Portugal Cut Carbon Intensity Most, Down 69.1% Since 2015
Portugal cut the carbon intensity of its electricity by 69.1% between 2015 and 2025 (414 gCO2/kWh in 2015 to 128 gCO2/kWh in 2025). Finland (68.5%), Denmark (68.2%) and Ecuador (54.1%) follow. 67 countries generating at least 10 TWh cut their intensity over the decade.
Top 20, 2025
Carbon intensity| Country | Fall since 2015 | Carbon intensity |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Portugal | 69.1% | 414 gCO2/kWh in 2015 to 128 gCO2/kWh in 2025 |
| 2. Finland | 68.5% | 182 gCO2/kWh in 2015 to 57 gCO2/kWh in 2025 |
| 3. Denmark | 68.2% | 314 gCO2/kWh in 2015 to 100 gCO2/kWh in 2025 |
| 4. Ecuador | 54.1% | 346 gCO2/kWh in 2015 to 159 gCO2/kWh in 2025 |
| 5. Netherlands | 54.0% | 551 gCO2/kWh in 2015 to 254 gCO2/kWh in 2025 |
| 6. Spain | 53.3% | 328 gCO2/kWh in 2015 to 153 gCO2/kWh in 2025 |
| 7. Kyrgyzstan | 52.9% | 154 gCO2/kWh in 2015 to 73 gCO2/kWh in 2025 |
| 8. Slovakia | 46.6% | 178 gCO2/kWh in 2015 to 95 gCO2/kWh in 2025 |
| 9. Greece | 46.2% | 604 gCO2/kWh in 2015 to 325 gCO2/kWh in 2025 |
| 10. Hungary | 45.5% | 298 gCO2/kWh in 2015 to 163 gCO2/kWh in 2025 |
| 11. United Kingdom | 45.1% | 398 gCO2/kWh in 2015 to 218 gCO2/kWh in 2025 |
| 12. Bulgaria | 44.3% | 494 gCO2/kWh in 2015 to 275 gCO2/kWh in 2025 |
| 13. Croatia | 42.6% | 275 gCO2/kWh in 2015 to 158 gCO2/kWh in 2025 |
| 14. Brazil | 41.8% | 189 gCO2/kWh in 2015 to 110 gCO2/kWh in 2025 |
| 15. Belgium | 41.6% | 215 gCO2/kWh in 2015 to 126 gCO2/kWh in 2025 |
| 16. Chile | 41.1% | 493 gCO2/kWh in 2015 to 291 gCO2/kWh in 2025 |
| 17. Slovenia | 40.5% | 317 gCO2/kWh in 2015 to 188 gCO2/kWh in 2025 |
| 18. Ireland | 40.2% | 440 gCO2/kWh in 2015 to 263 gCO2/kWh in 2025 |
| 19. Belarus | 37.8% | 507 gCO2/kWh in 2015 to 315 gCO2/kWh in 2025 |
| 20. New Zealand | 35.1% | 143 gCO2/kWh in 2015 to 93 gCO2/kWh in 2025 |
Countries that generated at least 10 TWh in 2025, 79 in this data. Smaller grids are left out so a tiny system does not top every list. Both 2015 and 2025 need a valid, positive carbon intensity.
How the Leaders Got Here
2010 to 2025Annual statistics, 2010 to 2025
| Year | Portugal | Finland | Denmark | Ecuador | Netherlands |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 317.2% | 314.9% | 540.3% | 390.0% | 478.2% |
| 2011 | 375.2% | 268.1% | 486.7% | 325.5% | 472.4% |
| 2012 | 441.0% | 215.2% | 431.4% | 330.1% | 494.5% |
| 2013 | 340.3% | 257.5% | 472.6% | 368.8% | 500.6% |
| 2014 | 325.7% | 226.6% | 400.2% | 369.3% | 521.4% |
| 2015 | 413.9% | 182.0% | 313.7% | 345.8% | 551.5% |
| 2016 | 343.9% | 199.7% | 360.7% | 288.7% | 524.6% |
| 2017 | 433.7% | 186.3% | 282.5% | 201.3% | 489.8% |
| 2018 | 358.9% | 193.5% | 297.1% | 210.1% | 467.1% |
| 2019 | 300.8% | 171.5% | 204.2% | 171.7% | 410.0% |
| 2020 | 248.2% | 130.5% | 188.7% | 159.5% | 342.9% |
| 2021 | 210.7% | 135.7% | 223.1% | 149.1% | 351.9% |
| 2022 | 225.0% | 129.9% | 203.8% | 181.4% | 325.7% |
| 2023 | 158.5% | 81.4% | 152.6% | 195.8% | 268.2% |
| 2024 | 110.6% | 66.9% | 132.2% | 203.7% | 250.8% |
| 2025 | 127.8% | 57.2% | 99.9% | 158.8% | 253.7% |
Key Facts
- Portugal cut its carbon intensity by 69.1%, from 414 gCO2/kWh in 2015 to 128 gCO2/kWh in 2025.
- Finland was second, down 68.5% since 2015.
- The world's carbon intensity was 459 gCO2/kWh in 2025.
Source: Ember (ember-energy.org), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Data as of 2025. Annual statistics from Ember.