Hydropower around the world

In 2025, hydropower made 14% of the world's electricity, 4,430 TWh, down from 16% in 2020. That was 1.8% more electricity than in 2020. In 2000 its share was 17%.

Hydropower uses flowing water, from rivers and from dams that store it, to turn turbines. It gives off no carbon dioxide while it runs, and plants with reservoirs can make more electricity when it is needed.

The countries that made the most electricity from hydropower were China (1,400 TWh), Brazil (389 TWh) and Canada (344 TWh). Bhutan relied on it most: 100% of its electricity in 2024. In 36 countries generating at least 1 TWh a year, it made more than half of all electricity.

Over the five years to each country's latest figures, the share of electricity from hydropower rose most in Venezuela (from 58% to 91%), North Korea (from 46% to 63%) and Montenegro (from 43% to 59%).

See the same figures for any region, with a chart you can read year by year, on the dashboard's World tab.

The world's share over time

By region in 2025

Biggest rises in five years

Each country's share of electricity from hydropower five years before its latest figures, in its latest full year (2025 unless shown), and the rise in percentage points: from 3% to 21% is a rise of 18 points.

Other energy sources

• Solar power
• Wind power
• Nuclear power
• Gas power
• Coal power
• Oil and other fossil fuels
• Bioenergy
• Geothermal and other renewables

Every energy source compared · Every country

Source: Ember yearly electricity data (CC BY 4.0), figures up to 2025; Ember's latest-year figures are first estimates and may be revised. Countries are compared on their latest full year. Amounts for countries are worked out from each country's total and its share, rounded to three significant figures; changes over five years use whole percentages. TWh: terawatt hours (one billion kWh).