Hydro share of electricity — all countries

Hydro share of electricity — North America

Hydro share of electricity in North America in 2024 — 11.72%. Since 1990, the indicator has fallen by 4.11 pp.

2024 11.72% −0.66 pp vs 2023
World rank
Period maximum 17.23%1996
Period minimum 11.72%2024

Trend over time

1990–2024 · % of generation

Hydro share of electricity — North America, 1990–2024101214161819901994199820022006201020142018202220241990: 15.83%1991: 16.31%1992: 15.51%1993: 15.89%1994: 15.24%1995: 16.27%1996: 17.23%1997: 16.61%1998: 14.89%1999: 14.47%2000: 13.71%2001: 12.3%2002: 13.81%2003: 13.77%2004: 13.38%2005: 13.43%2006: 13.66%2007: 12.92%2008: 13.19%2009: 13.91%2010: 12.8%2011: 14.46%2012: 13.78%2013: 13.74%2014: 13.28%2015: 13.13%2016: 13.59%2017: 14.54%2018: 13.75%2019: 13.73%2020: 14.15%2021: 13.07%2022: 13.13%2023: 12.38%2024: 11.72%
Change over the period: −4.11 pp Annual average: -0.12 pp

Comparison, 2024

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: North America

North America 11.72%
World 16.12%
Hydro share of electricity — North America, by year North America All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 11.72 −0.66 pp
2023 12.38 −0.75 pp
2022 13.13 +0.06 pp
2021 13.07 −1.07 pp
2020 14.15 +0.42 pp
2019 13.73 −0.02 pp
2018 13.75 −0.8 pp
2017 14.54 +0.96 pp
2016 13.59 +0.45 pp
2015 13.13 −0.15 pp
2014 13.28 −0.45 pp
2013 13.74 −0.05 pp
2012 13.78 −0.67 pp
2011 14.46 +1.65 pp
2010 12.8 −1.11 pp
2009 13.91 +0.72 pp
2008 13.19 +0.27 pp
2007 12.92 −0.73 pp
2006 13.66 +0.23 pp
2005 13.43 +0.05 pp
2004 13.38 −0.39 pp
2003 13.77 −0.04 pp
2002 13.81 +1.5 pp
2001 12.3 −1.4 pp
2000 13.71 −0.76 pp
1999 14.47 −0.42 pp
1998 14.89 −1.72 pp
1997 16.61 −0.62 pp
1996 17.23 +0.96 pp
1995 16.27 +1.02 pp
1994 15.24 −0.65 pp
1993 15.89 +0.38 pp
1992 15.51 −0.8 pp
1991 16.31 +0.49 pp
1990 15.83

About the indicator

The share of electricity generated at hydroelectric plants. The oldest of the renewable sources and still the largest: hydro yields more electricity than solar and wind together. The share is set by terrain and water availability rather than by policy, so in a number of countries it exceeds ninety percent — and that makes them vulnerable to drought: in a dry year such a country has to burn fuel or buy electricity.

Important: Aggregates are weighted by generation in terawatt-hours and computed from 2000 onward. The series swings noticeably from year to year with water availability, and that is not a data error.

Source: World Development Indicators (World Bank), license CC BY 4.0.