Europe's nuclear leaders: Which countries produce the most?

A view of the EPR2 construction site of the new reactors currently being built at the Penly nuclear power plant in Petit-Caux, France, on the English channel coast, Thursday,
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Published on
25/03/2026 - 7:00 GMT+1
Nuclear power accounts for 12% of the EU’s energy mix
Yet despite recent increases, overall nuclear power production is declining.

The prospect of joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran and Tehran's potential retaliation against Gulf states is high on the agenda in Europe, where governments are weighing the risks to energy supply and fuel prices.

Much will depend on the energy mix
Countries with stronger investment in renewables and nuclear power may be better insulated, while those heavily reliant on natural gas face greater exposure.

So, which countries produce the most nuclear energy
Twelve EU countries produce nuclear energy
“The EU remains technologically neutral when it comes to energy sources, meaning the decision of where to supply energy from is for each EU country to take,” according to the European Commission.

In 2024, these countries generated 649,524 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity
This was a 4.8% increase compared with 2023
It was also the second consecutive annual rise, following a drop in 2022 (609,255 GWh).

Does this point to a long-term upward trend
Despite the increases in the past two years, nuclear power production has declined over time
It fell by 20% between 2014 and 2024, and by 30% between 2004 and 2024, according to Eurostat.

Petroleum and crude oil
In 2024, the EU’s energy mix consisted of five main sources
Natural gas accounted for 21%, followed closely by renewable energy at 20%
Nuclear energy made up 12% while solid fuels accounted for 10%.

Energy mixes vary widely across Europe
Czechia is close to that level at 19.5%.

In the EU, it stood at 23.4% in 2025 according to Ember and the Energy Institute’s Statistical Review of World Energy.

France and Slovakia rely heavily on nuclear energy for electricity
Electricity and natural gas prices for households also vary widely.

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