The number of the week: The United States, China, and France together represent 60% of the total global production. By the end of 2024, 62 nuclear reactors were under construction in fifteen countries.
According to the latest data from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the global operational nuclear power amounted to 377 gigawatts of electricity by the end of December 2024. This was supplied by 417 reactors in 31 countries.
The top three producers of nuclear electricity are the United States, China, and France, with a combined share of 60%. The United States, leading with the largest nuclear fleet in the world (94 reactors), alone represents 30% of the total nuclear electricity production. China, with 57 reactors, makes up 16%, while France, also with 57 reactors and the highest nuclear share in its electricity mix (67.3%), contributes 14%.
In terms of the number of operational nuclear reactors, Russia ranks fourth globally with 36 reactors, followed by South Korea (26), India (20), Canada (17), and Ukraine (15).
Aging Nuclear Fleet: Over the past decade, 72 nuclear reactors have been commissioned globally, with over three-quarters (76%) in Asia. China has been a major driver of this growth, connecting 38 reactors to the grid since 2014.
More than two-thirds (67%) of the global capacity of operational nuclear reactors (298 reactors) is over thirty years old, while 35% (168 reactors) are over forty years old. According to the IAEA, “the aging of the nuclear fleet highlights the need for new or upgraded nuclear capacities to offset planned retirements and contribute to sustainable development, global energy security, and the achievement of climate change goals.”
By the end of December 2024, 62 nuclear reactors were under construction in fifteen countries, with China leading at 28 reactors, accounting for 45%. India follows with 7 reactors under construction, then Russia, Turkey, and Egypt with 4 each.
