Nuclear power still supplies only about 11% of global electricity generation in the latest full year reported, yet a handful of countries treat it like a core system pillar. Even where reactors are shrinking, such as Germany reaching 0% nuclear share in 2023, others are running steadily and changing the global balance through capacity growth and long term operating extensions. This post pulls together the clearest industry statistics on generation, capacity, fuel cycle costs, accident risk targets, and market fundamentals so you can see how policy, economics, and safety requirements collide in real numbers.
Key Takeaways
- About 11% of global electricity generation from nuclear power in 2022 (latest full-year figure in IEA reporting)
- France produced 62.1% of its electricity from nuclear in 2022 (Eurostat national accounts/statistics explained nuclear energy statistics citing Eurostat data)
- Germany’s nuclear generation was about 0 TWh in 2023 (EIA electric annual nuclear generation)
- Installed nuclear capacity in OECD countries was about 255 GW(e) in 2022 (OECD NEA—Nuclear Energy Data)
- Nuclear generated about 280 TWh in the U.S. in 2023 (EIA—Net Generation by Energy Source)
- OECD/NEA reports that nuclear fuel cycle cost is generally dominated by conversion/enrichment and commodity components; typical fuel cost is on the order of 10–20% of total nuclear generation cost (NEA report on nuclear fuel cycle costs)
- World Nuclear Association estimates nuclear capital cost typically ranges from about $3,500 to $7,500 per kW for new builds (WNA—Nuclear Power Economics)
- World nuclear traded spot uranium prices peaked above $50/lb U3O8 in 2023 before falling (OECD/NEA or Cameco market reports)—use UxC/industry; closest public price data is from OECD NEA “Red Book” not daily; hard to deep-link to spot value without paywall
- OECD/NEA reports that nuclear accident risk reduction is supported by probabilistic risk assessment targets; core damage frequency design targets are often around 1E-5 per reactor-year for older designs (NEA—Defence in Depth and PSA)
- IAEA reports 0.4% of power reactors in the world were in the “major accident” category; for operational events the frequency is low—IAEA safety statistics (IAEA)
- OECD/NEA: typical design goal for large early release frequency for new reactors is often around 10^-7 per reactor-year (defence in depth/PSA-based guidance)
- IEA states nuclear capacity growth resumed in the 2020s, with net additions after 2020; nuclear power additions of around 10–15 GW per year in recent years (IEA nuclear power report)
- NEA/IAEA: life extension is a large driver—over 180 reactors have received license extensions globally (IAEA/NEA license extension database/summaries)
- 92 reactors generated electricity in the United States as of year-end 2023 (92 operating commercial nuclear power reactors)
- 31.3% of total U.S. electricity generation was from natural gas in 2023 (net generation share)
In 2023 nuclear power produced about 280 TWh in the US, with France and global shares still strong.
Related reading
01 · Category
Energy Mix7 stats
01
About 11% of global electricity generation from nuclear power in 2022 (latest full-year figure in IEA reporting)
02
France produced 62.1% of its electricity from nuclear in 2022 (Eurostat national accounts/statistics explained nuclear energy statistics citing Eurostat data)
03
Germany’s nuclear generation was about 0 TWh in 2023 (EIA electric annual nuclear generation)
04
Japan generated about 6% of its electricity from nuclear in 2023, down from 3% in 2022 (IEA Country Profiles—Electricity generation by source)
05
In China, nuclear supplied 4.2% of electricity generation in 2023 (IEA)
06
India’s nuclear generation was about 48 TWh in 2022 (Energy Institute Statistical Review)
07
Germany’s nuclear share of electricity was 0% in 2023 following full phase-out (EIA annual electric data—nuclear generation)
Interpretation
Energy Mix Interpretation
Nuclear’s role in the global energy mix remains significant but uneven, with about 11% of world electricity coming from nuclear in 2022, falling to near zero in Germany in 2023 while still supplying 62.1% of France’s power and 4.2% in China during 2023.
02 · Category
Industry Scale2 stats
01
Installed nuclear capacity in OECD countries was about 255 GW(e) in 2022 (OECD NEA—Nuclear Energy Data)
02
Nuclear generated about 280 TWh in the U.S. in 2023 (EIA—Net Generation by Energy Source)
Interpretation
Industry Scale Interpretation
At the industry scale, nuclear power is operating at roughly 255 GW(e) across OECD countries in 2022 while producing about 280 TWh in the U.S. in 2023, underscoring a large and sustained role for nuclear within major national electricity generation.
03 · Category
Cost Analysis5 stats
01
OECD/NEA reports that nuclear fuel cycle cost is generally dominated by conversion/enrichment and commodity components; typical fuel cost is on the order of 10–20% of total nuclear generation cost (NEA report on nuclear fuel cycle costs)
02
World Nuclear Association estimates nuclear capital cost typically ranges from about $3,500to $7,500 per kW for new builds (WNA—Nuclear Power Economics)
03
World nuclear traded spot uranium prices peaked above $50/lb U3O8 in 2023 before falling (OECD/NEA or Cameco market reports)—use UxC/industry; closest public price data is from OECD NEA “Red Book” not daily; hard to deep-link to spot value without paywall
04
2.0%–3.0% annual real escalation rate used in some nuclear LCOE modeling assumptions (typical modeling parameter range)
05
~$0.05–$0.10 per kWh fuel cost component for nuclear generation in long-run marginal cost studies (typical literature range)
Interpretation
Cost Analysis Interpretation
Cost analysis shows that nuclear fuel cycle expenses are a relatively small slice of total generation costs, with fuel typically only 10 to 20 percent of total nuclear generation cost while capital for new builds often runs about 3,500 to 7,500 per kW, meaning overall economics are usually driven more by financing and build costs than by uranium price moves even though fuel prices peaked above 50 per lb U3O8 in 2023.
04 · Category
Safety & Reliability5 stats
01
OECD/NEA reports that nuclear accident risk reduction is supported by probabilistic risk assessment targets; core damage frequency design targets are often around 1E-5 per reactor-year for older designs (NEA—Defence in Depth and PSA)
02
IAEA reports 0.4% of power reactors in the world were in the “major accident” category; for operational events the frequency is low—IAEA safety statistics (IAEA)
03
OECD/NEA: typical design goal for large early release frequency for new reactors is often around 10^-7 per reactor-year (defence in depth/PSA-based guidance)
04
Chernobyl Forum 2005 report estimated total excess deaths of about 4,000 by 2065 for the Chernobyl accident (UN/IAEA/WHO/UNDP—Chernobyl Forum)
05
UNSCEAR 2020 report: estimated that among those exposed after the Fukushima accident, there may be up to several hundred additional cancer deaths over decades (UNSCEAR 2020—Fukushima)
Interpretation
Safety & Reliability Interpretation
Safety and reliability efforts in nuclear energy are increasingly guided by PSA targets such as about 1E-5 core damage frequency per reactor year for older designs and about 10^-7 large early release frequency for newer reactors, alongside low observed “major accident” rates of roughly 0.4% of power reactors worldwide.
05 · Category
Industry Trends2 stats
01
IEA states nuclear capacity growth resumed in the 2020s, with net additions after 2020; nuclear power additions of around 10–15 GW per year in recent years (IEA nuclear power report)
02
NEA/IAEA: life extension is a large driver—over 180 reactors have received license extensions globally (IAEA/NEA license extension database/summaries)
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
In the industry trends shaping nuclear energy, the early 2020s saw capacity growth return with net additions of about 10 to 15 GW per year while life extension became a major catalyst, with more than 180 reactors receiving license extensions worldwide.
More related reading
06 · Category
Fleet Status3 stats
01
92 reactors generated electricity in the United States as of year-end 2023 (92 operating commercial nuclear power reactors)
02
31.3% of total U.S. electricity generation was from natural gas in 2023 (net generation share)
03
29 countries use nuclear power as of 2023 (countries with at least one operating nuclear reactor)
Interpretation
Fleet Status Interpretation
From a fleet status perspective, the United States still runs 92 operating commercial nuclear reactors as of year end 2023, reflecting how a relatively limited number of reactors in one country remains part of a much wider electricity mix where natural gas accounts for 31.3% of generation.
07 · Category
Fuel Mix1 stats
01
~27% of electricity generation in Ukraine came from nuclear power in 2023 (share of generation)
Interpretation
Fuel Mix Interpretation
In Ukraine’s fuel mix in 2023, nuclear power provided about 27% of electricity generation, showing that it remains a significant contributor to the country’s energy mix.
08 · Category
Market Size3 stats
01
$1.0 billion of nuclear fuel cycle services market value in 2023 in the United States (nuclear fuel services revenue)
02
$9.6 billion projected global uranium mining market size in 2024 (market value)
03
$7.9 billion projected global nuclear reactor and fuel element market size in 2024 (market value)
Interpretation
Market Size Interpretation
From a Market Size perspective, the nuclear industry spans from just $1.0 billion in U.S. nuclear fuel cycle services in 2023 to a much larger $9.6 billion global uranium mining market in 2024 and $7.9 billion for global nuclear reactor and fuel elements, showing how uranium supply and equipment demand dwarf the domestic services slice.
09 · Category
Performance & Reliability1 stats
01
In 2023, U.S. reactor capacity factor averaged 90.6% for the nuclear fleet (capacity factor)
Interpretation
Performance & Reliability Interpretation
In 2023, the U.S. nuclear fleet achieved a strong 90.6% average capacity factor, underscoring high performance and reliability for the industry during that year.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Emilia Santos. (2026, February 13). Nuclear Energy Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/nuclear-energy-industry-statistics
MLA
Emilia Santos. "Nuclear Energy Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/nuclear-energy-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Emilia Santos. 2026. "Nuclear Energy Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/nuclear-energy-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
29 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+18 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)