Electricity generation in United States
United States: Electricity generation was 4,520 terawatt-hours in 2025. ▲ Rising
Electricity generation in United States, 1985–2025
Source: Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in terawatt-hours.
Analysis
In 2025, electricity generation in United States stood at 4,520 terawatt-hours. That is the highest value across all 41 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.9% on the previous year and up 10.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, electricity generation in United States peaked at 4,520 terawatt-hours in 2025 and was at its lowest, 2,657 terawatt-hours, in 1985.
United States ranks 2nd of 214 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 41 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2,835 terawatt-hours | 2,657 terawatt-hours | 3,155 terawatt-hours | 5 |
| 1990s | 3,539 terawatt-hours | 3,233 terawatt-hours | 3,936 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 3,947 terawatt-hours | 3,728 terawatt-hours | 4,143 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 4,098 terawatt-hours | 4,041 terawatt-hours | 4,202 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 4,275 terawatt-hours | 4,043 terawatt-hours | 4,520 terawatt-hours | 6 |
Countries ranked near United States
More energy & mining data for United States
- Fuel imports 7.5% (2024)
- Ores and metals imports 2.1% (2024)
- Ores and metals exports 2.9% (2024)
- Gas production 10,737 terawatt-hours (2025)
- Fossil fuel production per person, by fuel 30,919 kilowatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel 10,737 terawatt-hours (2025)
- Gas production per person 30,919 kilowatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fuel exports 18.3% (2024)
- Electric power transmission and distribution losses 5.3% (2024)
- Share of dietary energy supply from carbohydrates vs. GDP per capita 45.6% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is electricity generation in United States?
- Electricity generation in United States was 4,520 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 recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 4,520 terawatt-hours in 2025.
- What is the lowest electricity generation recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,657 terawatt-hours in 1985.
- How does United States rank for electricity generation?
- United States ranks 2nd out of 214 countries with data for 2025.
- Is electricity generation rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.7%. 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. 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
Total electricity generated in each country or region, measured in terawatt-hours.