Electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables in United States
United States: Electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables was 2,576 terawatt-hours in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
2,576 terawatt-hours
Change on year
up 0.9%
World rank
2nd
of 208 countries
All-time high
2,988 terawatt-hours
in 2007
All-time low
1,904 terawatt-hours
in 1986
Years of data
41
1985–2025
Electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables in United States, 1985–2025
Source: Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in terawatt-hours.
Analysis
The most recent figure for electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables in United States is 2,576 terawatt-hours, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.9% on the previous year and down 5.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables in United States peaked at 2,988 terawatt-hours in 2007 and was at its lowest, 1,904 terawatt-hours, in 1986.
United States ranks 2nd of 208 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 41 years of available data.
Electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables in United States, year by year
| Year | terawatt-hours | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 1,929 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1986 | 1,904 terawatt-hours | -1.3% |
| 1987 | 1,995 terawatt-hours | +4.7% |
| 1988 | 2,089 terawatt-hours | +4.7% |
| 1989 | 2,267 terawatt-hours | +8.6% |
| 1990 | 2,262 terawatt-hours | -0.2% |
| 1991 | 2,262 terawatt-hours | -0.0% |
| 1992 | 2,300 terawatt-hours | +1.7% |
| 1993 | 2,399 terawatt-hours | +4.3% |
| 1994 | 2,441 terawatt-hours | +1.8% |
| 1995 | 2,467 terawatt-hours | +1.0% |
| 1996 | 2,523 terawatt-hours | +2.3% |
| 1997 | 2,613 terawatt-hours | +3.6% |
| 1998 | 2,739 terawatt-hours | +4.8% |
| 1999 | 2,763 terawatt-hours | +0.9% |
| 2000 | 2,697 terawatt-hours | -2.4% |
| 2001 | 2,679 terawatt-hours | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 2,728 terawatt-hours | +1.8% |
| 2003 | 2,756 terawatt-hours | +1.0% |
| 2004 | 2,818 terawatt-hours | +2.3% |
| 2005 | 2,900 terawatt-hours | +2.9% |
| 2006 | 2,879 terawatt-hours | -0.7% |
| 2007 | 2,988 terawatt-hours | +3.8% |
| 2008 | 2,924 terawatt-hours | -2.1% |
| 2009 | 2,725 terawatt-hours | -6.8% |
| 2010 | 2,882 terawatt-hours | +5.8% |
| 2011 | 2,789 terawatt-hours | -3.2% |
| 2012 | 2,779 terawatt-hours | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 2,746 terawatt-hours | -1.2% |
| 2014 | 2,752 terawatt-hours | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 2,730 terawatt-hours | -0.8% |
| 2016 | 2,657 terawatt-hours | -2.7% |
| 2017 | 2,540 terawatt-hours | -4.4% |
| 2018 | 2,661 terawatt-hours | +4.8% |
| 2019 | 2,588 terawatt-hours | -2.7% |
| 2020 | 2,432 terawatt-hours | -6.0% |
| 2021 | 2,512 terawatt-hours | +3.3% |
| 2022 | 2,557 terawatt-hours | +1.8% |
| 2023 | 2,514 terawatt-hours | -1.7% |
| 2024 | 2,553 terawatt-hours | +1.5% |
| 2025 | 2,576 terawatt-hours | +0.9% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 2,576 terawatt-hours is above the median for high income countries, which is 4.3 terawatt-hours, 599.1× the median. (75 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2,037 terawatt-hours | 1,904 terawatt-hours | 2,267 terawatt-hours | 5 |
| 1990s | 2,477 terawatt-hours | 2,262 terawatt-hours | 2,763 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 2,809 terawatt-hours | 2,679 terawatt-hours | 2,988 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 2,713 terawatt-hours | 2,540 terawatt-hours | 2,882 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 2,524 terawatt-hours | 2,432 terawatt-hours | 2,576 terawatt-hours | 6 |
Countries ranked near United States
More reference data data for United States
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 19.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 24.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 119.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 20.7 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 119.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 64.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 52.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 133.45 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 589.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 112.69 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables in United States?
- Electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables in United States was 2,576 terawatt-hours in 2025, according to Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 2,988 terawatt-hours in 2007.
- What is the lowest electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,904 terawatt-hours in 1986.
- How does United States rank for electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables?
- United States ranks 2nd out of 208 countries with data for 2025.
- Is electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 41 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Electricity generation from coal, oil, and gas, measured in terawatt-hours.