Canada vs France: Electricity Compared

Canada generated 660 TWh of electricity in 2025 and France 574 TWh, according to Ember. Canada's largest source was hydro (52.8%); France's was nuclear (68.3%). Each kWh generated emitted 192 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.

Who is bigger and who is cleaner? Canada is the bigger electricity producer, generating 1.1 times as much as France in 2025 (660 TWh against 574 TWh). France has the cleaner electricity by carbon intensity, at 41 gCO2/kWh against 192 gCO2/kWh in Canada in 2025.

Why this comparison: both among the 20 largest electricity users.

Open this comparison in the interactive tool to add more countries or change the metric.

Key Facts

  • Nuclear supplied 68.3% of France's electricity in 2025, against 12.9% in Canada.
  • Canada's electricity was 4.6 times as carbon intensive as France's in 2025, at 192 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 76.5% of Canada's electricity in 2025 and 94.9% of France's.
  • Electricity demand in 2025 was 654 TWh in Canada and 481 TWh in France.

Key Figures, 2025

Ember annual statistics
Measure Canada France
Total generation660 TWh574 TWh
Electricity demand654 TWh481 TWh
Demand per person16.09 MWh7.15 MWh
Carbon intensity192 gCO2/kWh41 gCO2/kWh
Power sector emissions126 MtCO223.7 MtCO2
Low carbon share76.5%94.9%
Largest sourceHydro 52.8%Nuclear 68.3%

Generation Mix, 2025

Share of generation
Source Canada France
Nuclear 12.9% 68.3%
Hydro 52.8% 10.3%
Gas 19.7% 3.0%
Wind 8.0% 8.8%
Solar 1.4% 5.6%
Coal 2.7% 0.3%
Other fossil 1.2% 1.8%
Bioenergy 1.5% 1.8%
Other renewables 0.0% 0.1%

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics
Carbon intensity of electricity in Canada and France, 1985 to 2025 Carbon intensity of electricity generated in Canada and France each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2025 it was 192 gCO2/kWh in Canada and 41 gCO2/kWh in France. 0 75 150 225 300 198519901995200020052010201520202025
Carbon intensity of electricity generated in Canada and France each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2025 it was 192 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
YearCanadaFrance
1985191 gCO2/kWhn/a
1986172 gCO2/kWhn/a
1987190 gCO2/kWhn/a
1988206 gCO2/kWhn/a
1989225 gCO2/kWhn/a
1990206 gCO2/kWh104 gCO2/kWh
1991202 gCO2/kWh122 gCO2/kWh
1992209 gCO2/kWh102 gCO2/kWh
1993191 gCO2/kWh69 gCO2/kWh
1994188 gCO2/kWh67 gCO2/kWh
1995199 gCO2/kWh73 gCO2/kWh
1996192 gCO2/kWh79 gCO2/kWh
1997213 gCO2/kWh71 gCO2/kWh
1998241 gCO2/kWh97 gCO2/kWh
1999235 gCO2/kWh87 gCO2/kWh
2000246 gCO2/kWh80 gCO2/kWh
2001256 gCO2/kWh69 gCO2/kWh
2002245 gCO2/kWh75 gCO2/kWh
2003252 gCO2/kWh81 gCO2/kWh
2004235 gCO2/kWh77 gCO2/kWh
2005225 gCO2/kWh86 gCO2/kWh
2006217 gCO2/kWh77 gCO2/kWh
2007228 gCO2/kWh80 gCO2/kWh
2008214 gCO2/kWh76 gCO2/kWh
2009204 gCO2/kWh76 gCO2/kWh
2010215 gCO2/kWh79 gCO2/kWh
2011206 gCO2/kWh75 gCO2/kWh
2012193 gCO2/kWh78 gCO2/kWh
2013187 gCO2/kWh76 gCO2/kWh
2014189 gCO2/kWh52 gCO2/kWh
2015184 gCO2/kWh59 gCO2/kWh
2016181 gCO2/kWh69 gCO2/kWh
2017172 gCO2/kWh78 gCO2/kWh
2018171 gCO2/kWh60 gCO2/kWh
2019170 gCO2/kWh60 gCO2/kWh
2020162 gCO2/kWh59 gCO2/kWh
2021165 gCO2/kWh60 gCO2/kWh
2022161 gCO2/kWh79 gCO2/kWh
2023174 gCO2/kWh53 gCO2/kWh
2024185 gCO2/kWh40 gCO2/kWh
2025192 gCO2/kWh41 gCO2/kWh

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics
Electricity demand per person in Canada and France, 1985 to 2025 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. 0 5 10 15 20 198519901995200020052010201520202025
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
YearCanadaFrance
1985n/an/a
1986n/an/a
1987n/an/a
1988n/an/a
1989n/an/a
1990n/an/a
1991n/an/a
1992n/an/a
1993n/an/a
1994n/an/a
1995n/an/a
1996n/an/a
1997n/an/a
1998n/an/a
1999n/an/a
200018.39 MWh7.79 MWh
200118.12 MWh7.92 MWh
200218.34 MWh7.86 MWh
200318.30 MWh8.11 MWh
200418.30 MWh8.25 MWh
200518.39 MWh8.26 MWh
200617.99 MWh8.12 MWh
200718.23 MWh8.09 MWh
200818.03 MWh8.27 MWh
200917.15 MWh7.97 MWh
201017.02 MWh8.38 MWh
201117.41 MWh8.02 MWh
201216.89 MWh8.17 MWh
201317.11 MWh8.21 MWh
201417.04 MWh7.72 MWh
201516.73 MWh7.86 MWh
201616.60 MWh7.95 MWh
201716.49 MWh7.90 MWh
201816.44 MWh7.83 MWh
201916.11 MWh7.73 MWh
202015.67 MWh7.32 MWh
202115.74 MWh7.65 MWh
202215.79 MWh7.29 MWh
202315.61 MWh7.05 MWh
202415.71 MWh7.09 MWh
202516.09 MWh7.15 MWh

Canada history · France history

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

Cite this page
APA 7

World Power Monitor. (2025). Canada vs France: Electricity Compared. https://worldpowermonitor.com/compare/canada-vs-france/

Plain text

World Power Monitor. Canada vs France: Electricity Compared. Data as of 2025. Data from Ember. https://worldpowermonitor.com/compare/canada-vs-france/

BibTeX
@misc{wpm_compare_canada_vs_france_2025,
  title = {{Canada vs France: Electricity Compared}},
  author = {{World Power Monitor}},
  year = {2025},
  note = {Data as of 2025. Data from Ember.},
  url = {https://worldpowermonitor.com/compare/canada-vs-france/}
}

Permalink: https://worldpowermonitor.com/compare/canada-vs-france/

The Copy buttons add today's date as the access date.