Germany vs United States: Electricity Compared

Germany generated 497 TWh of electricity in 2025 and the United States 4,520 TWh, according to Ember. Germany's largest source was wind (26.6%); the United States' was gas (40.0%). Each kWh generated emitted 334 gCO2/kWh in Germany and 384 gCO2/kWh in the United States. 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.

Key Facts

Gas supplied 40.0% of the United States' electricity in 2025, against 16.8% in Germany.
Electricity demand rose 11% in the United States between 2020 and 2025, while it fell 6% in Germany.
The average person in the United States used 13.06 MWh of electricity in 2025, 2.1 times as much as in Germany (6.19 MWh).
Low carbon sources supplied 58.5% of Germany's electricity in 2025 and 43.0% of the United States'.
Electricity demand in 2025 was 517 TWh in Germany and 4,532 TWh in the United States.

Key Figures, 2025

Ember annual statistics

Measure	Germany	United States
Total generation	497 TWh	4,520 TWh
Electricity demand	517 TWh	4,532 TWh
Demand per person	6.19 MWh	13.06 MWh
Carbon intensity	334 gCO2/kWh	384 gCO2/kWh
Power sector emissions	166 MtCO2	1,737 MtCO2
Low carbon share	58.5%	43.0%
Largest source	Wind 26.6%	Gas 40.0%

Generation Mix, 2025

Share of generation

Source	Germany	United States
Gas	16.8%	40.0%
Wind	26.6%	10.3%
Coal	21.0%	16.3%
Solar	18.1%	8.6%
Nuclear	0.0%	17.4%
Bioenergy	10.1%	1.0%
Hydro	3.7%	5.4%
Other fossil	3.8%	0.7%
Other renewables	0.1%	0.4%

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Carbon intensity of electricity generated in Germany and the United States each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2025 it was 334 gCO2/kWh in Germany and 384 gCO2/kWh in the United States.

Annual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh

Carbon intensity of electricity in Germany and United States, 1985 to 2025
Year	Germany	United States
1985	431 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1986	431 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1987	431 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1988	431 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1989	431 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1990	622 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1991	628 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1992	605 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1993	608 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1994	604 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1995	596 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1996	591 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1997	575 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1998	587 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1999	566 gCO2/kWh	n/a
2000	573 gCO2/kWh	608 gCO2/kWh
2001	565 gCO2/kWh	610 gCO2/kWh
2002	570 gCO2/kWh	601 gCO2/kWh
2003	570 gCO2/kWh	606 gCO2/kWh
2004	555 gCO2/kWh	602 gCO2/kWh
2005	546 gCO2/kWh	604 gCO2/kWh
2006	536 gCO2/kWh	595 gCO2/kWh
2007	552 gCO2/kWh	598 gCO2/kWh
2008	525 gCO2/kWh	591 gCO2/kWh
2009	522 gCO2/kWh	565 gCO2/kWh
2010	517 gCO2/kWh	571 gCO2/kWh
2011	530 gCO2/kWh	551 gCO2/kWh
2012	534 gCO2/kWh	533 gCO2/kWh
2013	538 gCO2/kWh	533 gCO2/kWh
2014	522 gCO2/kWh	529 gCO2/kWh
2015	504 gCO2/kWh	505 gCO2/kWh
2016	498 gCO2/kWh	483 gCO2/kWh
2017	470 gCO2/kWh	469 gCO2/kWh
2018	455 gCO2/kWh	463 gCO2/kWh
2019	392 gCO2/kWh	439 gCO2/kWh
2020	356 gCO2/kWh	412 gCO2/kWh
2021	395 gCO2/kWh	424 gCO2/kWh
2022	420 gCO2/kWh	410 gCO2/kWh
2023	364 gCO2/kWh	393 gCO2/kWh
2024	340 gCO2/kWh	384 gCO2/kWh
2025	334 gCO2/kWh	384 gCO2/kWh

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Electricity demand per person in Germany and the United States each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2025 it was 6.19 MWh in Germany and 13.06 MWh in the United States.

Annual statistics through 2025, MWh

Electricity demand per person in Germany and United States, 1985 to 2025
Year	Germany	United States
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	6.99 MWh	13.63 MWh
2001	7.11 MWh	13.19 MWh
2002	7.24 MWh	13.46 MWh
2003	7.29 MWh	13.37 MWh
2004	7.39 MWh	13.54 MWh
2005	7.42 MWh	13.73 MWh
2006	7.51 MWh	13.61 MWh
2007	7.56 MWh	13.83 MWh
2008	7.55 MWh	13.58 MWh
2009	7.11 MWh	12.90 MWh
2010	7.54 MWh	13.31 MWh
2011	7.44 MWh	13.14 MWh
2012	7.41 MWh	12.89 MWh
2013	7.37 MWh	12.85 MWh
2014	7.19 MWh	12.84 MWh
2015	7.20 MWh	12.73 MWh
2016	7.14 MWh	12.62 MWh
2017	7.12 MWh	12.37 MWh
2018	7.00 MWh	12.67 MWh
2019	6.79 MWh	12.43 MWh
2020	6.55 MWh	12.05 MWh
2021	6.69 MWh	12.33 MWh
2022	6.42 MWh	12.67 MWh
2023	6.10 MWh	12.44 MWh
2024	6.18 MWh	12.75 MWh
2025	6.19 MWh	13.06 MWh

Germany history · United States history

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

Germany vs United States: Electricity Compared

Key Facts

Key Figures, 2025

Generation Mix, 2025

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

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