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Data as of 2026-05
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Built 2026-10-28 (28 October 2026)

Electricity in May 2026: Demand Up 4.3% on May 2025

Demand in the 77 countries with data for both May 2026 and May 2025 was 2,263 TWh in May 2026, up 4.3% on May 2025. Those 77 countries cover 89% 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 48.9% of their generation in May 2026.

May 2026 at a Glance

77 countries, Ember monthly
Demand, 77 countries2,263 TWhup 4.3% on May 2025
Low carbon share48.9%up 1.1 points on May 2025
Solar and wind share23.1%
Share of world demand89%77 countries, 2025 basis

Key Facts

  • Demand in the 77 countries with data for both May 2026 and May 2025 was 2,263 TWh in May 2026, up 4.3% on May 2025.
  • Those 77 countries cover 89% 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 48.9% of generation in these countries in May 2026, up 1.1 points on May 2025.
  • Solar supplied 13.2% and wind 10.0% of their generation in May 2026.
  • Their generation weighted carbon intensity was 429 gCO2/kWh in May 2026, against 437 gCO2/kWh in May 2025.
  • Among large reporters, France had the lowest carbon intensity in May 2026 (23 gCO2/kWh) and Kazakhstan the highest (778 gCO2/kWh).

Demand Through 2026 Against 2025

same 77 countries, TWh per month
Monthly electricity demand of the 77 reporting countries, 2025 and 2026 Demand in the 77 countries with data for May 2026 and May 2025: 2,263 TWh in May 2026 against 2,169 TWh in May 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 77 countries with data for May 2026 and May 2025: 2,263 TWh in May 2026 against 2,169 TWh in May 2025. A month shows only when every one of these countries has a figure for it.
Ember monthly statistics through May 2026
Monthly electricity demand of the 77 reporting countries, 2025 and 2026
Month20262025
Jan2,408 TWh2,353 TWh
Feb2,191 TWh2,121 TWh
Mar2,305 TWh2,252 TWh
Apr2,168 TWh2,097 TWh
May2,263 TWh2,169 TWh
Junn/a2,292 TWh
Juln/a2,558 TWh
Augn/a2,510 TWh
Sepn/a2,284 TWh
Octn/a2,229 TWh
Novn/a2,193 TWh
Decn/a2,401 TWh

Biggest Movers, May 2026 Against May 2025

countries generating at least 3 TWh in both months

Demand rose most

Countries where demand rose most, May 2026
CountryChangeDemand
1. Oman+19.2%4.42 TWh to 5.27 TWh
2. Vietnam+12.0%28.8 TWh to 32.3 TWh
3. India+11.7%161 TWh to 180 TWh
4. Argentina+11.1%11.4 TWh to 12.6 TWh
5. Ecuador+9.6%3.33 TWh to 3.65 TWh

Demand fell most

Countries where demand fell most, May 2026
CountryChangeDemand
1. Netherlands-8.0%10.4 TWh to 9.57 TWh
2. Turkey-5.9%28.0 TWh to 26.3 TWh
3. Romania-5.6%4.26 TWh to 4.02 TWh
4. Nigeria-5.2%3.25 TWh to 3.08 TWh
5. Bangladesh-4.8%9.90 TWh to 9.42 TWh

Solar share rose most

Countries where the solar share rose most, May 2026
CountryChangeShare of generation
1. Hungary+11.3 points36.6% to 47.9% of generation
2. Belgium+10.7 points24.4% to 35.1% of generation
3. Austria+8.1 points19.1% to 27.3% of generation
4. Romania+7.1 points15.8% to 22.9% of generation
5. Switzerland+6.5 points17.0% to 23.5% of generation

Wind share rose most

Countries where the wind share rose most, May 2026
CountryChangeShare of generation
1. Portugal+6.4 points18.5% to 24.9% of generation
2. Austria+3.3 points10.0% to 13.3% of generation
3. Romania+3.2 points12.5% to 15.7% of generation
4. Vietnam+1.8 points1.7% to 3.5% of generation
5. Australia+1.8 points14.9% to 16.7% of generation

Carbon intensity fell most

Countries where carbon intensity fell most, May 2026
CountryChangeCarbon intensity
1. New Zealand-49.8%129 gCO2/kWh to 65 gCO2/kWh
2. Turkey-35.1%387 gCO2/kWh to 251 gCO2/kWh
3. Finland-9.9%64 gCO2/kWh to 58 gCO2/kWh
4. Portugal-6.2%122 gCO2/kWh to 115 gCO2/kWh
5. Spain-5.5%131 gCO2/kWh to 124 gCO2/kWh

Carbon intensity rose most

Countries where carbon intensity rose most, May 2026
CountryChangeCarbon intensity
1. Belgium+93.2%122 gCO2/kWh to 235 gCO2/kWh
2. Netherlands+47.4%156 gCO2/kWh to 230 gCO2/kWh
3. Ecuador+20.2%169 gCO2/kWh to 203 gCO2/kWh
4. Peru+18.7%209 gCO2/kWh to 248 gCO2/kWh
5. Germany+17.7%268 gCO2/kWh to 316 gCO2/kWh

Cleanest and Dirtiest Grids, May 2026

large reporters, gCO2/kWh

Lowest carbon intensity

Lowest carbon intensity among large reporters, May 2026
CountryCarbon intensityGeneration
1. France23 gCO2/kWh41.0 TWh generated
2. Sweden27 gCO2/kWh11.3 TWh generated
3. Norway29 gCO2/kWh11.0 TWh generated
4. Austria49 gCO2/kWh5.50 TWh generated
5. Switzerland54 gCO2/kWh5.70 TWh generated
6. Finland58 gCO2/kWh6.12 TWh generated
7. New Zealand65 gCO2/kWh3.56 TWh generated
8. Brazil87 gCO2/kWh63.4 TWh generated

Highest carbon intensity

Highest carbon intensity among large reporters, May 2026
CountryCarbon intensityGeneration
1. Kazakhstan778 gCO2/kWh9.80 TWh generated
2. Bangladesh766 gCO2/kWh7.90 TWh generated
3. South Africa727 gCO2/kWh18.7 TWh generated
4. Philippines646 gCO2/kWh10.8 TWh generated
5. Taiwan644 gCO2/kWh25.0 TWh generated
6. Malaysia640 gCO2/kWh17.1 TWh generated
7. India630 gCO2/kWh181 TWh generated
8. Poland606 gCO2/kWh13.1 TWh generated

Largest Reporters by Demand, May 2026

Largest reporters by demand, May 2026
CountryDemandOn May 2025
1. China858 TWh+6.4%
2. United States368 TWh+3.5%
3. India180 TWh+11.7%
4. Russia86.5 TWh-1.9%
5. Japan66.3 TWh+1.3%
6. Brazil63.4 TWh+3.0%
7. Canada45.7 TWh+0.9%
8. South Korea45.2 TWh+0.5%

How This Month Is Measured

  • Coverage. 77 countries reported May 2026. 77 of them also have May 2025, and those 77 are the like for like set behind every figure above. Together they made up 89% 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 May 2026. Ember monthly statistics.

Cite this page
APA 7

World Power Monitor. (2026). Electricity in May 2026: Demand, Low Carbon Share and Movers. https://worldpowermonitor.com/months/2026-05/

Plain text

World Power Monitor. Electricity in May 2026: Demand, Low Carbon Share and Movers. Data as of 2026-05. Data from Ember. https://worldpowermonitor.com/months/2026-05/

BibTeX 
@misc{wpm_months_2026_05_2026,
  title = {{Electricity in May 2026: Demand, Low Carbon Share and Movers}},
  author = {{World Power Monitor}},
  year = {2026},
  note = {Data as of 2026-05. Data from Ember.},
  url = {https://worldpowermonitor.com/months/2026-05/}
}

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