Australia vs United Kingdom: Electricity Compared
Australia generated 287 TWh of electricity in 2025 and the United Kingdom 295 TWh, according to Ember. Australia's largest source was coal (42.7%); the United Kingdom's was gas (31.2%). Each kWh generated emitted 525 gCO2/kWh in Australia and 222 gCO2/kWh in the United Kingdom. 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
- Coal supplied 42.7% of Australia's electricity in 2025, against 0.6% in the United Kingdom.
- Australia's electricity was 2.4 times as carbon intensive as the United Kingdom's in 2025, at 525 gCO2/kWh against 222 gCO2/kWh.
- Electricity demand rose 8% in Australia between 2020 and 2025, while it fell 4% in the United Kingdom.
- The average person in Australia used 10.63 MWh of electricity in 2025, 2.3 times as much as in the United Kingdom (4.62 MWh).
- Low carbon sources supplied 38.7% of Australia's electricity in 2025 and 63.8% of the United Kingdom's.
- Electricity demand in 2025 was 287 TWh in Australia and 313 TWh in the United Kingdom.
Key Figures, 2025
Ember annual statistics| Measure | Australia | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|
| Total generation | 287 TWh | 295 TWh |
| Electricity demand | 287 TWh | 313 TWh |
| Demand per person | 10.63 MWh | 4.62 MWh |
| Carbon intensity | 525 gCO2/kWh | 222 gCO2/kWh |
| Power sector emissions | 150 MtCO2 | 65.5 MtCO2 |
| Low carbon share | 38.7% | 63.8% |
| Largest source | Coal 42.7% | Gas 31.2% |
Generation Mix, 2025
Share of generationCarbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025
Ember annual statisticsAnnual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh
| Year | Australia | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 759 gCO2/kWh | 694 gCO2/kWh |
| 1986 | 761 gCO2/kWh | 721 gCO2/kWh |
| 1987 | 772 gCO2/kWh | 737 gCO2/kWh |
| 1988 | 771 gCO2/kWh | 710 gCO2/kWh |
| 1989 | 777 gCO2/kWh | 689 gCO2/kWh |
| 1990 | 786 gCO2/kWh | 705 gCO2/kWh |
| 1991 | 785 gCO2/kWh | 700 gCO2/kWh |
| 1992 | 786 gCO2/kWh | 665 gCO2/kWh |
| 1993 | 786 gCO2/kWh | 608 gCO2/kWh |
| 1994 | 788 gCO2/kWh | 589 gCO2/kWh |
| 1995 | 793 gCO2/kWh | 579 gCO2/kWh |
| 1996 | 795 gCO2/kWh | 557 gCO2/kWh |
| 1997 | 800 gCO2/kWh | 512 gCO2/kWh |
| 1998 | 804 gCO2/kWh | 510 gCO2/kWh |
| 1999 | 803 gCO2/kWh | 492 gCO2/kWh |
| 2000 | 806 gCO2/kWh | 522 gCO2/kWh |
| 2001 | 803 gCO2/kWh | 529 gCO2/kWh |
| 2002 | 795 gCO2/kWh | 521 gCO2/kWh |
| 2003 | 792 gCO2/kWh | 537 gCO2/kWh |
| 2004 | 793 gCO2/kWh | 536 gCO2/kWh |
| 2005 | 792 gCO2/kWh | 535 gCO2/kWh |
| 2006 | 791 gCO2/kWh | 559 gCO2/kWh |
| 2007 | 791 gCO2/kWh | 556 gCO2/kWh |
| 2008 | 792 gCO2/kWh | 554 gCO2/kWh |
| 2009 | 785 gCO2/kWh | 505 gCO2/kWh |
| 2010 | 776 gCO2/kWh | 517 gCO2/kWh |
| 2011 | 749 gCO2/kWh | 500 gCO2/kWh |
| 2012 | 747 gCO2/kWh | 537 gCO2/kWh |
| 2013 | 726 gCO2/kWh | 507 gCO2/kWh |
| 2014 | 734 gCO2/kWh | 463 gCO2/kWh |
| 2015 | 730 gCO2/kWh | 398 gCO2/kWh |
| 2016 | 714 gCO2/kWh | 333 gCO2/kWh |
| 2017 | 718 gCO2/kWh | 302 gCO2/kWh |
| 2018 | 689 gCO2/kWh | 286 gCO2/kWh |
| 2019 | 670 gCO2/kWh | 268 gCO2/kWh |
| 2020 | 642 gCO2/kWh | 243 gCO2/kWh |
| 2021 | 606 gCO2/kWh | 267 gCO2/kWh |
| 2022 | 578 gCO2/kWh | 255 gCO2/kWh |
| 2023 | 557 gCO2/kWh | 236 gCO2/kWh |
| 2024 | 554 gCO2/kWh | 216 gCO2/kWh |
| 2025 | 525 gCO2/kWh | 222 gCO2/kWh |
Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025
Ember annual statisticsAnnual statistics through 2025, MWh
| Year | Australia | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 6.63 MWh |
| 2001 | 11.58 MWh | 6.67 MWh |
| 2002 | 11.41 MWh | 6.65 MWh |
| 2003 | 11.40 MWh | 6.69 MWh |
| 2004 | 11.44 MWh | 6.67 MWh |
| 2005 | 11.37 MWh | 6.71 MWh |
| 2006 | 11.56 MWh | 6.63 MWh |
| 2007 | 11.61 MWh | 6.53 MWh |
| 2008 | 11.48 MWh | 6.45 MWh |
| 2009 | 11.47 MWh | 6.07 MWh |
| 2010 | 11.34 MWh | 6.11 MWh |
| 2011 | 11.40 MWh | 5.89 MWh |
| 2012 | 10.97 MWh | 5.87 MWh |
| 2013 | 10.74 MWh | 5.79 MWh |
| 2014 | 10.50 MWh | 5.53 MWh |
| 2015 | 10.61 MWh | 5.51 MWh |
| 2016 | 10.61 MWh | 5.42 MWh |
| 2017 | 10.47 MWh | 5.32 MWh |
| 2018 | 10.46 MWh | 5.29 MWh |
| 2019 | 10.44 MWh | 5.19 MWh |
| 2020 | 10.30 MWh | 4.88 MWh |
| 2021 | 10.30 MWh | 4.92 MWh |
| 2022 | 10.42 MWh | 4.70 MWh |
| 2023 | 10.33 MWh | 4.60 MWh |
| 2024 | 10.54 MWh | 4.59 MWh |
| 2025 | 10.63 MWh | 4.62 MWh |
Australia history · United Kingdom history
Source: Ember (ember-energy.org), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Data as of 2025.