Share of electricity generation from fossil fuels in Japan
Japan: Share of electricity generation from fossil fuels was 67.3% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Share of electricity generation from fossil fuels in Japan, 1985–2025
Source: Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Japan recorded 67.3% for share of electricity generation from fossil fuels in 2025.
That represents a change of down 2.1% on the previous year and down 20.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of electricity generation from fossil fuels in Japan peaked at 88.3% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 58.0%, in 1998.
That places Japan 103rd out of 213 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 41 years of available data.
Share of electricity generation from fossil fuels in Japan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 61.2% | — |
| 1986 | 60.7% | -0.8% |
| 1987 | 60.4% | -0.5% |
| 1988 | 62.0% | +2.7% |
| 1989 | 62.3% | +0.5% |
| 1990 | 65.8% | +5.6% |
| 1991 | 64.2% | -2.3% |
| 1992 | 65.3% | +1.6% |
| 1993 | 60.6% | -7.1% |
| 1994 | 64.7% | +6.8% |
| 1995 | 61.2% | -5.5% |
| 1996 | 61.0% | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 58.5% | -4.2% |
| 1998 | 58.0% | -0.8% |
| 1999 | 60.2% | +3.8% |
| 2000 | 61.8% | +2.7% |
| 2001 | 61.3% | -0.8% |
| 2002 | 62.6% | +2.0% |
| 2003 | 68.7% | +9.8% |
| 2004 | 64.5% | -6.1% |
| 2005 | 65.7% | +1.9% |
| 2006 | 64.0% | -2.5% |
| 2007 | 67.7% | +5.8% |
| 2008 | 70.1% | +3.5% |
| 2009 | 66.6% | -5.0% |
| 2010 | 64.5% | -3.2% |
| 2011 | 75.0% | +16.3% |
| 2012 | 88.3% | +17.8% |
| 2013 | 87.6% | -0.8% |
| 2014 | 87.4% | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 84.6% | -3.2% |
| 2016 | 84.1% | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 82.1% | -2.3% |
| 2018 | 79.3% | -3.5% |
| 2019 | 76.9% | -3.0% |
| 2020 | 76.7% | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 74.0% | -3.5% |
| 2022 | 74.5% | +0.8% |
| 2023 | 70.2% | -5.9% |
| 2024 | 68.7% | -2.1% |
| 2025 | 67.3% | -2.1% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 67.3% is above the median for high income countries, which is 60.0%, 1.1× the median. (75 countries reporting)
- Japan's 67.3% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 75.0%, 90% of the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 61.3% | 60.4% | 62.3% | 5 |
| 1990s | 61.9% | 58.0% | 65.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 65.3% | 61.3% | 70.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 81.0% | 64.5% | 88.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 71.9% | 67.3% | 76.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Japan
More energy & mining data for Japan
- Primary energy from fossil nuclear renewables, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fuel imports 19.6% (2025)
- Ores and metals imports 7.0% (2025)
- Fuel exports 1.2% (2025)
- Ores and metals exports 3.6% (2025)
- Gas production 22.04 terawatt-hours (2024)
- Fossil fuel production per person, by fuel 178.13 kilowatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel 22.04 terawatt-hours (2024)
- Gas production per person 178.13 kilowatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of electricity generation from fossil fuels in Japan?
- Share of electricity generation from fossil fuels in Japan was 67.3% in 2025, according to Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of electricity generation from fossil fuels recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 88.3% in 2012.
- What is the lowest share of electricity generation from fossil fuels recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 58.0% in 1998.
- How does Japan rank for share of electricity generation from fossil fuels?
- Japan ranks 103rd out of 213 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of electricity generation from fossil fuels rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Japan data come from?
- The figures come from Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of electricity generation from fossil fuels. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Electricity generation from coal, oil, and gas, measured as a percentage of total electricity produced in the country or region.