India vs Japan: Electricity Compared
India generated 2,084 TWh of electricity in 2025 and Japan 1,030 TWh, according to Ember. India's largest source was coal (70.9%); Japan's was gas (32.8%). Each kWh generated emitted 671 gCO2/kWh in India and 477 gCO2/kWh in Japan. 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 and similar electricity demand on the same continent.
Key Facts
- Coal supplied 70.9% of India's electricity in 2025, against 32.1% in Japan.
- The average person in Japan used 8.37 MWh of electricity in 2025, 5.9 times as much as in India (1.42 MWh).
- Low carbon sources supplied 26.5% of India's electricity in 2025 and 32.7% of Japan's.
- Electricity demand in 2025 was 2,086 TWh in India and 1,030 TWh in Japan.
Key Figures, 2025
Ember annual statistics| Measure | India | Japan |
|---|---|---|
| Total generation | 2,084 TWh | 1,030 TWh |
| Electricity demand | 2,086 TWh | 1,030 TWh |
| Demand per person | 1.42 MWh | 8.37 MWh |
| Carbon intensity | 671 gCO2/kWh | 477 gCO2/kWh |
| Power sector emissions | 1,399 MtCO2 | 492 MtCO2 |
| Low carbon share | 26.5% | 32.7% |
| Largest source | Coal 70.9% | Gas 32.8% |
Generation Mix, 2025
Share of generationCarbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025
Ember annual statisticsAnnual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh
| Year | India | Japan |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 635 gCO2/kWh | 421 gCO2/kWh |
| 1986 | 652 gCO2/kWh | 417 gCO2/kWh |
| 1987 | 690 gCO2/kWh | 417 gCO2/kWh |
| 1988 | 684 gCO2/kWh | 427 gCO2/kWh |
| 1989 | 686 gCO2/kWh | 429 gCO2/kWh |
| 1990 | 679 gCO2/kWh | 447 gCO2/kWh |
| 1991 | 683 gCO2/kWh | 438 gCO2/kWh |
| 1992 | 700 gCO2/kWh | 445 gCO2/kWh |
| 1993 | 713 gCO2/kWh | 419 gCO2/kWh |
| 1994 | 705 gCO2/kWh | 444 gCO2/kWh |
| 1995 | 723 gCO2/kWh | 424 gCO2/kWh |
| 1996 | 738 gCO2/kWh | 423 gCO2/kWh |
| 1997 | 738 gCO2/kWh | 408 gCO2/kWh |
| 1998 | 720 gCO2/kWh | 404 gCO2/kWh |
| 1999 | 729 gCO2/kWh | 419 gCO2/kWh |
| 2000 | 740 gCO2/kWh | 424 gCO2/kWh |
| 2001 | 747 gCO2/kWh | 424 gCO2/kWh |
| 2002 | 756 gCO2/kWh | 434 gCO2/kWh |
| 2003 | 758 gCO2/kWh | 476 gCO2/kWh |
| 2004 | 724 gCO2/kWh | 450 gCO2/kWh |
| 2005 | 734 gCO2/kWh | 462 gCO2/kWh |
| 2006 | 723 gCO2/kWh | 447 gCO2/kWh |
| 2007 | 718 gCO2/kWh | 470 gCO2/kWh |
| 2008 | 733 gCO2/kWh | 485 gCO2/kWh |
| 2009 | 745 gCO2/kWh | 460 gCO2/kWh |
| 2010 | 739 gCO2/kWh | 447 gCO2/kWh |
| 2011 | 722 gCO2/kWh | 505 gCO2/kWh |
| 2012 | 743 gCO2/kWh | 595 gCO2/kWh |
| 2013 | 739 gCO2/kWh | 596 gCO2/kWh |
| 2014 | 743 gCO2/kWh | 592 gCO2/kWh |
| 2015 | 751 gCO2/kWh | 578 gCO2/kWh |
| 2016 | 752 gCO2/kWh | 567 gCO2/kWh |
| 2017 | 743 gCO2/kWh | 558 gCO2/kWh |
| 2018 | 738 gCO2/kWh | 542 gCO2/kWh |
| 2019 | 723 gCO2/kWh | 529 gCO2/kWh |
| 2020 | 710 gCO2/kWh | 528 gCO2/kWh |
| 2021 | 716 gCO2/kWh | 515 gCO2/kWh |
| 2022 | 707 gCO2/kWh | 520 gCO2/kWh |
| 2023 | 714 gCO2/kWh | 493 gCO2/kWh |
| 2024 | 707 gCO2/kWh | 484 gCO2/kWh |
| 2025 | 671 gCO2/kWh | 477 gCO2/kWh |
Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025
Ember annual statisticsAnnual statistics through 2025, MWh
| Year | India | Japan |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 0.54 MWh | 8.66 MWh |
| 2001 | 0.55 MWh | 8.51 MWh |
| 2002 | 0.56 MWh | 8.65 MWh |
| 2003 | 0.57 MWh | 8.56 MWh |
| 2004 | 0.62 MWh | 8.77 MWh |
| 2005 | 0.61 MWh | 9.01 MWh |
| 2006 | 0.64 MWh | 9.10 MWh |
| 2007 | 0.67 MWh | 9.21 MWh |
| 2008 | 0.69 MWh | 9.24 MWh |
| 2009 | 0.72 MWh | 8.69 MWh |
| 2010 | 0.76 MWh | 9.02 MWh |
| 2011 | 0.82 MWh | 8.62 MWh |
| 2012 | 0.86 MWh | 8.65 MWh |
| 2013 | 0.88 MWh | 8.52 MWh |
| 2014 | 0.96 MWh | 8.34 MWh |
| 2015 | 0.99 MWh | 8.09 MWh |
| 2016 | 1.04 MWh | 8.37 MWh |
| 2017 | 1.07 MWh | 8.48 MWh |
| 2018 | 1.14 MWh | 8.53 MWh |
| 2019 | 1.15 MWh | 8.27 MWh |
| 2020 | 1.12 MWh | 8.01 MWh |
| 2021 | 1.19 MWh | 8.23 MWh |
| 2022 | 1.27 MWh | 8.33 MWh |
| 2023 | 1.33 MWh | 8.10 MWh |
| 2024 | 1.40 MWh | 8.21 MWh |
| 2025 | 1.42 MWh | 8.37 MWh |
Source: Ember (ember-energy.org), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Data as of 2025.