Chile vs Colombia: Electricity Compared
Chile generated 88.5 TWh of electricity in 2025 and Colombia 90.3 TWh, according to Ember. Chile's largest source was solar (25.1%); Colombia's was hydro (69.2%). Each kWh generated emitted 291 gCO2/kWh in Chile and 187 gCO2/kWh in Colombia. These are Ember annual statistics for 2025, compiled from national sources; they are not real time.
Why this comparison: similar electricity demand on the same continent.
Key Facts
- Hydro supplied 69.2% of Colombia's electricity in 2025, against 22.2% in Chile.
- Chile's electricity was 1.6 times as carbon intensive as Colombia's in 2025, at 291 gCO2/kWh against 187 gCO2/kWh.
- The average person in Chile used 4.46 MWh of electricity in 2025, 2.6 times as much as in Colombia (1.72 MWh).
- Low carbon sources supplied 66.4% of Chile's electricity in 2025 and 77.0% of Colombia's.
- Electricity demand in 2025 was 88.5 TWh in Chile and 90.6 TWh in Colombia.
Key Figures, 2025
Ember annual statistics| Measure | Chile | Colombia |
|---|---|---|
| Total generation | 88.5 TWh | 90.3 TWh |
| Electricity demand | 88.5 TWh | 90.6 TWh |
| Demand per person | 4.46 MWh | 1.72 MWh |
| Carbon intensity | 291 gCO2/kWh | 187 gCO2/kWh |
| Power sector emissions | 25.7 MtCO2 | 16.9 MtCO2 |
| Low carbon share | 66.4% | 77.0% |
| Largest source | Solar 25.1% | Hydro 69.2% |
Generation Mix, 2025
Share of generation| Source | Chile | Colombia |
|---|---|---|
| Hydro | 22.2% | 69.2% |
| Solar | 25.1% | 5.1% |
| Coal | 17.8% | 6.1% |
| Gas | 15.3% | 13.8% |
| Wind | 13.1% | 0.2% |
| Bioenergy | 5.7% | 2.6% |
| Other fossil | 0.6% | 3.1% |
| Other renewables | 0.3% | 0.0% |
Carbon Intensity, 2000 to 2025
Ember annual statisticsAnnual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh
| Year | Chile | Colombia |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 388 gCO2/kWh | 190 gCO2/kWh |
| 2001 | 336 gCO2/kWh | 198 gCO2/kWh |
| 2002 | 330 gCO2/kWh | 183 gCO2/kWh |
| 2003 | 355 gCO2/kWh | 172 gCO2/kWh |
| 2004 | 392 gCO2/kWh | 149 gCO2/kWh |
| 2005 | 348 gCO2/kWh | 160 gCO2/kWh |
| 2006 | 355 gCO2/kWh | 159 gCO2/kWh |
| 2007 | 457 gCO2/kWh | 155 gCO2/kWh |
| 2008 | 454 gCO2/kWh | 137 gCO2/kWh |
| 2009 | 436 gCO2/kWh | 211 gCO2/kWh |
| 2010 | 482 gCO2/kWh | 230 gCO2/kWh |
| 2011 | 494 gCO2/kWh | 152 gCO2/kWh |
| 2012 | 533 gCO2/kWh | 179 gCO2/kWh |
| 2013 | 554 gCO2/kWh | 236 gCO2/kWh |
| 2014 | 496 gCO2/kWh | 237 gCO2/kWh |
| 2015 | 493 gCO2/kWh | 275 gCO2/kWh |
| 2016 | 498 gCO2/kWh | 260 gCO2/kWh |
| 2017 | 489 gCO2/kWh | 166 gCO2/kWh |
| 2018 | 472 gCO2/kWh | 188 gCO2/kWh |
| 2019 | 458 gCO2/kWh | 241 gCO2/kWh |
| 2020 | 438 gCO2/kWh | 271 gCO2/kWh |
| 2021 | 432 gCO2/kWh | 196 gCO2/kWh |
| 2022 | 374 gCO2/kWh | 202 gCO2/kWh |
| 2023 | 305 gCO2/kWh | 260 gCO2/kWh |
| 2024 | 261 gCO2/kWh | 298 gCO2/kWh |
| 2025 | 291 gCO2/kWh | 187 gCO2/kWh |
Demand per Person, 2000 to 2025
Ember annual statisticsAnnual statistics through 2025, MWh
| Year | Chile | Colombia |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 2.73 MWh | 1.10 MWh |
| 2001 | 2.79 MWh | 1.08 MWh |
| 2002 | 2.85 MWh | 1.09 MWh |
| 2003 | 3.03 MWh | 1.10 MWh |
| 2004 | 3.27 MWh | 1.15 MWh |
| 2005 | 3.33 MWh | 1.14 MWh |
| 2006 | 3.47 MWh | 1.21 MWh |
| 2007 | 3.59 MWh | 1.25 MWh |
| 2008 | 3.60 MWh | 1.24 MWh |
| 2009 | 3.63 MWh | 1.26 MWh |
| 2010 | 3.56 MWh | 1.33 MWh |
| 2011 | 3.83 MWh | 1.33 MWh |
| 2012 | 3.97 MWh | 1.36 MWh |
| 2013 | 4.12 MWh | 1.56 MWh |
| 2014 | 3.93 MWh | 1.50 MWh |
| 2015 | 4.15 MWh | 1.65 MWh |
| 2016 | 4.32 MWh | 1.61 MWh |
| 2017 | 4.25 MWh | 1.63 MWh |
| 2018 | 4.33 MWh | 1.60 MWh |
| 2019 | 4.37 MWh | 1.59 MWh |
| 2020 | 4.32 MWh | 1.56 MWh |
| 2021 | 4.53 MWh | 1.65 MWh |
| 2022 | 4.66 MWh | 1.61 MWh |
| 2023 | 4.54 MWh | 1.66 MWh |
| 2024 | 4.48 MWh | 1.69 MWh |
| 2025 | 4.46 MWh | 1.72 MWh |
Chile history · Colombia history
Source: Ember (ember-energy.org), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Data as of 2025.