The largest global consumers of hydropower include China, Brazil, and Canada. Hydropower consumption in these countries totaled **** exajoules, **** exajoules, and **** exajoules, respectively. Several provinces in Canada produce over ** percent of their energy through hydropower. Due to plentiful and vast water bodies, Canada’s hydroelectricity potential is still much higher than its current consumption of hydro energy. Many of Canada’s hydropower facilities were constructed prior to 1990 and thus major rehabilitation and modernization of its power plants are necessary.Â
Global hydropower
Hydropower consumption has generally increased over the last decades, reaching a peak of ***exajoules in 2024. It is one of the leading renewable sources worldwide due to its flexibility and consistency. Hydropower has long been capable of meeting base load electricity requirements and can meet peak and unexpected demand. There are three main types of hydropower stations. Run of river stations generate electricity through energy derived from river flow, reservoirs generate power by releasing stored water, and pumped storage facilities pump stored water back up to a higher reservoir to be re-released.
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Energy Institute. (June 30, 2026). Leading countries by hydropower consumption worldwide in 2025 (in exajoules) [Graph]. In ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½app×îа汾. Retrieved August 13, 2026, from /statistics/265570/top-countries-by-hydropower-consumption/
Energy Institute. "Leading countries by hydropower consumption worldwide in 2025 (in exajoules)." Chart. June 30, 2026. ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½app×îа汾. Accessed August 13, 2026. /statistics/265570/top-countries-by-hydropower-consumption/
Energy Institute. (2026). Leading countries by hydropower consumption worldwide in 2025 (in exajoules). ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½app×îа汾. ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½app×îа汾 Inc.. Accessed: August 13, 2026. /statistics/265570/top-countries-by-hydropower-consumption/
Energy Institute. "Leading Countries by Hydropower Consumption Worldwide in 2025 (in Exajoules)." ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½app×îа汾, ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½app×îа汾 Inc., 30 Jun 2026, /statistics/265570/top-countries-by-hydropower-consumption/
Energy Institute, Leading countries by hydropower consumption worldwide in 2025 (in exajoules) ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½app×îа汾, /statistics/265570/top-countries-by-hydropower-consumption/ (last visited August 13, 2026)
Leading countries by hydropower consumption worldwide in 2025 (in exajoules) [Graph], Energy Institute, June 30, 2026. [Online]. Available: /statistics/265570/top-countries-by-hydropower-consumption/