Share of electricity generation from low-carbon sources in India
India: Share of electricity generation from low-carbon sources was 26.7% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Share of electricity generation from low-carbon sources in India, 1985–2025
Source: Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, share of electricity generation from low-carbon sources in India stood at 26.7%.
That represents a change of up 18.5% on the previous year and up 51.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of electricity generation from low-carbon sources in India peaked at 30.2% in 1985 and was at its lowest, 14.5%, in 2003.
India ranks 123rd of 213 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 41 years of available data.
Share of electricity generation from low-carbon sources in India, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 30.2% | — |
| 1986 | 28.4% | -6.0% |
| 1987 | 24.3% | -14.6% |
| 1988 | 25.2% | +3.6% |
| 1989 | 24.7% | -1.7% |
| 1990 | 25.3% | +2.4% |
| 1991 | 24.8% | -2.0% |
| 1992 | 22.7% | -8.4% |
| 1993 | 21.3% | -6.1% |
| 1994 | 22.1% | +3.5% |
| 1995 | 19.8% | -10.4% |
| 1996 | 17.8% | -9.9% |
| 1997 | 17.5% | -1.8% |
| 1998 | 19.3% | +10.0% |
| 1999 | 17.9% | -7.0% |
| 2000 | 16.8% | -6.2% |
| 2001 | 16.2% | -3.5% |
| 2002 | 15.1% | -6.8% |
| 2003 | 14.5% | -3.8% |
| 2004 | 18.7% | +28.5% |
| 2005 | 17.8% | -4.9% |
| 2006 | 19.5% | +9.7% |
| 2007 | 20.0% | +2.8% |
| 2008 | 18.6% | -7.2% |
| 2009 | 17.1% | -8.2% |
| 2010 | 17.6% | +2.9% |
| 2011 | 19.8% | +12.5% |
| 2012 | 17.9% | -9.4% |
| 2013 | 19.0% | +5.8% |
| 2014 | 18.5% | -2.3% |
| 2015 | 17.5% | -5.3% |
| 2016 | 17.2% | -2.2% |
| 2017 | 18.0% | +5.0% |
| 2018 | 18.8% | +4.3% |
| 2019 | 20.4% | +8.8% |
| 2020 | 21.9% | +7.0% |
| 2021 | 21.4% | -2.1% |
| 2022 | 22.7% | +6.3% |
| 2023 | 21.8% | -4.2% |
| 2024 | 22.5% | +3.2% |
| 2025 | 26.7% | +18.5% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 26.7% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 36.1%, 74% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- India's 26.7% is below the median for South Asia, which is 44.1%, 60% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 26.6% | 24.3% | 30.2% | 5 |
| 1990s | 20.9% | 17.5% | 25.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 17.4% | 14.5% | 20.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 18.5% | 17.2% | 20.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 22.8% | 21.4% | 26.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near India
- 120 Cyprus 27.7% compare
- 121 New Caledonia 26.9% compare
- 122 Equatorial Guinea 26.8% compare
- 124 Mexico 25.9% compare
- 125 Martinique 25.8% compare
- 126 Kiribati 25.0% compare
- 126 Vanuatu 25.0% compare
More climate change data for India
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 27.69 billion kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 602,760 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 105,678 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 497,082 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 398.78 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 17,753 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 279,594 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 176,015 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 103,578 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 664.21 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of electricity generation from low-carbon sources in India?
- Share of electricity generation from low-carbon sources in India was 26.7% in 2025, according to Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of electricity generation from low-carbon sources recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 30.2% in 1985.
- What is the lowest share of electricity generation from low-carbon sources recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.5% in 2003.
- How does India rank for share of electricity generation from low-carbon sources?
- India ranks 123rd out of 213 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of electricity generation from low-carbon sources rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 51.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of electricity generation from low-carbon sources. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Measured as a percentage of total electricity produced in the country or region. Low-carbon sources correspond to renewables and nuclear power, that produce significantly less greenhouse-gas emissions than fossil fuels. Renewables include solar, wind, hydropower, bioenergy, geothermal, wave, and tidal.