Australia vs Brazil: Electricity Compared
Australia generated 287 TWh of electricity in 2025 and Brazil 752 TWh, according to Ember. Australia's largest source was coal (42.7%); Brazil's was hydro (51.7%). Each kWh generated emitted 525 gCO2/kWh in Australia and 110 gCO2/kWh in Brazil. 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
- Hydro supplied 51.7% of Brazil's electricity in 2025, against 4.3% in Australia.
- Australia's electricity was 4.8 times as carbon intensive as Brazil's in 2025, at 525 gCO2/kWh against 110 gCO2/kWh.
- The average person in Australia used 10.63 MWh of electricity in 2025, 3.0 times as much as in Brazil (3.58 MWh).
- Low carbon sources supplied 38.7% of Australia's electricity in 2025 and 88.7% of Brazil's.
- Electricity demand in 2025 was 287 TWh in Australia and 764 TWh in Brazil.
Key Figures, 2025
Ember annual statistics| Measure | Australia | Brazil |
|---|---|---|
| Total generation | 287 TWh | 752 TWh |
| Electricity demand | 287 TWh | 764 TWh |
| Demand per person | 10.63 MWh | 3.58 MWh |
| Carbon intensity | 525 gCO2/kWh | 110 gCO2/kWh |
| Power sector emissions | 150 MtCO2 | 82.6 MtCO2 |
| Low carbon share | 38.7% | 88.7% |
| Largest source | Coal 42.7% | Hydro 51.7% |
Generation Mix, 2025
Share of generationCarbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025
Ember annual statisticsAnnual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh
| Year | Australia | Brazil |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 759 gCO2/kWh | 61 gCO2/kWh |
| 1986 | 761 gCO2/kWh | 85 gCO2/kWh |
| 1987 | 772 gCO2/kWh | 74 gCO2/kWh |
| 1988 | 771 gCO2/kWh | 66 gCO2/kWh |
| 1989 | 777 gCO2/kWh | 66 gCO2/kWh |
| 1990 | 786 gCO2/kWh | 60 gCO2/kWh |
| 1991 | 785 gCO2/kWh | 62 gCO2/kWh |
| 1992 | 786 gCO2/kWh | 63 gCO2/kWh |
| 1993 | 786 gCO2/kWh | 61 gCO2/kWh |
| 1994 | 788 gCO2/kWh | 61 gCO2/kWh |
| 1995 | 793 gCO2/kWh | 63 gCO2/kWh |
| 1996 | 795 gCO2/kWh | 68 gCO2/kWh |
| 1997 | 800 gCO2/kWh | 71 gCO2/kWh |
| 1998 | 804 gCO2/kWh | 71 gCO2/kWh |
| 1999 | 803 gCO2/kWh | 90 gCO2/kWh |
| 2000 | 806 gCO2/kWh | 89 gCO2/kWh |
| 2001 | 803 gCO2/kWh | 106 gCO2/kWh |
| 2002 | 795 gCO2/kWh | 97 gCO2/kWh |
| 2003 | 792 gCO2/kWh | 91 gCO2/kWh |
| 2004 | 793 gCO2/kWh | 102 gCO2/kWh |
| 2005 | 792 gCO2/kWh | 99 gCO2/kWh |
| 2006 | 791 gCO2/kWh | 96 gCO2/kWh |
| 2007 | 791 gCO2/kWh | 91 gCO2/kWh |
| 2008 | 792 gCO2/kWh | 114 gCO2/kWh |
| 2009 | 785 gCO2/kWh | 87 gCO2/kWh |
| 2010 | 776 gCO2/kWh | 114 gCO2/kWh |
| 2011 | 749 gCO2/kWh | 100 gCO2/kWh |
| 2012 | 747 gCO2/kWh | 128 gCO2/kWh |
| 2013 | 726 gCO2/kWh | 168 gCO2/kWh |
| 2014 | 734 gCO2/kWh | 193 gCO2/kWh |
| 2015 | 730 gCO2/kWh | 189 gCO2/kWh |
| 2016 | 714 gCO2/kWh | 150 gCO2/kWh |
| 2017 | 718 gCO2/kWh | 156 gCO2/kWh |
| 2018 | 689 gCO2/kWh | 137 gCO2/kWh |
| 2019 | 670 gCO2/kWh | 142 gCO2/kWh |
| 2020 | 642 gCO2/kWh | 133 gCO2/kWh |
| 2021 | 606 gCO2/kWh | 168 gCO2/kWh |
| 2022 | 578 gCO2/kWh | 103 gCO2/kWh |
| 2023 | 557 gCO2/kWh | 96 gCO2/kWh |
| 2024 | 554 gCO2/kWh | 106 gCO2/kWh |
| 2025 | 525 gCO2/kWh | 110 gCO2/kWh |
Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025
Ember annual statisticsAnnual statistics through 2025, MWh
| Year | Australia | Brazil |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 11.33 MWh | 2.25 MWh |
| 2001 | 11.58 MWh | 2.08 MWh |
| 2002 | 11.41 MWh | 2.14 MWh |
| 2003 | 11.40 MWh | 2.23 MWh |
| 2004 | 11.44 MWh | 2.33 MWh |
| 2005 | 11.37 MWh | 2.39 MWh |
| 2006 | 11.56 MWh | 2.47 MWh |
| 2007 | 11.61 MWh | 2.57 MWh |
| 2008 | 11.48 MWh | 2.66 MWh |
| 2009 | 11.47 MWh | 2.64 MWh |
| 2010 | 11.34 MWh | 2.84 MWh |
| 2011 | 11.40 MWh | 2.91 MWh |
| 2012 | 10.97 MWh | 3.01 MWh |
| 2013 | 10.74 MWh | 3.08 MWh |
| 2014 | 10.50 MWh | 3.12 MWh |
| 2015 | 10.61 MWh | 3.05 MWh |
| 2016 | 10.61 MWh | 3.05 MWh |
| 2017 | 10.47 MWh | 3.06 MWh |
| 2018 | 10.46 MWh | 3.09 MWh |
| 2019 | 10.44 MWh | 3.17 MWh |
| 2020 | 10.30 MWh | 3.13 MWh |
| 2021 | 10.30 MWh | 3.24 MWh |
| 2022 | 10.42 MWh | 3.28 MWh |
| 2023 | 10.33 MWh | 3.43 MWh |
| 2024 | 10.54 MWh | 3.57 MWh |
| 2025 | 10.63 MWh | 3.58 MWh |
Australia history · Brazil history
Source: Ember (ember-energy.org), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Data as of 2025.