France vs Russia: Electricity Compared
France generated 570 TWh of electricity in 2025 and Russia 1,194 TWh, according to Ember. France's largest source was nuclear (68.8%); Russia's was gas (45.6%). Each kWh generated emitted 41 gCO2/kWh in France and 447 gCO2/kWh in Russia. 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 and similar electricity demand on the same continent.
Key Facts
- Nuclear supplied 68.8% of France's electricity in 2025, against 18.3% in Russia.
- Russia's electricity was 10.8 times as carbon intensive as France's in 2025, at 447 gCO2/kWh against 41 gCO2/kWh.
- Carbon intensity rose 7% in Russia between 2020 and 2025, while it fell 30% in France.
- Low carbon sources supplied 94.9% of France's electricity in 2025 and 35.7% of Russia's.
- Electricity demand in 2025 was 476 TWh in France and 1,178 TWh in Russia.
Key Figures, 2025
Ember annual statistics| Measure | France | Russia |
|---|---|---|
| Total generation | 570 TWh | 1,194 TWh |
| Electricity demand | 476 TWh | 1,178 TWh |
| Demand per person | 7.15 MWh | 8.17 MWh |
| Carbon intensity | 41 gCO2/kWh | 447 gCO2/kWh |
| Power sector emissions | 23.6 MtCO2 | 534 MtCO2 |
| Low carbon share | 94.9% | 35.7% |
| Largest source | Nuclear 68.8% | Gas 45.6% |
Generation Mix, 2025
Share of generation| Source | France | Russia |
|---|---|---|
| Nuclear | 68.8% | 18.3% |
| Gas | 3.0% | 45.6% |
| Coal | 0.3% | 17.7% |
| Hydro | 10.4% | 16.7% |
| Wind | 8.2% | 0.3% |
| Solar | 5.6% | 0.2% |
| Other fossil | 1.8% | 1.0% |
| Bioenergy | 1.8% | 0.1% |
| Other renewables | 0.1% | 0.0% |
Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025
Ember annual statisticsAnnual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh
| Year | France | Russia |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | n/a | 492 gCO2/kWh |
| 1986 | n/a | 492 gCO2/kWh |
| 1987 | n/a | 489 gCO2/kWh |
| 1988 | n/a | 486 gCO2/kWh |
| 1989 | n/a | 488 gCO2/kWh |
| 1990 | 104 gCO2/kWh | 496 gCO2/kWh |
| 1991 | 122 gCO2/kWh | 492 gCO2/kWh |
| 1992 | 102 gCO2/kWh | 483 gCO2/kWh |
| 1993 | 69 gCO2/kWh | 473 gCO2/kWh |
| 1994 | 67 gCO2/kWh | 481 gCO2/kWh |
| 1995 | 73 gCO2/kWh | 477 gCO2/kWh |
| 1996 | 79 gCO2/kWh | 482 gCO2/kWh |
| 1997 | 71 gCO2/kWh | 477 gCO2/kWh |
| 1998 | 97 gCO2/kWh | 482 gCO2/kWh |
| 1999 | 87 gCO2/kWh | 468 gCO2/kWh |
| 2000 | 80 gCO2/kWh | 470 gCO2/kWh |
| 2001 | 69 gCO2/kWh | 458 gCO2/kWh |
| 2002 | 75 gCO2/kWh | 463 gCO2/kWh |
| 2003 | 81 gCO2/kWh | 465 gCO2/kWh |
| 2004 | 77 gCO2/kWh | 454 gCO2/kWh |
| 2005 | 86 gCO2/kWh | 457 gCO2/kWh |
| 2006 | 77 gCO2/kWh | 463 gCO2/kWh |
| 2007 | 80 gCO2/kWh | 458 gCO2/kWh |
| 2008 | 76 gCO2/kWh | 475 gCO2/kWh |
| 2009 | 76 gCO2/kWh | 452 gCO2/kWh |
| 2010 | 79 gCO2/kWh | 458 gCO2/kWh |
| 2011 | 75 gCO2/kWh | 461 gCO2/kWh |
| 2012 | 78 gCO2/kWh | 462 gCO2/kWh |
| 2013 | 76 gCO2/kWh | 450 gCO2/kWh |
| 2014 | 52 gCO2/kWh | 449 gCO2/kWh |
| 2015 | 59 gCO2/kWh | 444 gCO2/kWh |
| 2016 | 69 gCO2/kWh | 443 gCO2/kWh |
| 2017 | 78 gCO2/kWh | 440 gCO2/kWh |
| 2018 | 60 gCO2/kWh | 439 gCO2/kWh |
| 2019 | 60 gCO2/kWh | 440 gCO2/kWh |
| 2020 | 59 gCO2/kWh | 418 gCO2/kWh |
| 2021 | 60 gCO2/kWh | 427 gCO2/kWh |
| 2022 | 79 gCO2/kWh | 443 gCO2/kWh |
| 2023 | 53 gCO2/kWh | 447 gCO2/kWh |
| 2024 | 40 gCO2/kWh | 444 gCO2/kWh |
| 2025 | 41 gCO2/kWh | 447 gCO2/kWh |
Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025
Ember annual statisticsAnnual statistics through 2025, MWh
| Year | France | Russia |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 7.79 MWh | 5.89 MWh |
| 2001 | 7.92 MWh | 5.99 MWh |
| 2002 | 7.86 MWh | 6.02 MWh |
| 2003 | 8.11 MWh | 6.19 MWh |
| 2004 | 8.25 MWh | 6.37 MWh |
| 2005 | 8.26 MWh | 6.51 MWh |
| 2006 | 8.12 MWh | 6.78 MWh |
| 2007 | 8.09 MWh | 6.99 MWh |
| 2008 | 8.27 MWh | 7.11 MWh |
| 2009 | 7.97 MWh | 6.80 MWh |
| 2010 | 8.38 MWh | 7.09 MWh |
| 2011 | 8.02 MWh | 7.17 MWh |
| 2012 | 8.17 MWh | 7.30 MWh |
| 2013 | 8.21 MWh | 7.23 MWh |
| 2014 | 7.72 MWh | 7.29 MWh |
| 2015 | 7.86 MWh | 7.27 MWh |
| 2016 | 7.95 MWh | 7.38 MWh |
| 2017 | 7.90 MWh | 7.39 MWh |
| 2018 | 7.83 MWh | 7.49 MWh |
| 2019 | 7.73 MWh | 7.51 MWh |
| 2020 | 7.32 MWh | 7.34 MWh |
| 2021 | 7.65 MWh | 7.79 MWh |
| 2022 | 7.29 MWh | 7.90 MWh |
| 2023 | 7.05 MWh | 7.99 MWh |
| 2024 | 7.09 MWh | 8.24 MWh |
| 2025 | 7.15 MWh | 8.17 MWh |
France history · Russia history
Source: Ember (ember-energy.org), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Data as of 2025.