21% of global electricity is generated from Gas in 2025/2026

Globally, gas generated around 6,600 TWh of electricity in the 12 months from July 2025 to June 2026, supplying just over one-fifth of global electricity consumption. That compares with about 5,800 TWh and a 23% share in 2016. Over the decade, gas generation increased by roughly 800 TWh, or 14%, but its share fell by about 2 percentage points to 21%. Gas therefore expanded in absolute terms while growing more slowly than electricity consumption overall—a reminder that a declining fossil share does not necessarily mean falling fossil generation.

The United States dominates gas electricity production at around 1,800 TWh, more than three times Russia’s roughly 510 TWh, and also recorded the largest five-year increase in absolute terms, adding about 210 TWh. People's Republic of China added nearly 70 TWh, while Saudi Arabia and Iraq each added around 47 TWh and Canada about 40 TWh. Dependence tells a different story: Oman and Turkmenistan obtain all their electricity from gas, with Bahrain, Algeria and Tunisia close behind. Bahrain also leads generation per person at nearly 23,000 kWh, more than twice the United Arab Emirates’ roughly 11,200 kWh; Oman, Singapore and Kuwait are each near 10,000 kWh. Among US states, Texas generates about 290 TWh from gas—roughly as much as Japan—while Florida produces around 200 TWh and relies on gas for more than two-thirds of its electricity. Pennsylvania produces less, at around 140 TWh, but has higher gas generation per person than either Texas or Florida.

Gas’s continued scale carries substantial climate and air pollution costs. Its IPCC lifecycle carbon intensity is around 490 gCO2eq/kWh, compared with 11 gCO2eq/kWh for wind, 12 gCO2eq/kWh for nuclear, 45 gCO2eq/kWh for solar, 24 gCO2eq/kWh for hydro and 38 gCO2eq/kWh for geothermal. Gas combustion also releases air pollutants, including nitrogen oxides. The largest five-year reductions in gas generation occurred in Iran, down about 170 TWh, followed by Japan at roughly 63 TWh, Turkey at 47 TWh, the United Kingdom at 40 TWh and Bangladesh at 26 TWh. These declines do not by themselves establish what replaced gas, but they highlight the importance of expanding clean electricity rather than simply reducing supply. Building more nuclear, solar and wind can replace fossil generation while supporting growing electricity demand from electrification and AI.