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 generation574 TWh471 TWh
Electricity demand481 TWh471 TWh
Demand per person7.15 MWhn/a
Carbon intensity41 gCO2/kWh680 gCO2/kWh
Power sector emissions23.7 MtCO2320 MtCO2
Low carbon share94.9%4.2%
Largest sourceNuclear 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
Carbon intensity of electricity in France and Saudi Arabia, 1985 to 2025 Carbon intensity of electricity generated in France and Saudi Arabia each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2025 it was 41 gCO2/kWh in France and 680 gCO2/kWh in Saudi Arabia. 0 200 400 600 800 198519901995200020052010201520202025
Carbon intensity of electricity generated in France and Saudi Arabia each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2025 it was 41 gCO2/kWh in France and 680 gCO2/kWh in Saudi Arabia.
Annual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh
Carbon intensity of electricity in France and Saudi Arabia, 1985 to 2025
YearFranceSaudi Arabia
1985n/a701 gCO2/kWh
1986n/a699 gCO2/kWh
1987n/a696 gCO2/kWh
1988n/a695 gCO2/kWh
1989n/a696 gCO2/kWh
1990104 gCO2/kWh696 gCO2/kWh
1991122 gCO2/kWh696 gCO2/kWh
1992102 gCO2/kWh693 gCO2/kWh
199369 gCO2/kWh693 gCO2/kWh
199467 gCO2/kWh694 gCO2/kWh
199573 gCO2/kWh692 gCO2/kWh
199679 gCO2/kWh691 gCO2/kWh
199771 gCO2/kWh691 gCO2/kWh
199897 gCO2/kWh690 gCO2/kWh
199987 gCO2/kWh689 gCO2/kWh
200080 gCO2/kWh692 gCO2/kWh
200169 gCO2/kWh697 gCO2/kWh
200275 gCO2/kWh700 gCO2/kWh
200381 gCO2/kWh699 gCO2/kWh
200477 gCO2/kWh700 gCO2/kWh
200586 gCO2/kWh700 gCO2/kWh
200677 gCO2/kWh698 gCO2/kWh
200780 gCO2/kWh695 gCO2/kWh
200876 gCO2/kWh695 gCO2/kWh
200976 gCO2/kWh690 gCO2/kWh
201079 gCO2/kWh691 gCO2/kWh
201175 gCO2/kWh691 gCO2/kWh
201278 gCO2/kWh693 gCO2/kWh
201376 gCO2/kWh693 gCO2/kWh
201452 gCO2/kWh693 gCO2/kWh
201559 gCO2/kWh693 gCO2/kWh
201669 gCO2/kWh697 gCO2/kWh
201778 gCO2/kWh700 gCO2/kWh
201860 gCO2/kWh703 gCO2/kWh
201960 gCO2/kWh702 gCO2/kWh
202059 gCO2/kWh702 gCO2/kWh
202160 gCO2/kWh702 gCO2/kWh
202279 gCO2/kWh700 gCO2/kWh
202353 gCO2/kWh697 gCO2/kWh
202440 gCO2/kWh692 gCO2/kWh
202541 gCO2/kWh680 gCO2/kWh

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics
Electricity demand per person in France and Saudi Arabia, 1985 to 2025 Electricity demand per person in France and Saudi Arabia each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2025 it was 7.15 MWh in France and n/a in Saudi Arabia. 0 4 8 11 15 198519901995200020052010201520202025
Electricity demand per person in France and Saudi Arabia each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2025 it was 7.15 MWh in France and n/a in Saudi Arabia.
Annual statistics through 2025, MWh
Electricity demand per person in France and Saudi Arabia, 1985 to 2025
YearFranceSaudi Arabia
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
20007.79 MWh8.57 MWh
20017.92 MWh8.57 MWh
20027.86 MWh8.65 MWh
20038.11 MWh8.87 MWh
20048.25 MWh8.82 MWh
20058.26 MWh9.29 MWh
20068.12 MWh9.15 MWh
20078.09 MWh9.14 MWh
20088.27 MWh8.77 MWh
20097.97 MWh8.97 MWh
20108.38 MWh9.89 MWh
20118.02 MWh9.92 MWh
20128.17 MWh10.41 MWh
20138.21 MWh10.51 MWh
20147.72 MWh11.32 MWh
20157.86 MWh11.70 MWh
20167.95 MWh11.62 MWh
20177.90 MWh12.83 MWh
20187.83 MWh12.34 MWh
20197.73 MWh12.43 MWh
20207.32 MWh12.28 MWh
20217.65 MWh12.54 MWh
20227.29 MWh12.74 MWh
20237.05 MWh12.90 MWh
20247.09 MWh13.39 MWh
20257.15 MWhn/a

France history · Saudi Arabia history

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

Cite this page
APA 7

World Power Monitor. (2025). France vs Saudi Arabia: Electricity Compared. https://worldpowermonitor.com/compare/france-vs-saudi-arabia/

Plain text

World Power Monitor. France vs Saudi Arabia: Electricity Compared. Data as of 2025. Data from Ember. https://worldpowermonitor.com/compare/france-vs-saudi-arabia/

BibTeX
@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/}
}

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