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Data as of 2025
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Built 2026-09-19 (19 September 2026)

Canada vs United States: Electricity Compared

Canada generated 652 TWh of electricity in 2025 and the United States 4,520 TWh, according to Ember. Canada's largest source was hydro (52.8%); the United States' was gas (40.0%). Each kWh generated emitted 191 gCO2/kWh in Canada and 384 gCO2/kWh in the United States. These are Ember annual statistics for 2025, compiled from national sources; they are not real time.

Why this comparison: neighbours by land border or interconnector, both among the 20 largest electricity users and similar electricity demand on the same continent.

Key Facts

  • Hydro supplied 52.8% of Canada's electricity in 2025, against 5.4% in the United States.
  • The United States' electricity was 2.0 times as carbon intensive as Canada's in 2025, at 384 gCO2/kWh against 191 gCO2/kWh.
  • Carbon intensity rose 18% in Canada between 2020 and 2025, while it fell 7% in the United States.
  • Low carbon sources supplied 77.0% of Canada's electricity in 2025 and 43.0% of the United States'.
  • Electricity demand in 2025 was 646 TWh in Canada and 4,532 TWh in the United States.

Key Figures, 2025

Ember annual statistics
MeasureCanadaUnited States
Total generation652 TWh4,520 TWh
Electricity demand646 TWh4,532 TWh
Demand per person16.09 MWh13.06 MWh
Carbon intensity191 gCO2/kWh384 gCO2/kWh
Power sector emissions124 MtCO21,737 MtCO2
Low carbon share77.0%43.0%
Largest sourceHydro 52.8%Gas 40.0%

Generation Mix, 2025

Share of generation
SourceCanadaUnited States
Hydro 52.8% 5.4%
Gas 17.9% 40.0%
Nuclear 13.1% 17.4%
Coal 4.0% 16.3%
Wind 7.9% 10.3%
Solar 1.6% 8.6%
Bioenergy 1.6% 1.0%
Other fossil 1.2% 0.7%
Other renewables 0.0% 0.4%

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics
Carbon intensity of electricity in Canada and United States, 1985 to 2025 Carbon intensity of electricity generated in Canada and the United States each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2025 it was 191 gCO2/kWh in Canada and 384 gCO2/kWh in the United States. 0 200 400 600 800 198519901995200020052010201520202025
Carbon intensity of electricity generated in Canada and the United States each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2025 it was 191 gCO2/kWh in Canada and 384 gCO2/kWh in the United States.
Annual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh
Carbon intensity of electricity in Canada and United States, 1985 to 2025
YearCanadaUnited States
1985191 gCO2/kWhn/a
1986172 gCO2/kWhn/a
1987190 gCO2/kWhn/a
1988206 gCO2/kWhn/a
1989225 gCO2/kWhn/a
1990206 gCO2/kWhn/a
1991202 gCO2/kWhn/a
1992209 gCO2/kWhn/a
1993191 gCO2/kWhn/a
1994188 gCO2/kWhn/a
1995199 gCO2/kWhn/a
1996192 gCO2/kWhn/a
1997213 gCO2/kWhn/a
1998241 gCO2/kWhn/a
1999235 gCO2/kWhn/a
2000246 gCO2/kWh608 gCO2/kWh
2001256 gCO2/kWh610 gCO2/kWh
2002245 gCO2/kWh601 gCO2/kWh
2003252 gCO2/kWh606 gCO2/kWh
2004235 gCO2/kWh602 gCO2/kWh
2005225 gCO2/kWh604 gCO2/kWh
2006217 gCO2/kWh595 gCO2/kWh
2007228 gCO2/kWh598 gCO2/kWh
2008214 gCO2/kWh591 gCO2/kWh
2009204 gCO2/kWh565 gCO2/kWh
2010215 gCO2/kWh571 gCO2/kWh
2011206 gCO2/kWh551 gCO2/kWh
2012193 gCO2/kWh533 gCO2/kWh
2013187 gCO2/kWh533 gCO2/kWh
2014189 gCO2/kWh529 gCO2/kWh
2015184 gCO2/kWh505 gCO2/kWh
2016181 gCO2/kWh483 gCO2/kWh
2017172 gCO2/kWh469 gCO2/kWh
2018171 gCO2/kWh463 gCO2/kWh
2019170 gCO2/kWh439 gCO2/kWh
2020162 gCO2/kWh412 gCO2/kWh
2021165 gCO2/kWh424 gCO2/kWh
2022161 gCO2/kWh410 gCO2/kWh
2023174 gCO2/kWh393 gCO2/kWh
2024185 gCO2/kWh384 gCO2/kWh
2025191 gCO2/kWh384 gCO2/kWh

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics
Electricity demand per person in Canada and United States, 1985 to 2025 Electricity demand per person in Canada and the United States each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2025 it was 16.09 MWh in Canada and 13.06 MWh in the United States. 0 5 10 15 20 198519901995200020052010201520202025
Electricity demand per person in Canada and the United States each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2025 it was 16.09 MWh in Canada and 13.06 MWh in the United States.
Annual statistics through 2025, MWh
Electricity demand per person in Canada and United States, 1985 to 2025
YearCanadaUnited States
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 MWh13.63 MWh
200118.12 MWh13.19 MWh
200218.34 MWh13.46 MWh
200318.30 MWh13.37 MWh
200418.30 MWh13.54 MWh
200518.39 MWh13.73 MWh
200617.99 MWh13.61 MWh
200718.23 MWh13.83 MWh
200818.03 MWh13.58 MWh
200917.15 MWh12.90 MWh
201017.02 MWh13.31 MWh
201117.41 MWh13.14 MWh
201216.89 MWh12.89 MWh
201317.11 MWh12.85 MWh
201417.04 MWh12.84 MWh
201516.73 MWh12.73 MWh
201616.60 MWh12.62 MWh
201716.49 MWh12.37 MWh
201816.44 MWh12.67 MWh
201916.11 MWh12.43 MWh
202015.67 MWh12.05 MWh
202115.74 MWh12.33 MWh
202215.79 MWh12.67 MWh
202315.61 MWh12.44 MWh
202415.71 MWh12.75 MWh
202516.09 MWh13.06 MWh

Canada history · United States history

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