Nuclear share of electricity — all countries

Nuclear share of electricity — High-income countries

Nuclear share of electricity in high-income countries in 2021 — 16.91%. Since 2000, the indicator has fallen by 5.23 pp.

2021 16.91% +0.01 pp vs 2020
World rank
Period maximum 22.67%2001
Period minimum 16.9%2020

Trend over time

2000–2021 · % of generation

Nuclear share of electricity — High-income countries, 2000–20211618202224200020032006200920122015201820212000: 22.14%2001: 22.67%2002: 22.16%2003: 21.44%2004: 21.75%2005: 21.48%2006: 21.37%2007: 20.36%2008: 20.36%2009: 20.71%2010: 20.17%2011: 18.49%2012: 17.37%2013: 17.38%2014: 17.63%2015: 17.57%2016: 17.35%2017: 17.22%2018: 17.15%2019: 17.43%2020: 16.9%2021: 16.91%
Change over the period: −5.23 pp Annual average: -0.25 pp

Comparison, 2021

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: High-income countries

High-income countries 16.91%
World 9.81%
Nuclear share of electricity — High-income countries, by year High-income countries All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2021 16.91 +0.01 pp
2020 16.9 −0.53 pp
2019 17.43 +0.28 pp
2018 17.15 −0.07 pp
2017 17.22 −0.13 pp
2016 17.35 −0.22 pp
2015 17.57 −0.06 pp
2014 17.63 +0.24 pp
2013 17.38 +0.01 pp
2012 17.37 −1.12 pp
2011 18.49 −1.68 pp
2010 20.17 −0.55 pp
2009 20.71 +0.35 pp
2008 20.36 +0.01 pp
2007 20.36 −1.01 pp
2006 21.37 −0.11 pp
2005 21.48 −0.27 pp
2004 21.75 +0.31 pp
2003 21.44 −0.72 pp
2002 22.16 −0.5 pp
2001 22.67 +0.53 pp
2000 22.14

About the indicator

The share of electricity generated at nuclear power plants. About thirty countries have nuclear generation, and almost nowhere did it appear gradually: a reactor either exists or it does not, so for most countries the series is either zero or immediately sizable. A plant emits nothing while it operates, and in carbon intensity nuclear generation is comparable to wind — yet decisions about its fate are made for reasons that have nothing to do with emissions.

Important: Countries without reactors stand at zero rather than being absent. Aggregates are weighted by generation in terawatt-hours and computed from 2000 onward — there is no weight series before that.

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