Nuclear Power Generation Reaches Record High, Supplies 9% of Global Electricity in 2024
World Nuclear Association reports reactors produced 2,667 TWh in 2024 from roughly 440 units worldwide, citing nuclear as a reliable low-carbon source amid waste management concerns
Nuclear reactors generated a record 2,667 terawatt-hours of electricity in 2024, supplying about 9 percent of the world’s power, the World Nuclear Association said in newly released data.
The association said the output — the highest annual total on record — came from roughly 440 operating power reactors worldwide. The WNA described nuclear energy as a "reliable, long-term electricity supply" capable of helping meet global energy and climate goals.
"The new record electricity generation from nuclear energy in 2024 is a testament to the industry," WNA Director General Dr. Sama Bilbao y León said, adding that the achievement "needs to be bettered again and again, every year, by increasingly larger amounts" to meet global energy and climate targets.
The WNA report frames the rise in nuclear generation as evidence of the technology’s capacity to deliver steady, low-carbon electricity at scale. Proponents highlight nuclear power’s ability to produce baseload electricity with low lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions compared with fossil fuels.
At the same time, the association acknowledged long-standing concerns over the production of radioactive waste associated with nuclear power. The issue remains a central point of public debate and regulatory oversight as countries weigh nuclear’s role in national energy portfolios.
Industry officials and supporters point to the recent output milestone as part of a broader push to expand nuclear capacity and extend the operational life of existing reactors. The WNA has urged continued investment and policy support to increase generation further in the coming years.
Analysts say the data will figure in discussions about how to balance energy security, decarbonization and safety as governments finalize strategies to meet emissions targets. While the WNA highlighted the record generation as progress, it also framed continued growth in nuclear output as necessary to satisfy rising demand and climate commitments.
The 2024 tally marks an escalation in the contribution of nuclear power to the global electricity mix, but the technology’s future trajectory will depend on national policies, financing, regulatory approvals, and public acceptance related to safety and waste management. The WNA report did not provide a country-by-country breakdown in the summary released with the figures.