fossil fuels generate 57% of global electricity
Fossil fuels supplied 57 per cent of the world’s electricity in 2025 despite record expansion in solar, wind and other renewable energy sources, according to a new analysis of global power-generation data.
The Pew Research Center published the analysis on July 20, 2026, using electricity statistics compiled by global energy think tank Ember and historical data from Our World in Data.
The finding that fossil fuels generate 57% of global electricity shows that coal, natural gas and oil continue to dominate power production, even as their combined share has declined considerably over the past 25 years.
In 2000, fossil fuels accounted for approximately 65 per cent of global electricity generation. That share fell to 57 per cent in 2025 as wind, solar and other low-carbon technologies expanded across major economies.
Coal remained the largest single source of electricity worldwide, producing about one-third of total power. Natural gas was the second-largest fossil source, while oil played a much smaller role in electricity generation.
The figures underline the complicated state of the global energy transition. Renewable electricity is growing faster than before, but rising demand means the world continues to burn substantial amounts of fossil fuel to keep homes, factories, businesses and digital infrastructure operating.
Wind and solar gain ground
Pew’s analysis found that wind and solar supplied approximately 17 per cent of global electricity in 2025.
That was more than three times their combined share a decade earlier, demonstrating how rapidly the two technologies have expanded.
Solar power has become the fastest-growing source of electricity, supported by lower equipment costs, large-scale manufacturing, government incentives and increasing investment in power systems.
Ember’s Global Electricity Review 2026 said solar generation rose by a record 636 terawatt-hours in 2025 and met about three-quarters of the increase in global electricity demand. Solar and wind together supplied almost all the year’s additional electricity requirement.
Despite this growth, the finding that fossil fuels generate 57% of global electricity demonstrates the scale of the remaining challenge.
New solar and wind installations must not only serve additional demand. They must also replace electricity presently produced by coal and gas plants if power-sector emissions are to fall consistently.
Renewables overtake coal
One of the most important changes recorded in 2025 was the rise of renewable energy above coal in the global electricity mix.
Renewables, including hydropower, solar, wind, bioenergy and other sources, accounted for approximately 33.8 per cent of electricity generation. Coal supplied about 33 per cent, according to Ember’s figures.
It was the first time in modern electricity history that renewable sources collectively produced more power than coal globally.
Coal generation fell by about 63 terawatt-hours, while renewable electricity reached approximately 10,730 terawatt-hours. Solar and wind were responsible for most of the increase in clean power.
The breakthrough is significant because coal is generally the most carbon-intensive major source of electricity.
However, the narrow margin between renewables and coal means the transition remains vulnerable to changes in weather, electricity demand, fuel prices and government policy.
A year of weak hydropower production or unusually high electricity demand could temporarily increase reliance on coal and natural gas.
That explains why the statement that fossil fuels generate 57% of global electricity remains relevant despite the renewable energy milestone.
Nuclear power’s declining share
The Pew analysis also highlighted a long-term decline in nuclear power’s share of global electricity.
Nuclear plants supplied about 17 per cent of electricity in 2000 but accounted for approximately nine per cent in 2025.
This does not necessarily mean that the total amount of nuclear electricity has fallen by the same proportion. Global electricity demand has expanded considerably, while solar and wind have grown much faster.
Some countries have also retired older nuclear reactors, delayed new projects or reconsidered nuclear programmes because of high construction costs, safety concerns and lengthy development timelines.
At the same time, several governments are renewing interest in nuclear energy because it can produce large amounts of low-carbon electricity regardless of sunlight or wind conditions.
The International Energy Agency reported that nuclear generation reached a record level in 2025 as reactors returned to service and new capacity became available.
Nuclear power is therefore expected to remain an important part of the debate over how to reduce the proportion represented by the finding that fossil fuels generate 57% of global electricity.
China’s central role
China occupies a unique position in the global electricity transition.
It produces more wind and solar electricity than any other country and has built a vast manufacturing industry for solar panels, batteries, wind turbines and other clean-energy technologies.
At the same time, China remains the world’s largest consumer of coal for power generation.
Its electricity demand reached 10,573 terawatt-hours in 2025, representing about one-third of global electricity consumption. The country’s choices therefore have a major influence on global coal demand and power-sector emissions.
China and India both recorded reductions in fossil-fuel generation in 2025 as renewable output increased. Their combined fossil generation fell by about 108 terawatt-hours, according to reporting based on Ember’s data.
Whether that decline continues will be one of the most closely watched indicators of global energy progress.
If renewable electricity consistently meets all new demand in China and India, fossil-fuel power could enter a sustained decline. If demand grows faster than clean-energy deployment, coal and gas generation could rise again.
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Europe moves further from fossil power
Europe has made faster progress than many other regions in reducing fossil fuels in electricity generation.
In the European Union, wind and solar supplied about 30 per cent of electricity in 2025, slightly more than the 29 per cent generated from fossil fuels.
Solar accounted for a record 13 per cent, while wind supplied approximately 17 per cent. Coal’s share fell below 10 per cent, although gas generation increased in some countries because hydropower output was weaker.
Pew’s analysis showed that non-hydrocarbon sources supplied about 48 per cent of European Union electricity, compared with 29 per cent from coal and gas.
Europe’s experience shows that rapid fossil-fuel reduction is possible when governments combine renewable-energy deployment with interconnections, storage, energy efficiency and rules that discourage highly polluting generation.
However, electricity prices, grid congestion and dependence on imported technology remain concerns.
The global finding that fossil fuels generate 57% of global electricity reflects the fact that many developing countries have not had access to the same level of financing, infrastructure and technical capacity available in Europe.
Growing electricity demand complicates transition
Global electricity generation increased by more than 850 terawatt-hours in 2025.
Renewables accounted for most of that growth, while nuclear output also increased. Fossil generation declined slightly because lower coal output outweighed a modest increase in electricity generated from natural gas.
This was an encouraging development, but electricity demand is expected to continue rising.
Industrial development, electric vehicles, cooling systems, data centres, artificial intelligence, population growth and efforts to replace petrol and gas with electricity are all increasing pressure on power systems.
The International Energy Agency expects renewables to supply more than 90 per cent of global electricity-demand growth between 2025 and 2030. It projects their share of generation to rise from about 32 per cent in 2024 to 43 per cent by 2030.
Even under that outlook, coal and gas plants will remain important in several markets unless countries accelerate investments in storage, transmission networks and flexible electricity systems.
The report that fossil fuels generate 57% of global electricity should therefore not be interpreted as evidence that renewable energy has failed. It shows that the global electricity system is enormous and cannot be transformed by adding generating capacity alone.
Climate implications
Electricity generation is one of the largest sources of energy-related carbon dioxide emissions.
Coal plants generally release more carbon dioxide for each unit of electricity generated than natural gas plants, although both contribute to global warming.
The IEA reported that global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions reached a record 37.8 billion tonnes in 2024, an increase of 0.8 per cent from the previous year. Extreme temperatures and rising electricity demand contributed to the increase.
The decline in fossil-powered electricity during 2025 may represent an important turning point, but one year is not enough to establish a permanent trend.
Governments must continue retiring inefficient coal plants, reducing methane emissions, improving energy efficiency and expanding clean-power infrastructure.
Countries must also ensure that the energy transition remains affordable. Electricity systems that become unreliable or excessively expensive may generate political resistance and slow the adoption of cleaner technologies.
What the findings mean for Africa
Africa contributes a relatively small share of global power-sector emissions, but millions of people across the continent still lack reliable electricity.
The region therefore faces a different challenge from mature industrial economies.
African countries must expand electricity access while avoiding long-term dependence on costly and polluting technologies. Solar power, hydropower, wind, geothermal energy and carefully designed gas projects are likely to play different roles depending on each country’s resources and development needs.
For Nigeria, the global finding that fossil fuels generate 57% of global electricity is relevant because the country has abundant gas reserves but also possesses strong solar, hydropower and wind potential.
Nigeria’s electricity system relies heavily on gas-fired and hydropower stations, while many households and businesses use petrol or diesel generators because of unreliable grid supply.
Expanding renewable energy without strengthening transmission lines, distribution networks, metering and payment systems will not solve the country’s electricity crisis.
Nigeria must also attract financing for clean-power projects while ensuring that electricity remains affordable for households and productive industries.
Progress, but no victory yet
The latest figures present a story of genuine progress mixed with continuing dependence.
Renewables overtook coal, solar recorded historic growth, and fossil-fuel generation declined slightly in 2025. Low-carbon sources, including renewables and nuclear power, supplied about 43 per cent of the world’s electricity.
Yet coal remained the largest single source, natural gas generation increased, and the combined fossil-fuel share remained well above half of global production.
The conclusion that fossil fuels generate 57% of global electricity is therefore both a warning and a measure of progress.
The share has fallen from 65 per cent in 2000, while wind and solar have moved from marginal technologies to major sources of power. But the transition is not proceeding at the same speed in every country or region.
A lasting shift will require more renewable generation, stronger grids, battery storage, long-term financing, efficient electricity markets and policies that protect poorer consumers.
The world is clearly building a cleaner electricity system. The evidence, however, shows that it has not yet left the fossil-fuel era behind.
