Electricity Generation by Country: Who Produces the Most Power in 2024?
Global Electricity Production at a Glance
The world generated approximately 30,000 TWh of electricity in 2024 — a figure that has more than doubled since 2000. But production is heavily concentrated: the top five countries account for over 55% of global generation, while the bottom twenty combined produce less than China alone.
Understanding who generates the most electricity — and how — is fundamental to grasping global energy dynamics, trade flows, and carbon emissions patterns.
Top 25 Countries by Electricity Generation (2024)
| Rank | Country | TWh | Share of global | Primary source | |------|---------|-----|----------------|----------------| | 1 | China | 9,500 | 31.7% | Coal (55%), hydro, solar | | 2 | United States | 4,380 | 14.6% | Gas (42%), nuclear, renewables | | 3 | India | 1,960 | 6.5% | Coal (72%), solar, hydro | | 4 | Russia | 1,180 | 3.9% | Gas (46%), hydro, nuclear | | 5 | Japan | 980 | 3.3% | Gas (34%), nuclear, solar | | 6 | Brazil | 690 | 2.3% | Hydro (63%), wind, biomass | | 7 | Canada | 650 | 2.2% | Hydro (59%), nuclear, gas | | 8 | Germany | 530 | 1.8% | Wind (27%), gas, solar | | 9 | South Korea | 600 | 2.0% | Nuclear (29%), gas, coal | | 10 | France | 530 | 1.8% | Nuclear (70%), hydro, wind | | 11 | Saudi Arabia | 420 | 1.4% | Gas (57%), oil (43%) | | 12 | United Kingdom | 310 | 1.0% | Wind (33%), gas, nuclear | | 13 | Turkey | 330 | 1.1% | Gas (30%), coal, hydro | | 14 | Indonesia | 320 | 1.1% | Coal (62%), gas, hydro | | 15 | Australia | 280 | 0.9% | Coal (45%), gas, solar | | 16 | Mexico | 340 | 1.1% | Gas (60%), hydro, wind | | 17 | Italy | 290 | 1.0% | Gas (48%), solar, hydro | | 18 | Spain | 280 | 0.9% | Wind (27%), nuclear, solar | | 19 | Iran | 370 | 1.2% | Gas (80%), hydro, oil | | 20 | Poland | 170 | 0.6% | Coal (65%), wind, gas |
Source: Energy Institute Statistical Review via energtx.com/datasets.
China: The World's Power Station
China generates nearly one-third of the world's electricity. To put that in perspective, China produces more than twice as much electricity as the entire European Union combined. Its generation has grown roughly 10x since 1990 — from under 1,000 TWh to 9,500 TWh.
While coal still dominates China's electricity mix at approximately 55%, the country is simultaneously the world's largest installer of solar and wind capacity. In 2024, China added more renewable capacity than the rest of the world combined. The paradox of Chinese energy is that it is both the world's largest coal consumer and the world's largest clean energy investor.
The United States: Gas Transition
The United States generates 4,380 TWh annually, driven by a fundamental shift from coal to natural gas that accelerated during the shale gas revolution. Natural gas now provides approximately 42% of US electricity, up from 20% in 2005. Coal has declined from 50% to roughly 16% over the same period.
Nuclear power contributes approximately 19% of US electricity, though no new reactors have entered commercial operation since 2023. Renewables (excluding hydro) now account for roughly 20% of generation, with wind and solar growing rapidly.
Surprising Performers
Several countries stand out for their electricity generation relative to their size or economic profile:
Brazil generates over 63% of its electricity from hydropower, making it one of the cleanest major grids in the world. The Itaipu Dam alone produces enough electricity to power Paraguay entirely and supply roughly 15% of Brazilian demand.
France with its nuclear fleet generates nearly zero-carbon electricity at scale. At 530 TWh, France exports significant electricity to neighboring countries and has among the lowest grid carbon intensity in Europe.
Turkey has seen one of the fastest generation growth rates globally — electricity production has grown from 57 TWh in 1990 to 330 TWh in 2024. This 5.8x increase reflects rapid industrialization and urbanization. Turkey's mix is diversifying, with growing contributions from wind, solar, and geothermal alongside traditional gas, coal, and hydropower.
Per Capita Electricity: A Different Lens
Total generation doesn't account for population differences. When measured per capita, the ranking shifts dramatically:
| Country | kWh per capita | vs. global avg | |---------|---------------|----------------| | Canada | 16,200 | 3.4x | | United States | 12,800 | 2.7x | | Australia | 10,500 | 2.2x | | South Korea | 11,400 | 2.4x | | Saudi Arabia | 11,200 | 2.3x | | Germany | 6,200 | 1.3x | | China | 6,600 | 1.4x | | Turkey | 3,900 | 0.8x | | Brazil | 3,200 | 0.7x | | India | 1,400 | 0.3x | | Nigeria | 160 | 0.03x |
The gap between Canada (16,200 kWh/person) and Nigeria (160 kWh/person) is a 100x difference — reflecting the vast global disparity in energy access and industrial development.
Explore the Data
Every data point in this analysis is available for free download at energtx.com/datasets. Explore electricity generation trends for all 56 countries, compare nations side by side, and download the data in CSV, JSON, or XLSX format.