France vs Saudi Arabia: Electricity Compared
France generated 574 TWh of electricity in 2025 and Saudi Arabia 471 TWh, according to Ember. France's largest source was nuclear (68.3%); Saudi Arabia's was gas (63.7%). Each kWh generated emitted 41 gCO2/kWh in France and 680 gCO2/kWh in Saudi Arabia. These are Ember annual statistics for 2025, compiled from national sources; they are not real time.
Who is bigger and who is cleaner? France is the bigger electricity producer, generating 1.2 times as much as Saudi Arabia in 2025 (574 TWh against 471 TWh). France has the cleaner electricity by carbon intensity, at 41 gCO2/kWh against 680 gCO2/kWh in Saudi Arabia 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 none in Saudi Arabia.
- Saudi Arabia's electricity was 16.5 times as carbon intensive as France's in 2025, at 680 gCO2/kWh against 41 gCO2/kWh.
- Low carbon sources supplied 94.9% of France's electricity in 2025 and 4.2% of Saudi Arabia's.
- Electricity demand in 2025 was 481 TWh in France and 471 TWh in Saudi Arabia.
Key Figures, 2025
Ember annual statistics| Measure | France | Saudi Arabia |
|---|---|---|
| Total generation | 574 TWh | 471 TWh |
| Electricity demand | 481 TWh | 471 TWh |
| Demand per person | 7.15 MWh | n/a |
| Carbon intensity | 41 gCO2/kWh | 680 gCO2/kWh |
| Power sector emissions | 23.7 MtCO2 | 320 MtCO2 |
| Low carbon share | 94.9% | 4.2% |
| Largest source | Nuclear 68.3% | Gas 63.7% |
Generation Mix, 2025
Share of generation| Source | France | Saudi Arabia |
|---|---|---|
| Nuclear | 68.3% | 0.0% |
| Gas | 3.0% | 63.7% |
| Other fossil | 1.8% | 32.1% |
| Hydro | 10.3% | 0.0% |
| Wind | 8.8% | 0.3% |
| Solar | 5.6% | 3.9% |
| Bioenergy | 1.8% | 0.0% |
| Coal | 0.3% | 0.0% |
| Other renewables | 0.1% | 0.0% |
Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025
Ember annual statistics| Year | France | Saudi Arabia |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | n/a | 701 gCO2/kWh |
| 1986 | n/a | 699 gCO2/kWh |
| 1987 | n/a | 696 gCO2/kWh |
| 1988 | n/a | 695 gCO2/kWh |
| 1989 | n/a | 696 gCO2/kWh |
| 1990 | 104 gCO2/kWh | 696 gCO2/kWh |
| 1991 | 122 gCO2/kWh | 696 gCO2/kWh |
| 1992 | 102 gCO2/kWh | 693 gCO2/kWh |
| 1993 | 69 gCO2/kWh | 693 gCO2/kWh |
| 1994 | 67 gCO2/kWh | 694 gCO2/kWh |
| 1995 | 73 gCO2/kWh | 692 gCO2/kWh |
| 1996 | 79 gCO2/kWh | 691 gCO2/kWh |
| 1997 | 71 gCO2/kWh | 691 gCO2/kWh |
| 1998 | 97 gCO2/kWh | 690 gCO2/kWh |
| 1999 | 87 gCO2/kWh | 689 gCO2/kWh |
| 2000 | 80 gCO2/kWh | 692 gCO2/kWh |
| 2001 | 69 gCO2/kWh | 697 gCO2/kWh |
| 2002 | 75 gCO2/kWh | 700 gCO2/kWh |
| 2003 | 81 gCO2/kWh | 699 gCO2/kWh |
| 2004 | 77 gCO2/kWh | 700 gCO2/kWh |
| 2005 | 86 gCO2/kWh | 700 gCO2/kWh |
| 2006 | 77 gCO2/kWh | 698 gCO2/kWh |
| 2007 | 80 gCO2/kWh | 695 gCO2/kWh |
| 2008 | 76 gCO2/kWh | 695 gCO2/kWh |
| 2009 | 76 gCO2/kWh | 690 gCO2/kWh |
| 2010 | 79 gCO2/kWh | 691 gCO2/kWh |
| 2011 | 75 gCO2/kWh | 691 gCO2/kWh |
| 2012 | 78 gCO2/kWh | 693 gCO2/kWh |
| 2013 | 76 gCO2/kWh | 693 gCO2/kWh |
| 2014 | 52 gCO2/kWh | 693 gCO2/kWh |
| 2015 | 59 gCO2/kWh | 693 gCO2/kWh |
| 2016 | 69 gCO2/kWh | 697 gCO2/kWh |
| 2017 | 78 gCO2/kWh | 700 gCO2/kWh |
| 2018 | 60 gCO2/kWh | 703 gCO2/kWh |
| 2019 | 60 gCO2/kWh | 702 gCO2/kWh |
| 2020 | 59 gCO2/kWh | 702 gCO2/kWh |
| 2021 | 60 gCO2/kWh | 702 gCO2/kWh |
| 2022 | 79 gCO2/kWh | 700 gCO2/kWh |
| 2023 | 53 gCO2/kWh | 697 gCO2/kWh |
| 2024 | 40 gCO2/kWh | 692 gCO2/kWh |
| 2025 | 41 gCO2/kWh | 680 gCO2/kWh |
Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025
Ember annual statistics| Year | France | Saudi Arabia |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 8.57 MWh |
| 2001 | 7.92 MWh | 8.57 MWh |
| 2002 | 7.86 MWh | 8.65 MWh |
| 2003 | 8.11 MWh | 8.87 MWh |
| 2004 | 8.25 MWh | 8.82 MWh |
| 2005 | 8.26 MWh | 9.29 MWh |
| 2006 | 8.12 MWh | 9.15 MWh |
| 2007 | 8.09 MWh | 9.14 MWh |
| 2008 | 8.27 MWh | 8.77 MWh |
| 2009 | 7.97 MWh | 8.97 MWh |
| 2010 | 8.38 MWh | 9.89 MWh |
| 2011 | 8.02 MWh | 9.92 MWh |
| 2012 | 8.17 MWh | 10.41 MWh |
| 2013 | 8.21 MWh | 10.51 MWh |
| 2014 | 7.72 MWh | 11.32 MWh |
| 2015 | 7.86 MWh | 11.70 MWh |
| 2016 | 7.95 MWh | 11.62 MWh |
| 2017 | 7.90 MWh | 12.83 MWh |
| 2018 | 7.83 MWh | 12.34 MWh |
| 2019 | 7.73 MWh | 12.43 MWh |
| 2020 | 7.32 MWh | 12.28 MWh |
| 2021 | 7.65 MWh | 12.54 MWh |
| 2022 | 7.29 MWh | 12.74 MWh |
| 2023 | 7.05 MWh | 12.90 MWh |
| 2024 | 7.09 MWh | 13.39 MWh |
| 2025 | 7.15 MWh | n/a |
France history · Saudi Arabia history
Source: Ember (ember-energy.org), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Data as of 2025.
Related
Cite this page
World Power Monitor. (2025). France vs Saudi Arabia: Electricity Compared. https://worldpowermonitor.com/compare/france-vs-saudi-arabia/
World Power Monitor. France vs Saudi Arabia: Electricity Compared. Data as of 2025. Data from Ember. https://worldpowermonitor.com/compare/france-vs-saudi-arabia/
@misc{wpm_compare_france_vs_saudi_arabia_2025,
title = {{France vs Saudi Arabia: Electricity Compared}},
author = {{World Power Monitor}},
year = {2025},
note = {Data as of 2025. Data from Ember.},
url = {https://worldpowermonitor.com/compare/france-vs-saudi-arabia/}
} Permalink: https://worldpowermonitor.com/compare/france-vs-saudi-arabia/
The Copy buttons add today's date as the access date.