Canada vs United Kingdom: Electricity Compared

Canada generated 652 TWh of electricity in 2025 and the United Kingdom 295 TWh, according to Ember. Canada's largest source was hydro (52.8%); the United Kingdom's was gas (31.2%). Each kWh generated emitted 191 gCO2/kWh in Canada 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

Hydro supplied 52.8% of Canada's electricity in 2025, against 1.8% in the United Kingdom.
Electricity demand rose 8% in Canada between 2020 and 2025, while it fell 4% in the United Kingdom.
Carbon intensity rose 18% in Canada between 2020 and 2025, while it fell 8% in the United Kingdom.
The average person in Canada used 16.09 MWh of electricity in 2025, 3.5 times as much as in the United Kingdom (4.62 MWh).
Low carbon sources supplied 77.0% of Canada's electricity in 2025 and 63.8% of the United Kingdom's.
Electricity demand in 2025 was 646 TWh in Canada and 313 TWh in the United Kingdom.

Key Figures, 2025

Ember annual statistics

Measure	Canada	United Kingdom
Total generation	652 TWh	295 TWh
Electricity demand	646 TWh	313 TWh
Demand per person	16.09 MWh	4.62 MWh
Carbon intensity	191 gCO2/kWh	222 gCO2/kWh
Power sector emissions	124 MtCO2	65.5 MtCO2
Low carbon share	77.0%	63.8%
Largest source	Hydro 52.8%	Gas 31.2%

Generation Mix, 2025

Share of generation

Source	Canada	United Kingdom
Hydro	52.8%	1.8%
Gas	17.9%	31.2%
Wind	7.9%	29.2%
Bioenergy	1.6%	13.9%
Nuclear	13.1%	12.3%
Solar	1.6%	6.6%
Other fossil	1.2%	4.3%
Coal	4.0%	0.6%

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Carbon intensity of electricity generated in Canada and the United Kingdom each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2025 it was 191 gCO2/kWh in Canada and 222 gCO2/kWh in the United Kingdom.

Annual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh

Carbon intensity of electricity in Canada and United Kingdom, 1985 to 2025
Year	Canada	United Kingdom
1985	191 gCO2/kWh	694 gCO2/kWh
1986	172 gCO2/kWh	721 gCO2/kWh
1987	190 gCO2/kWh	737 gCO2/kWh
1988	206 gCO2/kWh	710 gCO2/kWh
1989	225 gCO2/kWh	689 gCO2/kWh
1990	206 gCO2/kWh	705 gCO2/kWh
1991	202 gCO2/kWh	700 gCO2/kWh
1992	209 gCO2/kWh	665 gCO2/kWh
1993	191 gCO2/kWh	608 gCO2/kWh
1994	188 gCO2/kWh	589 gCO2/kWh
1995	199 gCO2/kWh	579 gCO2/kWh
1996	192 gCO2/kWh	557 gCO2/kWh
1997	213 gCO2/kWh	512 gCO2/kWh
1998	241 gCO2/kWh	510 gCO2/kWh
1999	235 gCO2/kWh	492 gCO2/kWh
2000	246 gCO2/kWh	522 gCO2/kWh
2001	256 gCO2/kWh	529 gCO2/kWh
2002	245 gCO2/kWh	521 gCO2/kWh
2003	252 gCO2/kWh	537 gCO2/kWh
2004	235 gCO2/kWh	536 gCO2/kWh
2005	225 gCO2/kWh	535 gCO2/kWh
2006	217 gCO2/kWh	559 gCO2/kWh
2007	228 gCO2/kWh	556 gCO2/kWh
2008	214 gCO2/kWh	554 gCO2/kWh
2009	204 gCO2/kWh	505 gCO2/kWh
2010	215 gCO2/kWh	517 gCO2/kWh
2011	206 gCO2/kWh	500 gCO2/kWh
2012	193 gCO2/kWh	537 gCO2/kWh
2013	187 gCO2/kWh	507 gCO2/kWh
2014	189 gCO2/kWh	463 gCO2/kWh
2015	184 gCO2/kWh	398 gCO2/kWh
2016	181 gCO2/kWh	333 gCO2/kWh
2017	172 gCO2/kWh	302 gCO2/kWh
2018	171 gCO2/kWh	286 gCO2/kWh
2019	170 gCO2/kWh	268 gCO2/kWh
2020	162 gCO2/kWh	243 gCO2/kWh
2021	165 gCO2/kWh	267 gCO2/kWh
2022	161 gCO2/kWh	255 gCO2/kWh
2023	174 gCO2/kWh	236 gCO2/kWh
2024	185 gCO2/kWh	216 gCO2/kWh
2025	191 gCO2/kWh	222 gCO2/kWh

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Electricity demand per person in Canada and the United Kingdom each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2025 it was 16.09 MWh in Canada and 4.62 MWh in the United Kingdom.

Annual statistics through 2025, MWh

Electricity demand per person in Canada and United Kingdom, 1985 to 2025
Year	Canada	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	18.39 MWh	6.63 MWh
2001	18.12 MWh	6.67 MWh
2002	18.34 MWh	6.65 MWh
2003	18.30 MWh	6.69 MWh
2004	18.30 MWh	6.67 MWh
2005	18.39 MWh	6.71 MWh
2006	17.99 MWh	6.63 MWh
2007	18.23 MWh	6.53 MWh
2008	18.03 MWh	6.45 MWh
2009	17.15 MWh	6.07 MWh
2010	17.02 MWh	6.11 MWh
2011	17.41 MWh	5.89 MWh
2012	16.89 MWh	5.87 MWh
2013	17.11 MWh	5.79 MWh
2014	17.04 MWh	5.53 MWh
2015	16.73 MWh	5.51 MWh
2016	16.60 MWh	5.42 MWh
2017	16.49 MWh	5.32 MWh
2018	16.44 MWh	5.29 MWh
2019	16.11 MWh	5.19 MWh
2020	15.67 MWh	4.88 MWh
2021	15.74 MWh	4.92 MWh
2022	15.79 MWh	4.70 MWh
2023	15.61 MWh	4.60 MWh
2024	15.71 MWh	4.59 MWh
2025	16.09 MWh	4.62 MWh

Canada history · United Kingdom history

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

Canada vs United Kingdom: Electricity Compared

Key Facts

Key Figures, 2025

Generation Mix, 2025

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

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