Hydro share of electricity — all countries

Hydro share of electricity — South America

Hydro share of electricity in South America in 2023 — 56.61%. Since 2000, the indicator has fallen by 20.34 pp.

2023 56.61% −1.21 pp vs 2022
World rank
Period maximum 76.95%2000
Period minimum 53.15%2021

Trend over time

2000–2023 · % of generation

Hydro share of electricity — South America, 2000–2023506070802000200320062009201220152018202120232000: 76.95%2001: 74.28%2002: 75.34%2003: 74.85%2004: 73.13%2005: 74.21%2006: 74.08%2007: 72.75%2008: 70.02%2009: 71.6%2010: 67.52%2011: 69.08%2012: 64.81%2013: 61.23%2014: 57.68%2015: 56.47%2016: 57.7%2017: 57.57%2018: 59.32%2019: 58.67%2020: 57.99%2021: 53.15%2022: 57.82%2023: 56.61%
Change over the period: −20.34 pp Annual average: -0.88 pp

Comparison, 2023

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

South America 56.61%
World 14.54%
Hydro share of electricity — South America, by year South America All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2023 56.61 −1.21 pp
2022 57.82 +4.67 pp
2021 53.15 −4.84 pp
2020 57.99 −0.68 pp
2019 58.67 −0.66 pp
2018 59.32 +1.75 pp
2017 57.57 −0.13 pp
2016 57.7 +1.23 pp
2015 56.47 −1.2 pp
2014 57.68 −3.55 pp
2013 61.23 −3.59 pp
2012 64.81 −4.27 pp
2011 69.08 +1.56 pp
2010 67.52 −4.08 pp
2009 71.6 +1.58 pp
2008 70.02 −2.73 pp
2007 72.75 −1.34 pp
2006 74.08 −0.13 pp
2005 74.21 +1.09 pp
2004 73.13 −1.72 pp
2003 74.85 −0.49 pp
2002 75.34 +1.06 pp
2001 74.28 −2.67 pp
2000 76.95

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.