Five countries account for 71% of nuclear capacity

EIA reports that five countries account for more than two-thirds of the world’s nuclear electricity generation capacity as of June 2025 (IAEA data).

• Global totals & principal countries: 416 nuclear reactors operating in 31 countries with 376 gigawatts (GW) total installed net generating capacity (IAEA, June 2025). The top five countries by capacity are United States, France, China, Russia, and South Korea; together they account for more than 71% of world nuclear generation capacity. Specific country figures: United States — 94 reactors, 782 GWh nuclear generation in 2024 (19% of U.S. generation), 30% of global nuclear electricity in 2023, fleet capacity factor 92% in 2024; France — 57 reactors, 63 GW installed, >320 GWh in 2023 (~65% of France’s generation); China — 57 reactors operating, 28 reactors under construction totaling 30 GW, >433 GWh in 2023; Russia — 36 reactors, 27 GW installed, 4 units under construction totaling 4 GW; South Korea — 26 reactors, 2 under construction.

• Historical, technical, and confirmed/planned actions: The U.S. commercial nuclear program began with the Shippingport Atomic Power Station (late 1950s); most U.S. capacity was built 1967–1990. China has adapted Westinghouse’s AP1000 into its CAP1000 design (confirmed adaptation). Rosatom is updating Russia’s fleet from RBMK units to VVER-1000 and VVER-1200 designs (confirmed action). Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) is an international vendor — built the UAE’s Barakah plant and will be the vendor for the Dukovany power plant expansion in the Czech Republic (vendor selection/implementation noted). Principal contributor: Slade Johnson.