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Built 2026-11-05 (5 November 2026)

France vs United Kingdom: Electricity Compared

France generated 574 TWh of electricity in 2025 and the United Kingdom 294 TWh, according to Ember. France's largest source was nuclear (68.3%); the United Kingdom's was gas (31.3%). Each kWh generated emitted 41 gCO2/kWh in France and 218 gCO2/kWh in the United Kingdom. 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 2.0 times as much as the United Kingdom in 2025 (574 TWh against 294 TWh). France has the cleaner electricity by carbon intensity, at 41 gCO2/kWh against 218 gCO2/kWh in the United Kingdom in 2025.

Why this comparison: neighbours by land border or interconnector, both among the 20 largest electricity users and a well known regional or sporting rivalry.

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 12.4% in the United Kingdom.
  • The United Kingdom's electricity was 5.3 times as carbon intensive as France's in 2025, at 218 gCO2/kWh against 41 gCO2/kWh.
  • Low carbon sources supplied 94.9% of France's electricity in 2025 and 64.2% of the United Kingdom's.
  • Electricity demand in 2025 was 481 TWh in France and 312 TWh in the United Kingdom.

Key Figures, 2025

Ember annual statistics
Measure France United Kingdom
Total generation574 TWh294 TWh
Electricity demand481 TWh312 TWh
Demand per person7.15 MWh4.62 MWh
Carbon intensity41 gCO2/kWh218 gCO2/kWh
Power sector emissions23.7 MtCO264.0 MtCO2
Low carbon share94.9%64.2%
Largest sourceNuclear 68.3%Gas 31.3%

Generation Mix, 2025

Share of generation
Source France United Kingdom
Nuclear 68.3% 12.4%
Gas 3.0% 31.3%
Wind 8.8% 29.4%
Bioenergy 1.8% 13.9%
Hydro 10.3% 1.8%
Solar 5.6% 6.6%
Other fossil 1.8% 4.4%
Coal 0.3% 0.1%
Other renewables 0.1% 0.0%

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics
Carbon intensity of electricity in France and United Kingdom, 1985 to 2025 Carbon intensity of electricity generated in France and the United Kingdom each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2025 it was 41 gCO2/kWh in France and 218 gCO2/kWh in the United Kingdom. 0 200 400 600 800 198519901995200020052010201520202025
Carbon intensity of electricity generated in France and the United Kingdom each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2025 it was 41 gCO2/kWh in France and 218 gCO2/kWh in the United Kingdom.
Annual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh
Carbon intensity of electricity in France and United Kingdom, 1985 to 2025
YearFranceUnited Kingdom
1985n/a694 gCO2/kWh
1986n/a721 gCO2/kWh
1987n/a737 gCO2/kWh
1988n/a710 gCO2/kWh
1989n/a689 gCO2/kWh
1990104 gCO2/kWh705 gCO2/kWh
1991122 gCO2/kWh700 gCO2/kWh
1992102 gCO2/kWh665 gCO2/kWh
199369 gCO2/kWh608 gCO2/kWh
199467 gCO2/kWh589 gCO2/kWh
199573 gCO2/kWh579 gCO2/kWh
199679 gCO2/kWh557 gCO2/kWh
199771 gCO2/kWh512 gCO2/kWh
199897 gCO2/kWh510 gCO2/kWh
199987 gCO2/kWh492 gCO2/kWh
200080 gCO2/kWh522 gCO2/kWh
200169 gCO2/kWh529 gCO2/kWh
200275 gCO2/kWh521 gCO2/kWh
200381 gCO2/kWh537 gCO2/kWh
200477 gCO2/kWh536 gCO2/kWh
200586 gCO2/kWh535 gCO2/kWh
200677 gCO2/kWh559 gCO2/kWh
200780 gCO2/kWh556 gCO2/kWh
200876 gCO2/kWh554 gCO2/kWh
200976 gCO2/kWh505 gCO2/kWh
201079 gCO2/kWh517 gCO2/kWh
201175 gCO2/kWh500 gCO2/kWh
201278 gCO2/kWh537 gCO2/kWh
201376 gCO2/kWh507 gCO2/kWh
201452 gCO2/kWh463 gCO2/kWh
201559 gCO2/kWh398 gCO2/kWh
201669 gCO2/kWh333 gCO2/kWh
201778 gCO2/kWh302 gCO2/kWh
201860 gCO2/kWh286 gCO2/kWh
201960 gCO2/kWh268 gCO2/kWh
202059 gCO2/kWh243 gCO2/kWh
202160 gCO2/kWh267 gCO2/kWh
202279 gCO2/kWh255 gCO2/kWh
202353 gCO2/kWh236 gCO2/kWh
202440 gCO2/kWh216 gCO2/kWh
202541 gCO2/kWh218 gCO2/kWh

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics
Electricity demand per person in France and United Kingdom, 1985 to 2025 Electricity demand per person in France and the United Kingdom each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2025 it was 7.15 MWh in France and 4.62 MWh in the United Kingdom. 0.0 2.5 5.0 7.5 10.0 198519901995200020052010201520202025
Electricity demand per person in France and the United Kingdom each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2025 it was 7.15 MWh in France and 4.62 MWh in the United Kingdom.
Annual statistics through 2025, MWh
Electricity demand per person in France and United Kingdom, 1985 to 2025
YearFranceUnited Kingdom
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 MWh6.63 MWh
20017.92 MWh6.67 MWh
20027.86 MWh6.65 MWh
20038.11 MWh6.69 MWh
20048.25 MWh6.67 MWh
20058.26 MWh6.71 MWh
20068.12 MWh6.63 MWh
20078.09 MWh6.53 MWh
20088.27 MWh6.45 MWh
20097.97 MWh6.07 MWh
20108.38 MWh6.11 MWh
20118.02 MWh5.89 MWh
20128.17 MWh5.87 MWh
20138.21 MWh5.79 MWh
20147.72 MWh5.53 MWh
20157.86 MWh5.51 MWh
20167.95 MWh5.42 MWh
20177.90 MWh5.32 MWh
20187.83 MWh5.29 MWh
20197.73 MWh5.19 MWh
20207.32 MWh4.88 MWh
20217.65 MWh4.92 MWh
20227.29 MWh4.70 MWh
20237.05 MWh4.60 MWh
20247.09 MWh4.59 MWh
20257.15 MWh4.62 MWh

France history · United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom: Electricity Compared. https://worldpowermonitor.com/compare/france-vs-united-kingdom/

Plain text

World Power Monitor. France vs United Kingdom: Electricity Compared. Data as of 2025. Data from Ember. https://worldpowermonitor.com/compare/france-vs-united-kingdom/

BibTeX 
@misc{wpm_compare_france_vs_united_kingdom_2025,
  title = {{France vs United Kingdom: Electricity Compared}},
  author = {{World Power Monitor}},
  year = {2025},
  note = {Data as of 2025. Data from Ember.},
  url = {https://worldpowermonitor.com/compare/france-vs-united-kingdom/}
}

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