Countries with the cleanest electricity (lowest carbon intensity)
Ethiopia has the lowest value with 23 gCO₂/kWh, ahead of Bhutan (24 gCO₂/kWh) and Costa Rica (24 gCO₂/kWh). The world figure is 458 gCO₂/kWh. 158 countries ranked, latest data 2025.
Carbon intensity measures the grams of CO₂-equivalent emitted per kilowatt-hour of electricity generated, using life-cycle emission factors for each source (Ember methodology). It is the number that tells you how clean it is to charge an electric car, run a heat pump or use an electric kettle in a given country.
The lowest values, below 50 g/kWh, belong to systems built on hydro, nuclear and wind. The world average is roughly 450–480 g/kWh.
Ranking rule. Countries and territories that generate less than 1 TWh of electricity a year (mostly small islands) are left out, because one diesel generator or one solar farm can swing their shares by tens of points. Values older than 2020 are also excluded.
Full ranking
Leaders by continent
Asia
- Bhutan24 gCO₂/kWh
- Nepal24 gCO₂/kWh
- Tajikistan73 gCO₂/kWh
North America
- Costa Rica24 gCO₂/kWh
- El Salvador139 gCO₂/kWh
- Canada191 gCO₂/kWh
Oceania
- New Zealand93 gCO₂/kWh
- Fiji278 gCO₂/kWh
- Papua New Guinea514 gCO₂/kWh
Carbon intensity: frequently asked questions
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What is the world average carbon intensity?
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Sources & references
- Our World in Data: Energy dataset (CC BY 4.0) — compiled from the sources below
- Ember: Yearly Electricity Data — generation, shares, carbon intensity
- Energy Institute: Statistical Review of World Energy — primary energy, fossil production
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: International Energy Data — gap-filling for smaller countries