Iran vs United States: Electricity Compared

Iran generated 399 TWh of electricity in 2025 and the United States 4,520 TWh, according to Ember. Gas was the largest source in both, at 73.3% in Iran and 40.0% in the United States. Each kWh generated emitted 656 gCO2/kWh in Iran 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 73.3% of Iran's electricity in 2025, against 40.0% in the United States.
Iran's electricity was 1.7 times as carbon intensive as the United States' in 2025, at 656 gCO2/kWh against 384 gCO2/kWh.
Carbon intensity rose 4% in Iran between 2020 and 2025, while it fell 7% in the United States.
The average person in the United States used 13.06 MWh of electricity in 2025, 3.1 times as much as in Iran (4.28 MWh).
Low carbon sources supplied 5.2% of Iran's electricity in 2025 and 43.0% of the United States'.
Electricity demand in 2025 was 398 TWh in Iran and 4,532 TWh in the United States.

Key Figures, 2025

Ember annual statistics

Measure	Iran	United States
Total generation	399 TWh	4,520 TWh
Electricity demand	398 TWh	4,532 TWh
Demand per person	4.28 MWh	13.06 MWh
Carbon intensity	656 gCO2/kWh	384 gCO2/kWh
Power sector emissions	262 MtCO2	1,737 MtCO2
Low carbon share	5.2%	43.0%
Largest source	Gas 73.3%	Gas 40.0%

Generation Mix, 2025

Share of generation

Source	Iran	United States
Gas	73.3%	40.0%
Other fossil	21.3%	0.7%
Nuclear	1.4%	17.4%
Coal	0.2%	16.3%
Wind	0.3%	10.3%
Solar	0.6%	8.6%
Hydro	3.0%	5.4%
Bioenergy	0.0%	1.0%
Other renewables	0.0%	0.4%

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Carbon intensity of electricity generated in Iran and the United States each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2025 it was 656 gCO2/kWh in Iran and 384 gCO2/kWh in the United States.

Annual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh

Carbon intensity of electricity in Iran and United States, 1985 to 2025
Year	Iran	United States
1985	577 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1986	568 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1987	561 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1988	565 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1989	597 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1990	599 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1991	625 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1992	595 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1993	592 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1994	629 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1995	619 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1996	619 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1997	645 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1998	641 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1999	659 gCO2/kWh	n/a
2000	667 gCO2/kWh	608 gCO2/kWh
2001	668 gCO2/kWh	610 gCO2/kWh
2002	652 gCO2/kWh	601 gCO2/kWh
2003	649 gCO2/kWh	606 gCO2/kWh
2004	642 gCO2/kWh	602 gCO2/kWh
2005	636 gCO2/kWh	604 gCO2/kWh
2006	625 gCO2/kWh	595 gCO2/kWh
2007	631 gCO2/kWh	598 gCO2/kWh
2008	662 gCO2/kWh	591 gCO2/kWh
2009	667 gCO2/kWh	565 gCO2/kWh
2010	661 gCO2/kWh	571 gCO2/kWh
2011	654 gCO2/kWh	551 gCO2/kWh
2012	648 gCO2/kWh	533 gCO2/kWh
2013	634 gCO2/kWh	533 gCO2/kWh
2014	644 gCO2/kWh	529 gCO2/kWh
2015	651 gCO2/kWh	505 gCO2/kWh
2016	642 gCO2/kWh	483 gCO2/kWh
2017	642 gCO2/kWh	469 gCO2/kWh
2018	658 gCO2/kWh	463 gCO2/kWh
2019	605 gCO2/kWh	439 gCO2/kWh
2020	630 gCO2/kWh	412 gCO2/kWh
2021	658 gCO2/kWh	424 gCO2/kWh
2022	651 gCO2/kWh	410 gCO2/kWh
2023	638 gCO2/kWh	393 gCO2/kWh
2024	643 gCO2/kWh	384 gCO2/kWh
2025	656 gCO2/kWh	384 gCO2/kWh

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Electricity demand per person in Iran and the United States each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2025 it was 4.28 MWh in Iran and 13.06 MWh in the United States.

Annual statistics through 2025, MWh

Electricity demand per person in Iran and United States, 1985 to 2025
Year	Iran	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	1.79 MWh	13.63 MWh
2001	1.89 MWh	13.19 MWh
2002	2.04 MWh	13.46 MWh
2003	2.21 MWh	13.37 MWh
2004	2.32 MWh	13.54 MWh
2005	2.46 MWh	13.73 MWh
2006	2.63 MWh	13.61 MWh
2007	2.71 MWh	13.83 MWh
2008	2.76 MWh	13.58 MWh
2009	2.85 MWh	12.90 MWh
2010	3.00 MWh	13.31 MWh
2011	2.94 MWh	13.14 MWh
2012	3.04 MWh	12.89 MWh
2013	3.12 MWh	12.85 MWh
2014	3.31 MWh	12.84 MWh
2015	3.36 MWh	12.73 MWh
2016	3.39 MWh	12.62 MWh
2017	3.54 MWh	12.37 MWh
2018	3.58 MWh	12.67 MWh
2019	3.58 MWh	12.43 MWh
2020	3.77 MWh	12.05 MWh
2021	3.95 MWh	12.33 MWh
2022	4.03 MWh	12.67 MWh
2023	4.14 MWh	12.44 MWh
2024	4.30 MWh	12.75 MWh
2025	4.28 MWh	13.06 MWh

Iran history · United States history

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

Iran 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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