0% of global electricity is generated from Geothermal in 2025/2026

Geothermal generated around 107 TWh of electricity globally in the 12 months from October 2025 to September 2026, meeting 0.34% of global electricity consumption—about one-third of one percent. That is roughly 25 TWh more than in 2016, when generation stood at 82 TWh, representing growth of around 30% over the decade. This increase in clean electricity is welcome, but geothermal’s global share remained broadly unchanged at around 0.3%, showing that its expansion has largely kept pace with, rather than gained ground on, growing electricity consumption.

Indonesia leads in total geothermal generation at nearly 17 TWh, just ahead of the United States at 16 TWh, and also recorded the largest five-year increase, adding almost 3 TWh. New Zealand and Kenya each added around 1.5 TWh, while Japan and Czechia added about 0.6 TWh apiece. Leadership looks different when measured by national importance: geothermal supplies around two-fifths of electricity in Kenya, over one-fifth in New Zealand, and roughly one-sixth in El Salvador, with Nicaragua and Costa Rica also above one-tenth. New Zealand stands far ahead in generation per person, at almost 1,800 kWh, compared with around 280 in Costa Rica and 230 in El Salvador. Among US states, California produces the most geothermal electricity, at nearly 11 TWh, while Nevada’s smaller output of around 4 TWh makes a larger contribution locally—about 8% of its electricity—and reaches almost 1,200 kWh per person. Utah adds another 0.5 TWh.

Geothermal’s IPCC lifecycle carbon intensity of 38 gCO2eq/kWh underscores the climate value of expanding its current 107 TWh contribution. This is far below coal at 820 gCO2eq/kWh, oil at 650 gCO2eq/kWh, and gas at 490 gCO2eq/kWh—roughly 92–95% lower across these fossil-fuel comparisons. Alongside wind, nuclear, and solar, geothermal belongs to a group of low-carbon electricity technologies that can support electrification and rising electricity demand while reducing dependence on fossil fuels. Expanding these clean sources can help limit climate change and reduce the air pollution associated with fossil-fuel combustion.