Share of electricity generation from hydropower in France
France: Share of electricity generation from hydropower was 10.4% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Share of electricity generation from hydropower in France, 1985–2025
Source: Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of electricity generation from hydropower in France is 10.4%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 17.7% on the previous year and up 7.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of electricity generation from hydropower in France peaked at 19.5% in 1988 and was at its lowest, 8.1%, in 2011.
France ranks 104th of 213 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 41 years of available data.
Share of electricity generation from hydropower in France, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 18.0% | — |
| 1986 | 17.2% | -4.2% |
| 1987 | 18.6% | +8.2% |
| 1988 | 19.5% | +4.8% |
| 1989 | 11.5% | -41.0% |
| 1990 | 12.7% | +10.0% |
| 1991 | 12.5% | -1.3% |
| 1992 | 14.7% | +17.7% |
| 1993 | 13.5% | -8.1% |
| 1994 | 16.3% | +20.5% |
| 1995 | 14.6% | -10.5% |
| 1996 | 12.7% | -12.6% |
| 1997 | 12.4% | -2.3% |
| 1998 | 12.0% | -3.4% |
| 1999 | 13.6% | +13.5% |
| 2000 | 12.2% | -10.8% |
| 2001 | 13.4% | +10.0% |
| 2002 | 10.7% | -20.2% |
| 2003 | 10.3% | -4.0% |
| 2004 | 10.2% | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 8.8% | -14.0% |
| 2006 | 9.7% | +9.8% |
| 2007 | 10.0% | +3.0% |
| 2008 | 11.0% | +10.0% |
| 2009 | 10.5% | -4.3% |
| 2010 | 10.9% | +3.7% |
| 2011 | 8.1% | -26.0% |
| 2012 | 10.5% | +30.8% |
| 2013 | 12.5% | +18.3% |
| 2014 | 11.3% | -9.7% |
| 2015 | 9.7% | -14.1% |
| 2016 | 10.9% | +12.5% |
| 2017 | 9.0% | -17.4% |
| 2018 | 11.3% | +25.6% |
| 2019 | 10.1% | -10.9% |
| 2020 | 11.9% | +17.8% |
| 2021 | 10.8% | -8.8% |
| 2022 | 9.7% | -10.1% |
| 2023 | 10.8% | +10.8% |
| 2024 | 12.7% | +17.5% |
| 2025 | 10.4% | -17.7% |
France compared with similar countries
- France's 10.4% is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.0%, 10.6× the median. (75 countries reporting)
- France's 10.4% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 11.5%, 91% of the median. (51 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 17.0% | 11.5% | 19.5% | 5 |
| 1990s | 13.5% | 12.0% | 16.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 10.7% | 8.8% | 13.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.4% | 8.1% | 12.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.0% | 9.7% | 12.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near France
- 101 Togo 11.3% compare
- 102 Sao Tome and Principe 11.1% compare
- 103 Slovakia 10.9% compare
- 105 Philippines 10.3% compare
- 106 Mauritania 10.1% compare
- 107 Ukraine 9.9% compare
More energy & mining data for France
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate 0.2519 % change on previous year (2025)
- Coal consumption, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal consumption, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fuel imports 12.7% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of electricity generation from hydropower in France?
- Share of electricity generation from hydropower in France was 10.4% 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 hydropower recorded in France?
- The highest recorded value was 19.5% in 1988.
- What is the lowest share of electricity generation from hydropower recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.1% in 2011.
- How does France rank for share of electricity generation from hydropower?
- France ranks 104th out of 213 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of electricity generation from hydropower rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this France 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 hydropower. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Measured as a percentage of total electricity produced in the country or region.