Share of electricity generation from hydropower in Japan
Japan: Share of electricity generation from hydropower was 7.2% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Share of electricity generation from hydropower in Japan, 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 Japan is 7.2%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 8.2% on the previous year and down 13.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of electricity generation from hydropower in Japan peaked at 12.3% in 1985 and was at its lowest, 6.3%, in 2007.
Japan ranks 113th 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 Japan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 12.3% | — |
| 1986 | 11.9% | -3.1% |
| 1987 | 10.4% | -13.0% |
| 1988 | 12.0% | +15.2% |
| 1989 | 11.5% | -4.2% |
| 1990 | 9.9% | -14.1% |
| 1991 | 10.4% | +5.1% |
| 1992 | 8.7% | -15.7% |
| 1993 | 10.0% | +14.5% |
| 1994 | 6.5% | -34.5% |
| 1995 | 7.8% | +19.0% |
| 1996 | 7.5% | -3.9% |
| 1997 | 8.2% | +9.4% |
| 1998 | 8.4% | +2.6% |
| 1999 | 7.8% | -7.6% |
| 2000 | 7.7% | -1.1% |
| 2001 | 7.5% | -2.0% |
| 2002 | 7.3% | -2.9% |
| 2003 | 8.5% | +15.8% |
| 2004 | 8.2% | -3.4% |
| 2005 | 6.7% | -17.7% |
| 2006 | 7.6% | +13.4% |
| 2007 | 6.3% | -17.2% |
| 2008 | 6.3% | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 6.3% | -0.4% |
| 2010 | 7.7% | +21.0% |
| 2011 | 7.5% | -2.4% |
| 2012 | 7.0% | -6.8% |
| 2013 | 7.3% | +4.7% |
| 2014 | 7.7% | +5.4% |
| 2015 | 8.3% | +8.3% |
| 2016 | 7.5% | -10.3% |
| 2017 | 7.4% | -1.5% |
| 2018 | 7.5% | +1.6% |
| 2019 | 7.1% | -5.6% |
| 2020 | 7.7% | +9.8% |
| 2021 | 7.7% | -0.7% |
| 2022 | 7.2% | -6.5% |
| 2023 | 7.4% | +2.9% |
| 2024 | 7.8% | +5.6% |
| 2025 | 7.2% | -8.2% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 7.2% is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.0%, 7.3× the median. (75 countries reporting)
- Japan's 7.2% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 7.3%, 99% of the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 11.6% | 10.4% | 12.3% | 5 |
| 1990s | 8.5% | 6.5% | 10.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.2% | 6.3% | 8.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.5% | 7.0% | 8.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.5% | 7.2% | 7.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Japan
More energy & mining data for Japan
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate -0.7535 % 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 (2025)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fuel imports 19.6% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of electricity generation from hydropower in Japan?
- Share of electricity generation from hydropower in Japan was 7.2% 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 Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 12.3% in 1985.
- What is the lowest share of electricity generation from hydropower recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.3% in 2007.
- How does Japan rank for share of electricity generation from hydropower?
- Japan ranks 113th out of 213 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of electricity generation from hydropower rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 hydropower. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Measured as a percentage of total electricity produced in the country or region.