United States vs Vietnam: Electricity Compared

The United States generated 4,520 TWh of electricity in 2025 and Vietnam 329 TWh, according to Ember. The United States' largest source was gas (40.0%); Vietnam's was coal (47.8%). Each kWh generated emitted 384 gCO2/kWh in the United States and 459 gCO2/kWh in Vietnam. 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 6.0% in Vietnam.
The average person in the United States used 13.06 MWh of electricity in 2025, 4.2 times as much as in Vietnam (3.09 MWh).
Low carbon sources supplied 43.0% of the United States' electricity in 2025 and 46.1% of Vietnam's.
Electricity demand in 2025 was 4,532 TWh in the United States and 332 TWh in Vietnam.

Key Figures, 2025

Ember annual statistics

Measure	United States	Vietnam
Total generation	4,520 TWh	329 TWh
Electricity demand	4,532 TWh	332 TWh
Demand per person	13.06 MWh	3.09 MWh
Carbon intensity	384 gCO2/kWh	459 gCO2/kWh
Power sector emissions	1,737 MtCO2	151 MtCO2
Low carbon share	43.0%	46.1%
Largest source	Gas 40.0%	Coal 47.8%

Generation Mix, 2025

Share of generation

Source	United States	Vietnam
Coal	16.3%	47.8%
Gas	40.0%	6.0%
Hydro	5.4%	31.0%
Nuclear	17.4%	0.0%
Solar	8.6%	10.3%
Wind	10.3%	4.5%
Bioenergy	1.0%	0.4%
Other fossil	0.7%	0.2%
Other renewables	0.4%	0.0%

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Carbon intensity of electricity generated in the United States and Vietnam each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2025 it was 384 gCO2/kWh in the United States and 459 gCO2/kWh in Vietnam.

Annual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh

Carbon intensity of electricity in United States and Vietnam, 1985 to 2025
Year	United States	Vietnam
1985	n/a	579 gCO2/kWh
1986	n/a	609 gCO2/kWh
1987	n/a	632 gCO2/kWh
1988	n/a	610 gCO2/kWh
1989	n/a	428 gCO2/kWh
1990	n/a	320 gCO2/kWh
1991	n/a	258 gCO2/kWh
1992	n/a	206 gCO2/kWh
1993	n/a	198 gCO2/kWh
1994	n/a	202 gCO2/kWh
1995	n/a	227 gCO2/kWh
1996	n/a	235 gCO2/kWh
1997	n/a	302 gCO2/kWh
1998	n/a	356 gCO2/kWh
1999	n/a	301 gCO2/kWh
2000	608 gCO2/kWh	322 gCO2/kWh
2001	610 gCO2/kWh	291 gCO2/kWh
2002	601 gCO2/kWh	344 gCO2/kWh
2003	606 gCO2/kWh	376 gCO2/kWh
2004	602 gCO2/kWh	407 gCO2/kWh
2005	604 gCO2/kWh	462 gCO2/kWh
2006	595 gCO2/kWh	448 gCO2/kWh
2007	598 gCO2/kWh	439 gCO2/kWh
2008	591 gCO2/kWh	422 gCO2/kWh
2009	565 gCO2/kWh	413 gCO2/kWh
2010	571 gCO2/kWh	452 gCO2/kWh
2011	551 gCO2/kWh	408 gCO2/kWh
2012	533 gCO2/kWh	372 gCO2/kWh
2013	533 gCO2/kWh	374 gCO2/kWh
2014	529 gCO2/kWh	404 gCO2/kWh
2015	505 gCO2/kWh	487 gCO2/kWh
2016	483 gCO2/kWh	492 gCO2/kWh
2017	469 gCO2/kWh	433 gCO2/kWh
2018	463 gCO2/kWh	486 gCO2/kWh
2019	439 gCO2/kWh	557 gCO2/kWh
2020	412 gCO2/kWh	531 gCO2/kWh
2021	424 gCO2/kWh	475 gCO2/kWh
2022	410 gCO2/kWh	415 gCO2/kWh
2023	393 gCO2/kWh	467 gCO2/kWh
2024	384 gCO2/kWh	477 gCO2/kWh
2025	384 gCO2/kWh	459 gCO2/kWh

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Electricity demand per person in the United States and Vietnam each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2025 it was 13.06 MWh in the United States and 3.09 MWh in Vietnam.

Annual statistics through 2025, MWh

Electricity demand per person in United States and Vietnam, 1985 to 2025
Year	United States	Vietnam
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	13.63 MWh	0.34 MWh
2001	13.19 MWh	0.39 MWh
2002	13.46 MWh	0.45 MWh
2003	13.37 MWh	0.51 MWh
2004	13.54 MWh	0.58 MWh
2005	13.73 MWh	0.65 MWh
2006	13.61 MWh	0.72 MWh
2007	13.83 MWh	0.80 MWh
2008	13.58 MWh	0.87 MWh
2009	12.90 MWh	0.98 MWh
2010	13.31 MWh	1.10 MWh
2011	13.14 MWh	1.19 MWh
2012	12.89 MWh	1.30 MWh
2013	12.85 MWh	1.40 MWh
2014	12.84 MWh	1.56 MWh
2015	12.73 MWh	1.76 MWh
2016	12.62 MWh	1.92 MWh
2017	12.37 MWh	2.05 MWh
2018	12.67 MWh	2.27 MWh
2019	12.43 MWh	2.45 MWh
2020	12.05 MWh	2.50 MWh
2021	12.33 MWh	2.57 MWh
2022	12.67 MWh	2.68 MWh
2023	12.44 MWh	2.79 MWh
2024	12.75 MWh	3.04 MWh
2025	13.06 MWh	3.09 MWh

United States history · Vietnam history

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

United States vs Vietnam: Electricity Compared

Key Facts

Key Figures, 2025

Generation Mix, 2025

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

Related