France vs United Kingdom: Electricity Compared
France generated 570 TWh of electricity in 2025 and the United Kingdom 295 TWh, according to Ember. France's largest source was nuclear (68.8%); the United Kingdom's was gas (31.2%). Each kWh generated emitted 41 gCO2/kWh in France and 222 gCO2/kWh in the United Kingdom. These are Ember annual statistics for 2025, compiled from national sources; they are not real time.
Why this comparison: neighbours by land border or interconnector, 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 12.3% in the United Kingdom.
- The United Kingdom's electricity was 5.4 times as carbon intensive as France's in 2025, at 222 gCO2/kWh against 41 gCO2/kWh.
- Low carbon sources supplied 94.9% of France's electricity in 2025 and 63.8% of the United Kingdom's.
- Electricity demand in 2025 was 476 TWh in France and 313 TWh in the United Kingdom.
Key Figures, 2025
Ember annual statistics| Measure | France | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|
| Total generation | 570 TWh | 295 TWh |
| Electricity demand | 476 TWh | 313 TWh |
| Demand per person | 7.15 MWh | 4.62 MWh |
| Carbon intensity | 41 gCO2/kWh | 222 gCO2/kWh |
| Power sector emissions | 23.6 MtCO2 | 65.5 MtCO2 |
| Low carbon share | 94.9% | 63.8% |
| Largest source | Nuclear 68.8% | Gas 31.2% |
Generation Mix, 2025
Share of generation| Source | France | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|
| Nuclear | 68.8% | 12.3% |
| Gas | 3.0% | 31.2% |
| Wind | 8.2% | 29.2% |
| Bioenergy | 1.8% | 13.9% |
| Hydro | 10.4% | 1.8% |
| Solar | 5.6% | 6.6% |
| Other fossil | 1.8% | 4.3% |
| Coal | 0.3% | 0.6% |
| Other renewables | 0.1% | 0.0% |
Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025
Ember annual statisticsAnnual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh
| Year | France | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | n/a | 694 gCO2/kWh |
| 1986 | n/a | 721 gCO2/kWh |
| 1987 | n/a | 737 gCO2/kWh |
| 1988 | n/a | 710 gCO2/kWh |
| 1989 | n/a | 689 gCO2/kWh |
| 1990 | 104 gCO2/kWh | 705 gCO2/kWh |
| 1991 | 122 gCO2/kWh | 700 gCO2/kWh |
| 1992 | 102 gCO2/kWh | 665 gCO2/kWh |
| 1993 | 69 gCO2/kWh | 608 gCO2/kWh |
| 1994 | 67 gCO2/kWh | 589 gCO2/kWh |
| 1995 | 73 gCO2/kWh | 579 gCO2/kWh |
| 1996 | 79 gCO2/kWh | 557 gCO2/kWh |
| 1997 | 71 gCO2/kWh | 512 gCO2/kWh |
| 1998 | 97 gCO2/kWh | 510 gCO2/kWh |
| 1999 | 87 gCO2/kWh | 492 gCO2/kWh |
| 2000 | 80 gCO2/kWh | 522 gCO2/kWh |
| 2001 | 69 gCO2/kWh | 529 gCO2/kWh |
| 2002 | 75 gCO2/kWh | 521 gCO2/kWh |
| 2003 | 81 gCO2/kWh | 537 gCO2/kWh |
| 2004 | 77 gCO2/kWh | 536 gCO2/kWh |
| 2005 | 86 gCO2/kWh | 535 gCO2/kWh |
| 2006 | 77 gCO2/kWh | 559 gCO2/kWh |
| 2007 | 80 gCO2/kWh | 556 gCO2/kWh |
| 2008 | 76 gCO2/kWh | 554 gCO2/kWh |
| 2009 | 76 gCO2/kWh | 505 gCO2/kWh |
| 2010 | 79 gCO2/kWh | 517 gCO2/kWh |
| 2011 | 75 gCO2/kWh | 500 gCO2/kWh |
| 2012 | 78 gCO2/kWh | 537 gCO2/kWh |
| 2013 | 76 gCO2/kWh | 507 gCO2/kWh |
| 2014 | 52 gCO2/kWh | 463 gCO2/kWh |
| 2015 | 59 gCO2/kWh | 398 gCO2/kWh |
| 2016 | 69 gCO2/kWh | 333 gCO2/kWh |
| 2017 | 78 gCO2/kWh | 302 gCO2/kWh |
| 2018 | 60 gCO2/kWh | 286 gCO2/kWh |
| 2019 | 60 gCO2/kWh | 268 gCO2/kWh |
| 2020 | 59 gCO2/kWh | 243 gCO2/kWh |
| 2021 | 60 gCO2/kWh | 267 gCO2/kWh |
| 2022 | 79 gCO2/kWh | 255 gCO2/kWh |
| 2023 | 53 gCO2/kWh | 236 gCO2/kWh |
| 2024 | 40 gCO2/kWh | 216 gCO2/kWh |
| 2025 | 41 gCO2/kWh | 222 gCO2/kWh |
Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025
Ember annual statisticsAnnual statistics through 2025, MWh
| Year | France | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 6.63 MWh |
| 2001 | 7.92 MWh | 6.67 MWh |
| 2002 | 7.86 MWh | 6.65 MWh |
| 2003 | 8.11 MWh | 6.69 MWh |
| 2004 | 8.25 MWh | 6.67 MWh |
| 2005 | 8.26 MWh | 6.71 MWh |
| 2006 | 8.12 MWh | 6.63 MWh |
| 2007 | 8.09 MWh | 6.53 MWh |
| 2008 | 8.27 MWh | 6.45 MWh |
| 2009 | 7.97 MWh | 6.07 MWh |
| 2010 | 8.38 MWh | 6.11 MWh |
| 2011 | 8.02 MWh | 5.89 MWh |
| 2012 | 8.17 MWh | 5.87 MWh |
| 2013 | 8.21 MWh | 5.79 MWh |
| 2014 | 7.72 MWh | 5.53 MWh |
| 2015 | 7.86 MWh | 5.51 MWh |
| 2016 | 7.95 MWh | 5.42 MWh |
| 2017 | 7.90 MWh | 5.32 MWh |
| 2018 | 7.83 MWh | 5.29 MWh |
| 2019 | 7.73 MWh | 5.19 MWh |
| 2020 | 7.32 MWh | 4.88 MWh |
| 2021 | 7.65 MWh | 4.92 MWh |
| 2022 | 7.29 MWh | 4.70 MWh |
| 2023 | 7.05 MWh | 4.60 MWh |
| 2024 | 7.09 MWh | 4.59 MWh |
| 2025 | 7.15 MWh | 4.62 MWh |
France history · United Kingdom history
Source: Ember (ember-energy.org), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Data as of 2025.