Electricity generation from fossil fuels in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Electricity generation from fossil fuels was 104.01 terawatt-hours in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Electricity generation from fossil fuels in United Kingdom, 1920–2025
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 in United Kingdom is 104.01 terawatt-hours, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.4% on the previous year and down 43.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, electricity generation from fossil fuels in United Kingdom peaked at 314.53 terawatt-hours in 2008 and was at its lowest, 3.6 terawatt-hours, in 1921.
That places United Kingdom 26th out of 209 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 6.14 terawatt-hours | 3.6 terawatt-hours | 9.73 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1930s | 16.07 terawatt-hours | 9.91 terawatt-hours | 24.33 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1940s | 35.71 terawatt-hours | 26.55 terawatt-hours | 44.29 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1950s | 82.65 terawatt-hours | 49.67 terawatt-hours | 109.91 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1960s | 158.74 terawatt-hours | 124.04 terawatt-hours | 192.69 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1970s | 221.38 terawatt-hours | 204.83 terawatt-hours | 238.94 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1980s | 223.85 terawatt-hours | 205.19 terawatt-hours | 240.72 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1990s | 244.82 terawatt-hours | 228.04 terawatt-hours | 263.4 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 296.87 terawatt-hours | 282.09 terawatt-hours | 314.53 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 210.25 terawatt-hours | 151.27 terawatt-hours | 293.74 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 121.3 terawatt-hours | 99.65 terawatt-hours | 142.12 terawatt-hours | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
- 23 United Arab Emirates 121.01 terawatt-hours compare
- 24 Poland 118.67 terawatt-hours compare
- 25 Kazakhstan 105.31 terawatt-hours compare
- 27 Bangladesh 101.19 terawatt-hours compare
- 28 Algeria 95.33 terawatt-hours compare
- 29 Philippines 94.42 terawatt-hours compare
More energy & mining data for United Kingdom
- Fuel imports 8.2% (2025)
- Ores and metals imports 3.3% (2025)
- Ores and metals exports 5.7% (2025)
- Gas production 299.32 terawatt-hours (2025)
- Fossil fuel production per person, by fuel 4,304 kilowatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel 299.32 terawatt-hours (2025)
- Gas production per person 4,304 kilowatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fuel exports 7.1% (2025)
- Electric power transmission and distribution losses 9.9% (2024)
- Share of dietary energy supply from carbohydrates vs gdp per capita 49.53 (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is electricity generation from fossil fuels in United Kingdom?
- Electricity generation from fossil fuels in United Kingdom was 104.01 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 recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 314.53 terawatt-hours in 2008.
- What is the lowest electricity generation from fossil fuels recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.6 terawatt-hours in 1921.
- How does United Kingdom rank for electricity generation from fossil fuels?
- United Kingdom ranks 26th out of 209 countries with data for 2025.
- Is electricity generation from fossil fuels rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 43.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 106 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.