Canada vs France: Electricity Compared

Canada generated 652 TWh of electricity in 2025 and France 570 TWh, according to Ember. Canada's largest source was hydro (52.8%); France's was nuclear (68.8%). Each kWh generated emitted 191 gCO2/kWh in Canada and 41 gCO2/kWh in France. 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

Nuclear supplied 68.8% of France's electricity in 2025, against 13.1% in Canada.
Canada's electricity was 4.6 times as carbon intensive as France's in 2025, at 191 gCO2/kWh against 41 gCO2/kWh.
Carbon intensity rose 18% in Canada between 2020 and 2025, while it fell 30% in France.
The average person in Canada used 16.09 MWh of electricity in 2025, 2.3 times as much as in France (7.15 MWh).
Low carbon sources supplied 77.0% of Canada's electricity in 2025 and 94.9% of France's.
Electricity demand in 2025 was 646 TWh in Canada and 476 TWh in France.

Key Figures, 2025

Ember annual statistics

Measure	Canada	France
Total generation	652 TWh	570 TWh
Electricity demand	646 TWh	476 TWh
Demand per person	16.09 MWh	7.15 MWh
Carbon intensity	191 gCO2/kWh	41 gCO2/kWh
Power sector emissions	124 MtCO2	23.6 MtCO2
Low carbon share	77.0%	94.9%
Largest source	Hydro 52.8%	Nuclear 68.8%

Generation Mix, 2025

Share of generation

Source	Canada	France
Nuclear	13.1%	68.8%
Hydro	52.8%	10.4%
Gas	17.9%	3.0%
Wind	7.9%	8.2%
Solar	1.6%	5.6%
Coal	4.0%	0.3%
Other fossil	1.2%	1.8%
Bioenergy	1.6%	1.8%
Other renewables	0.0%	0.1%

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Carbon intensity of electricity generated in Canada and France each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2025 it was 191 gCO2/kWh in Canada and 41 gCO2/kWh in France.

Annual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh

Carbon intensity of electricity in Canada and France, 1985 to 2025
Year	Canada	France
1985	191 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1986	172 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1987	190 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1988	206 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1989	225 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1990	206 gCO2/kWh	104 gCO2/kWh
1991	202 gCO2/kWh	122 gCO2/kWh
1992	209 gCO2/kWh	102 gCO2/kWh
1993	191 gCO2/kWh	69 gCO2/kWh
1994	188 gCO2/kWh	67 gCO2/kWh
1995	199 gCO2/kWh	73 gCO2/kWh
1996	192 gCO2/kWh	79 gCO2/kWh
1997	213 gCO2/kWh	71 gCO2/kWh
1998	241 gCO2/kWh	97 gCO2/kWh
1999	235 gCO2/kWh	87 gCO2/kWh
2000	246 gCO2/kWh	80 gCO2/kWh
2001	256 gCO2/kWh	69 gCO2/kWh
2002	245 gCO2/kWh	75 gCO2/kWh
2003	252 gCO2/kWh	81 gCO2/kWh
2004	235 gCO2/kWh	77 gCO2/kWh
2005	225 gCO2/kWh	86 gCO2/kWh
2006	217 gCO2/kWh	77 gCO2/kWh
2007	228 gCO2/kWh	80 gCO2/kWh
2008	214 gCO2/kWh	76 gCO2/kWh
2009	204 gCO2/kWh	76 gCO2/kWh
2010	215 gCO2/kWh	79 gCO2/kWh
2011	206 gCO2/kWh	75 gCO2/kWh
2012	193 gCO2/kWh	78 gCO2/kWh
2013	187 gCO2/kWh	76 gCO2/kWh
2014	189 gCO2/kWh	52 gCO2/kWh
2015	184 gCO2/kWh	59 gCO2/kWh
2016	181 gCO2/kWh	69 gCO2/kWh
2017	172 gCO2/kWh	78 gCO2/kWh
2018	171 gCO2/kWh	60 gCO2/kWh
2019	170 gCO2/kWh	60 gCO2/kWh
2020	162 gCO2/kWh	59 gCO2/kWh
2021	165 gCO2/kWh	60 gCO2/kWh
2022	161 gCO2/kWh	79 gCO2/kWh
2023	174 gCO2/kWh	53 gCO2/kWh
2024	185 gCO2/kWh	40 gCO2/kWh
2025	191 gCO2/kWh	41 gCO2/kWh

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Electricity demand per person in Canada and France each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2025 it was 16.09 MWh in Canada and 7.15 MWh in France.

Annual statistics through 2025, MWh

Electricity demand per person in Canada and France, 1985 to 2025
Year	Canada	France
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	18.39 MWh	7.79 MWh
2001	18.12 MWh	7.92 MWh
2002	18.34 MWh	7.86 MWh
2003	18.30 MWh	8.11 MWh
2004	18.30 MWh	8.25 MWh
2005	18.39 MWh	8.26 MWh
2006	17.99 MWh	8.12 MWh
2007	18.23 MWh	8.09 MWh
2008	18.03 MWh	8.27 MWh
2009	17.15 MWh	7.97 MWh
2010	17.02 MWh	8.38 MWh
2011	17.41 MWh	8.02 MWh
2012	16.89 MWh	8.17 MWh
2013	17.11 MWh	8.21 MWh
2014	17.04 MWh	7.72 MWh
2015	16.73 MWh	7.86 MWh
2016	16.60 MWh	7.95 MWh
2017	16.49 MWh	7.90 MWh
2018	16.44 MWh	7.83 MWh
2019	16.11 MWh	7.73 MWh
2020	15.67 MWh	7.32 MWh
2021	15.74 MWh	7.65 MWh
2022	15.79 MWh	7.29 MWh
2023	15.61 MWh	7.05 MWh
2024	15.71 MWh	7.09 MWh
2025	16.09 MWh	7.15 MWh

Canada history · France history

Source: Ember (ember-energy.org), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Data as of 2025.

Canada vs France: Electricity Compared

Key Facts

Key Figures, 2025

Generation Mix, 2025

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

Related