Electricity generation from hydropower in United Kingdom

United Kingdom: Electricity generation from hydropower was 5.55 terawatt-hours in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)
5.55 terawatt-hours
Change on year
down 3.6%
World rank
66th
of 214 countries
All-time high
6.88 terawatt-hours
in 2020
All-time low
0.01 terawatt-hours
in 1921
Years of data
106
1920–2025

Electricity generation from hydropower in United Kingdom, 1920–2025

0246192019722025

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 hydropower in United Kingdom is 5.55 terawatt-hours, measured in 2025.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.6% on the previous year and down 11.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, electricity generation from hydropower in United Kingdom peaked at 6.88 terawatt-hours in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.01 terawatt-hours, in 1921.

That places United Kingdom 66th out of 214 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1920s 0.0365 terawatt-hours 0.01 terawatt-hours 0.136 terawatt-hours 10
1930s 0.5902 terawatt-hours 0.32 terawatt-hours 0.988 terawatt-hours 10
1940s 1.02 terawatt-hours 0.719 terawatt-hours 1.33 terawatt-hours 10
1950s 2.09 terawatt-hours 1.04 terawatt-hours 2.75 terawatt-hours 10
1960s 3.95 terawatt-hours 3.12 terawatt-hours 4.88 terawatt-hours 10
1970s 3.99 terawatt-hours 3.37 terawatt-hours 4.54 terawatt-hours 10
1980s 4.45 terawatt-hours 3.95 terawatt-hours 4.88 terawatt-hours 10
1990s 4.73 terawatt-hours 3.4 terawatt-hours 5.35 terawatt-hours 10
2000s 4.7 terawatt-hours 3.23 terawatt-hours 5.23 terawatt-hours 10
2010s 5.41 terawatt-hours 3.59 terawatt-hours 6.3 terawatt-hours 10
2020s 5.8 terawatt-hours 5.42 terawatt-hours 6.88 terawatt-hours 6

Countries ranked near United Kingdom

  1. 64 Croatia 5.77 terawatt-hours compare
  2. 65 Zimbabwe 5.7 terawatt-hours compare
  3. 67 Taiwan 5.51 terawatt-hours compare
  4. 68 Cambodia 5.31 terawatt-hours compare
  5. 69 Bosnia and Herzegovina 5.29 terawatt-hours compare

See the full ranking of 217 places →

More energy & mining data for United Kingdom

All data for United Kingdom →

Frequently asked questions

What is electricity generation from hydropower in United Kingdom?
Electricity generation from hydropower in United Kingdom was 5.55 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 hydropower recorded in United Kingdom?
The highest recorded value was 6.88 terawatt-hours in 2020.
What is the lowest electricity generation from hydropower recorded in United Kingdom?
The lowest recorded value was 0.01 terawatt-hours in 1921.
How does United Kingdom rank for electricity generation from hydropower?
United Kingdom ranks 66th out of 214 countries with data for 2025.
Is electricity generation from hydropower rising or falling in United Kingdom?
Over the last ten years it is down 11.9%. 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 hydropower. 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

Indicator
Electricity generation from hydropower
Unit
terawatt-hours
Source
Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
217 places, 7,927 data points, 1920–2025
Last refreshed

Measured in terawatt-hours.