5% |
| 馃嚙馃嚜 Belgium | Winter peaking | January | July | 21.7% | +11.5% |
| 馃嚚馃嚟 Switzerland | Winter peaking | January | August | 25.6% | +12.5% |
| 馃嚨馃嚬 Portugal | Winter peaking | January | April | 17.1% | +9.0% |
| 馃嚪馃嚧 Romania | Winter peaking | January | May | 21.8% | +9.8% |
| 馃嚙馃嚲 Belarus | Winter peaking | December | May | 25.6% | +12.1% |
| 馃嚦馃嚳 New Zealand | Winter peaking | July | December | 17.8% | +10.2% |
| 馃嚟馃嚭 Hungary | Winter peaking | January | May | 17.0% | +8.6% |
| 馃嚙馃嚞 Bulgaria | Winter peaking | January | May | 49.1% | +25.6% |
| 馃嚪馃嚫 Serbia | Winter peaking | December | May | 40.4% | +21.1% |
| 馃嚛馃嚢 Denmark | Winter peaking | January | July | 29.1% | +11.5% |
| 馃嚠馃嚜 Ireland | Winter peaking | December | June | 18.8% | +9.2% |
| 馃嚫馃嚢 Slovakia | Winter peaking | January | September | 22.7% | +13.1% |
| 馃嚬馃嚡 Tajikistan | Winter peaking | January | October | 58.6% | +23.2% |
| 馃嚠馃嚫 Iceland | Winter peaking | January | July | 6.0% | +2.6% |
| 馃嚫馃嚠 Slovenia | Winter peaking | January | August | 23.9% | +10.9% |
| 馃嚙馃嚘 Bosnia and Herzegovina | Winter peaking | December | September | 37.1% | +19.8% |
| 馃嚞馃嚜 Georgia | Winter peaking | December | May | 25.0% | +12.6% |
| 馃嚢馃嚞 Kyrgyzstan | Winter peaking | December | April | 146.5% | +64.9% |
| 馃嚭馃嚲 Uruguay | Winter peaking | July | April | 28.0% | +13.1% |
| 馃嚥馃嚦 Mongolia | Winter peaking | December | July | 65.5% | +24.9% |
| 馃嚤馃嚬 Lithuania | Winter peaking | January | May | 22.7% | +12.5% |
| 馃嚘馃嚥 Armenia | Winter peaking | December | May | 63.1% | +26.0% |
| 馃嚥馃嚢 North Macedonia | Winter peaking | January | May | 64.9% | +27.8% |
| 馃嚤馃嚮 Latvia | Winter peaking | January | June | 25.6% | +12.8% |
| 馃嚜馃嚜 Estonia | Winter peaking | January | July | 46.6% | +19.7% |
| 馃嚱馃嚢 Kosovo | Winter peaking | December | June | 86.6% | +39.1% |
| 馃嚥馃嚛 Moldova | Winter peaking | December | May | 30.1% | +13.2% |
| 馃嚥馃嚜 Montenegro | Winter peaking | January | May | 75.4% | +24.6% |
| 馃嚤馃嚭 Luxembourg | Winter peaking | February | August | 21.3% | +9.1% |
| 馃嚮馃嚦 Vietnam | Shoulder or flat | Novembergrowth may tilt this | January | 27.5% | +9.3% |
| 馃嚥馃嚲 Malaysia | Shoulder or flat | May | January | 5.5% | +1.9% |
| 馃嚬馃嚟 Thailand | Shoulder or flat | May | December | 20.2% | +6.8% |
| 馃嚙馃嚛 Bangladesh | Shoulder or flat | September | December | 55.9% | +18.6% |
| 馃嚚馃嚧 Colombia | Shoulder or flat | September | January | 6.1% | +2.6% |
| 馃嚫馃嚞 Singapore | Shoulder or flat | May | January | 5.3% | +1.7% |
| 馃嚦馃嚞 Nigeria | Shoulder or flat | Novembergrowth may tilt this | June | 22.0% | +11.1% |
| 馃嚜馃嚚 Ecuador | Shoulder or flat | March | October | 6.9% | +3.4% |
| 馃嚛馃嚧 Dominican Republic | Shoulder or flat | September | January | 31.4% | +13.3% |
| 馃嚢馃嚜 Kenya | Shoulder or flat | November | April | 7.9% | +4.2% |
| 馃嚙馃嚧 Bolivia | Shoulder or flat | October | May | 13.2% | +6.1% |
| 馃嚚馃嚪 Costa Rica | Shoulder or flat | March | July | 4.9% | +2.9% |
Swing is the busiest month's demand per day over the quietest month's. Peak vs average is the busiest month's demand per day against the average month's. Both use each country's last 3 to 10 complete calendar years (41 of 88 countries have the full 10).
How Peak Season Is Decided, and Caveats
- Each country's busiest month is the calendar month with the highest demand per day, averaged over its last complete calendar years (at least 3, at most 10). Demand is compared per day so that short February is not read as a quiet month. This is the same month each country page names in its seasonality section.
- Summer peaking means the busiest month is June to August in the northern hemisphere or December to February in the southern hemisphere. Winter peaking is the reverse. A busiest month in March to May or September to November, or a swing under 5%, is shoulder or flat. Near the equator the seasons are wet and dry or hot and cool rather than summer and winter, and 9 of these countries lie within 10 degrees of it; those called summer or winter peaking are marked tropical.
- Hemisphere handling: the registry holds no latitude, so each country's latitude is taken from the middle of its main outline on the site's own world map, which is good to a few degrees. 10 countries are counted as southern hemisphere: 馃嚘馃嚪 Argentina, 馃嚘馃嚭 Australia, 馃嚙馃嚧 Bolivia, 馃嚙馃嚪 Brazil, 馃嚚馃嚤 Chile, 馃嚜馃嚚 Ecuador, 馃嚦馃嚳 New Zealand, 馃嚨馃嚜 Peru, 馃嚳馃嚘 South Africa, 馃嚭馃嚲 Uruguay.
- Coverage: only countries with monthly demand data are shown, 88 of the 215 countries on this site, which together generated 92% of the electricity generated by all countries in Ember's annual statistics (each at its own latest year). The other countries are grey on the map and may well have a clear peak that this site cannot show. Countries with a short monthly history count fewer years: 47 of 88 have fewer than 10 complete years.
- A second peak: 5 countries have a busiest month within 2% of the best month in the opposite season (Argentina, Japan, Spain, Australia, Chile). These have two peaks, so a small change in the weather or in how a year is counted could flip their class; the note under the busiest month shows the rival.
- Growth: where demand grew faster than 5% a year over the years averaged, later months run higher than earlier ones in every year, which can pull a peak towards the end of the year (Vietnam, Nigeria peak in October to December and are marked).
- Monthly demand shows when electricity use peaks, not why. Heating, cooling, industry, daylight and holidays all matter and the data does not separate them.
Peak Season FAQ
Which countries use the most electricity in summer?
Among the biggest generators with monthly data, China, the United States, India, Brazil and South Korea peak in summer. In all, 28 of 88 countries have their busiest month in June to August (northern hemisphere) or December to February (southern hemisphere), measured as demand per day averaged over each country's last complete years.
Which countries use the most electricity in winter?
Among the biggest generators with monthly data, Russia, Japan, Canada, France and Germany peak in winter. In all, 48 of 88 countries have their busiest month in December to February (northern hemisphere) or June to August (southern hemisphere).
How is a summer or winter peaking country decided?
For each country the site averages demand per day by calendar month over its last complete years (up to 10, at least 3) and takes the highest month. If the busiest month is less than 5% above the quietest, or falls in March to May or September to November, the country is shoulder or flat; otherwise it is summer or winter peaking according to its hemisphere. This shows when demand peaks, not why: heating, cooling, industry and daylight all play a part and the data does not separate them.
Why do some countries have no clear peak?
12 of 88 countries are shoulder or flat. Near the equator, seasons are wet and dry or hot and cool rather than summer and winter, so demand often moves little (9 of the 88 countries are within 10 degrees of the equator). Countries whose busiest month falls in spring or autumn are also placed here.
Does this cover every country?
No. Only 88 countries publish monthly demand in Ember's statistics, which together generated 92% of the electricity generated by all countries with annual data. Countries that publish no monthly series are grey on the map; they may still have a clear seasonal peak that this site cannot show.
Source: Ember (ember-energy.org), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Data as of August 2026. Monthly demand statistics from Ember; the generation share in the coverage note uses Ember's annual statistics.