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Data as of 2026-01
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Built 2026-10-28 (28 October 2026)

Electricity in January 2026: Demand Up 2.4% on January 2025

Demand in the 81 countries with data for both January 2026 and January 2025 was 2,433 TWh in January 2026, up 2.4% on January 2025. Those 81 countries cover 90% of world electricity demand (measured on 2025 demand), so this is a review of the reporting countries, not a world total. Low carbon sources supplied 42.9% of their generation in January 2026.

January 2026 at a Glance

81 countries, Ember monthly
Demand, 81 countries2,433 TWhup 2.4% on January 2025
Low carbon share42.9%up 1.5 points on January 2025
Solar and wind share18.4%
Share of world demand90%81 countries, 2025 basis

Key Facts

  • Demand in the 81 countries with data for both January 2026 and January 2025 was 2,433 TWh in January 2026, up 2.4% on January 2025.
  • Those 81 countries cover 90% of world electricity demand (measured on 2025 demand), so this is a review of the reporting countries, not a world total.
  • Low carbon sources (nuclear and renewables) supplied 42.9% of generation in these countries in January 2026, up 1.5 points on January 2025.
  • Solar supplied 7.5% and wind 10.9% of their generation in January 2026.
  • Their generation weighted carbon intensity was 471 gCO2/kWh in January 2026, against 486 gCO2/kWh in January 2025.
  • Among large reporters, Norway had the lowest carbon intensity in January 2026 (27 gCO2/kWh) and Kazakhstan the highest (832 gCO2/kWh).

Demand Through 2026 Against 2025

same 81 countries, TWh per month
Monthly electricity demand of the 81 reporting countries, 2025 and 2026 Demand in the 81 countries with data for January 2026 and January 2025: 2,433 TWh in January 2026 against 2,376 TWh in January 2025. A month shows only when every one of these countries has a figure for it. 0 750 1,500 2,250 3,000 JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Demand in the 81 countries with data for January 2026 and January 2025: 2,433 TWh in January 2026 against 2,376 TWh in January 2025. A month shows only when every one of these countries has a figure for it.
Ember monthly statistics through January 2026
Monthly electricity demand of the 81 reporting countries, 2025 and 2026
Month20262025
Jan2,433 TWh2,376 TWh
Febn/a2,141 TWh
Marn/a2,275 TWh
Aprn/a2,122 TWh
Mayn/a2,197 TWh
Junn/a2,321 TWh
Juln/a2,588 TWh
Augn/a2,540 TWh
Sepn/a2,311 TWh
Octn/a2,255 TWh
Novn/a2,216 TWh
Decn/a2,427 TWh

Biggest Movers, January 2026 Against January 2025

countries generating at least 3 TWh in both months

Demand rose most

Countries where demand rose most, January 2026
CountryChangeDemand
1. Pakistan+20.6%10.5 TWh to 12.7 TWh
2. Vietnam+17.0%23.1 TWh to 27.0 TWh
3. Oman+15.0%2.74 TWh to 3.15 TWh
4. Denmark+14.7%3.81 TWh to 4.37 TWh
5. Finland+13.8%8.78 TWh to 9.99 TWh

Demand fell most

Countries where demand fell most, January 2026
CountryChangeDemand
1. South Africa-6.2%18.5 TWh to 17.4 TWh
2. Argentina-3.3%14.1 TWh to 13.6 TWh
3. United States-1.4%410 TWh to 405 TWh
4. Netherlands-1.3%11.4 TWh to 11.3 TWh
5. Philippines-0.6%9.31 TWh to 9.25 TWh

Solar share rose most

Countries where the solar share rose most, January 2026
CountryChangeShare of generation
1. Pakistan+5.8 points23.4% to 29.2% of generation
2. South Africa+3.3 points9.8% to 13.1% of generation
3. India+3.0 points9.7% to 12.7% of generation
4. Brazil+2.6 points11.2% to 13.9% of generation
5. Australia+2.6 points26.3% to 29.0% of generation

Wind share rose most

Countries where the wind share rose most, January 2026
CountryChangeShare of generation
1. United Kingdom+10.3 points26.5% to 36.8% of generation
2. Greece+10.3 points18.5% to 28.7% of generation
3. Turkey+7.0 points9.3% to 16.4% of generation
4. Denmark+6.2 points63.1% to 69.4% of generation
5. Brazil+4.3 points8.8% to 13.1% of generation

Carbon intensity fell most

Countries where carbon intensity fell most, January 2026
CountryChangeCarbon intensity
1. New Zealand-55.4%78 gCO2/kWh to 35 gCO2/kWh
2. Denmark-22.7%185 gCO2/kWh to 143 gCO2/kWh
3. Greece-21.0%412 gCO2/kWh to 326 gCO2/kWh
4. United Kingdom-14.9%269 gCO2/kWh to 229 gCO2/kWh
5. Bulgaria-11.4%462 gCO2/kWh to 409 gCO2/kWh

Carbon intensity rose most

Countries where carbon intensity rose most, January 2026
CountryChangeCarbon intensity
1. Belgium+51.1%156 gCO2/kWh to 236 gCO2/kWh
2. Finland+32.5%98 gCO2/kWh to 130 gCO2/kWh
3. Brazil+26.6%80 gCO2/kWh to 101 gCO2/kWh
4. Hungary+22.3%230 gCO2/kWh to 281 gCO2/kWh
5. Switzerland+19.6%57 gCO2/kWh to 68 gCO2/kWh

Cleanest and Dirtiest Grids, January 2026

large reporters, gCO2/kWh

Lowest carbon intensity

Lowest carbon intensity among large reporters, January 2026
CountryCarbon intensityGeneration
1. Norway27 gCO2/kWh17.2 TWh generated
2. Sweden28 gCO2/kWh17.7 TWh generated
3. New Zealand35 gCO2/kWh3.19 TWh generated
4. France52 gCO2/kWh55.4 TWh generated
5. Switzerland68 gCO2/kWh4.91 TWh generated
6. Brazil101 gCO2/kWh66.3 TWh generated
7. Portugal108 gCO2/kWh4.82 TWh generated
8. Spain126 gCO2/kWh23.4 TWh generated

Highest carbon intensity

Highest carbon intensity among large reporters, January 2026
CountryCarbon intensityGeneration
1. Kazakhstan832 gCO2/kWh11.9 TWh generated
2. Bangladesh765 gCO2/kWh5.96 TWh generated
3. Poland711 gCO2/kWh16.1 TWh generated
4. India671 gCO2/kWh159 TWh generated
5. Serbia669 gCO2/kWh3.38 TWh generated
6. Malaysia636 gCO2/kWh16.0 TWh generated
7. South Africa619 gCO2/kWh18.0 TWh generated
8. Philippines617 gCO2/kWh9.25 TWh generated

Largest Reporters by Demand, January 2026

Largest reporters by demand, January 2026
CountryDemandOn January 2025
1. China849 TWh+1.9%
2. United States405 TWh-1.4%
3. India158 TWh+6.3%
4. Russia115 TWh+4.6%
5. Japan89.7 TWh+2.9%
6. Brazil66.3 TWh-0.1%
7. Canada64.3 TWh+1.2%
8. South Korea54.9 TWh+5.6%

How This Month Is Measured

  • Coverage. 81 countries reported January 2026. 81 of them also have January 2025, and those 81 are the like for like set behind every figure above. Together they made up 90% of world demand in 2025. A month is published only when at least 10 countries and 60% of world demand are covered.
  • Not a world total. These sums cover the reporting countries only.
  • Carbon intensity. The figure for the group weights each country's monthly intensity by its generation; country rankings use Ember's own monthly intensity.

Source: Ember (ember-energy.org), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Data as of January 2026. Ember monthly statistics.

Cite this page
APA 7

World Power Monitor. (2026). Electricity in January 2026: Demand, Low Carbon Share and Movers. https://worldpowermonitor.com/months/2026-01/

Plain text

World Power Monitor. Electricity in January 2026: Demand, Low Carbon Share and Movers. Data as of 2026-01. Data from Ember. https://worldpowermonitor.com/months/2026-01/

BibTeX 
@misc{wpm_months_2026_01_2026,
  title = {{Electricity in January 2026: Demand, Low Carbon Share and Movers}},
  author = {{World Power Monitor}},
  year = {2026},
  note = {Data as of 2026-01. Data from Ember.},
  url = {https://worldpowermonitor.com/months/2026-01/}
}

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