In 2024, nuclear energy accounted for roughly 18.2 percent of the United States' electricity generation, down from over 20 percent in 1995. Since 1990, the number of operable nuclear reactors in the U.S. dropped by 18 units.

Employment statistics on the Nuclear Power industry in the US

Three states in the United States generated over 50 percent of their in-state electricity from nuclear power in 2019. New Hampshire had the highest share at 61 percent of its generation, followed by South Carolina with 56 percent.

Demographic data on U.S. commercial nuclear power reactors, including: plant name/unit number, docket number, location, licensee, reactor/containment type, nuclear steam system supplier/design, architect-engineer, constructor, important dates, capacities,

Demographic data on U.S. commercial nuclear power reactors, including: plant name/unit number, docket number, location, licensee, reactor/containment type, nuclear steam system supplier/design, architect-engineer, constructor, important dates, capacities, and links to plant-specific pages

Market Size statistics on the Nuclear Power industry in the US

Global nuclear power generation reached 2,618 terawatt-hours in 2024, a year-over-year increase of nearly three percent. Figures have seen a mostly increasing trend since 2012 but decreased in 2020 and 2022. The global nuclear landscape Following the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan in March 2011, some countries, such as Germany, vowed to phase out or limit nuclear power for energy production. Nevertheless, nuclear power generation has been steadily increasing since 2013, surpassing pre-Fukushima levels in 2019. Still, some countries remain staunchly opposed to building nuclear power facilities. Overall, more nuclear power reactors have shut down in recent years, and the global nuclear capacity dropped from 389.5 in 2021 to 377 in 2024. Largest consumers of nuclear energy Consumption of nuclear power varies widely across the world, with the United States, China, and France making up almost 60 percent of the world’s global consumption. Many reactors in the United States began construction by 1974, but little changed until the 2010s when new reactors were approved for construction. In turn, the vast majority of nuclear power reactors in the United States were at least 30 years old in 2023. Meanwhile, in France, nuclear power is the leading source of electricity, accounting for 67 percent of electricity production.

The United States is the largest consumer of nuclear power, having accounted for almost 30 percent of the world’s nuclear power consumption in 2024. In 2024, nuclear energy consumption in the U.S. totaled nine exajoules. Nuclear power generation In 2010, global nuclear power generation reached 2,630 terawatt-hours. Following the Fukushima nuclear disaster in March 2011, that year saw an output drop. Generation also declined in 2012 but has since recovered. It amounted to 2,552 terawatt-hours in 2023. Currently, nuclear power accounts for roughly nine percent of global electricity generation. Nuclear reactors As the top producer of nuclear power, it comes as no surprise that the U.S. has by far the most operable nuclear reactors worldwide. With a total of 94 units in operation as of May 2025, this is almost 40 more than in China. Nevertheless, whilst the U.S. had no planned nuclear reactor additions at the time, China had 40. The Asian country also had 28 nuclear reactors under construction. It is projected that China will surpass the U.S. as the world’s largest nuclear energy producer.

United States US: Alternative and Nuclear Energy: % of Total Energy Use data was reported at 12.323 % in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 12.110 % for 2014. United States US: Alternative and Nuclear Energy: % of Total Energy Use data is updated yearly, averaging 8.726 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2015, with 56 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 12.323 % in 2015 and a record low of 1.261 % in 1960. United States US: Alternative and Nuclear Energy: % of Total Energy Use data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.World Bank.WDI: Energy Production and Consumption. Clean energy is noncarbohydrate energy that does not produce carbon dioxide when generated. It includes hydropower and nuclear, geothermal, and solar power, among others.; ; IEA Statistics © OECD/IEA 2014 (http://www.iea.org/stats/index.asp), subject to https://www.iea.org/t&c/termsandconditions/; Weighted average; Restricted use: Please contact the International Energy Agency for third-party use of these data.

France has the greatest share of nuclear power in total electricity generation worldwide. In 2024, nuclear energy accounted for over 67 percent of the European country's total electricity production. By comparison, the share of nuclear electricity generation in the United States stood at less than 20 percent. Nuclear power production in France Nuclear power is essential to France’s energy plan, as it meets a significant amount of the country’s electrical needs. In January 2025, the monthly nuclear power production in the country reached 38.6 terawatt-hours. France has a sizable fleet of reactors, which helps to maintain a steady supply of electricity while reducing its carbon footprint. Global nuclear landscape The United States holds the highest nuclear power capacity globally, with approximately 97 gigawatts electric across its 94 reactors as of August 2025. France came in second with over 63 gigawatts electric. 61 nuclear reactors are under construction worldwide, with China leading with 28 units and India following with six. Additionally, the global nuclear landscape saw the permanent shutdown of four reactors in 2024, highlighting ongoing shifts in energy production and policy.

Data on uranium and nuclear fuel, nuclear power plants and reactors, radioactive waste, and nuclear power generation. International data on nuclear generation also available. Monthly, quarterly, and annual data available.

The aim of the Million Person Study of Low-Dose Health Effects (MPS) is to examine the level of radiation risk for chronic exposures received gradually over time and not acutely as was the case for the Japanese atomic bomb survivors. Nuclear power plant (NPP) workers comprise nearly 15 percent of the MPS. Leukemia, selected cancers, Parkinson’s disease, ischemic heart disease (IHD) and other causes of death are evaluated. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s Radiation Exposure Information and Reporting System (REIRS) and the Landauer, Inc. dosimetry databases identified 135,193 NPP workers first monitored 1957–1984. Annual personal dose equivalents [Hp(10)] were available for each worker. Radiation records from all places of employment were sought. Vital status was determined through 2011. Mean absorbed doses to red bone marrow (RBM), esophagus, lung, colon, brain and heart were estimated by adjusting the recorded Hp(10) for each worker by scaling factors, accounting for exposure geometry and energy of the incident gamma radiation. Standardized mortality ratios (SMR) were calculated. Radiation risks were estimated using Cox proportional hazards models. Nearly 50% of workers were employed for more than 20 years. The mean duration of follow-up was 30.2 y. Overall, 29,124 total deaths occurred, 296 from leukemia other than chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), 3382 from lung cancer, 140 from Parkinson’s disease and 5410 from IHD. The mean dose to RBM was 37.9 mGy (maximum 1.0 Gy; percent >100 mGy was 9.2%), 43.2 mGy to lung, 43.7 mGy to colon, 33.2 mGy to brain, and 43.9 mGy to heart. The SMRs (95% CI) were 1.06 (0.94; 1.19) for leukemia other than CLL, 1.10 (1.07; 1.14) for lung cancer, 0.90 (0.76; 1.06) for Parkinson’s disease, and 0.80 (0.78; 0.82) for IHD. The excess relative risk (ERR) per 100 mGy for leukemia other than CLL was 0.15 (90% CI −0.001; 0.31). For all solid cancers the ERR per 100 mGy (95% CI) was 0.01 (–0.03; 0.05), for lung cancer −0.04 (–0.11; 0.02), for Parkinson’s disease 0.24 (–0.02; 0.50), and for IHD −0.01 (–0.06; 0.04). Prolonged exposure to radiation increased the risk of leukemia other than CLL among NPP workers. There was little evidence for a radiation association for all solid cancers, lung cancer or ischemic heart disease. Increased precision will be forthcoming as the different cohorts within the MPS are combined, such as industrial radiographers and medical radiation workers who were assembled and evaluated in like manner.

This dataset displays energy production estimates in trillion Btu by source and by state for the year 2005. Included in the data are figures on coal, natural gas, crude oil, nuclear, renewable, and total energy production. All of which are on a trillion Btu Scale. Data is available for all 50 US states, and the District of Columbia. This information is for the year 2005. Side Notes: Includes coal recovery, market production of natural gas, lease condensate included in the crude oil, and renewable energy consumption is used as proxy.

Nuclear power had the highest capacity factor among energy sources in the United States, at over 92 percent in 2024. Geothermal energy-generating facilities followed and had the largest capacity factor among renewable sources at 65 percent. In contrast, natural gas and petroleum ranked the lowest. Cost of nuclear power in the United States Despite the large capacity factor, nuclear power plants had one of the highest levelized costs of electricity in the country. The operating expenses of nuclear utilities in the U.S. are nearly 50 percent lower than those of fossil fuel power plants, indicating higher capital expenditure for these facilities. Capacity factor of renewable energy plants Excluding geothermal energy, the capacity factor of renewable energy plants in the U.S. was roughly 34 percent for hydropower and wind energy and close to 23 percent for solar photovoltaic and solar thermal in 2023. Overall, the capacity factor of offshore wind power worldwide was at 41 percent in 2023, while the one of utility-scale solar PV was at approximately 16 percent in that year.

The US's economy relies almost exclusively on nonrenewable fossil energy sourses. In 1976, 93.2 percent of the nation's primary energy source was fossil fuel; the remaining 6.8 percent was supplied by electricity generated from hydroelectric and nuclear power. In order to meet the growing demand for fossil energy, petroleum imports have been increasing- in 1976, 44.5 percent of the petroleum consumed in the US was imported and 22.4 percent of all US energy consumed in the US was imported. The ability to reduce imports in the near term to an acceptable level with resoect to improving balance of payments and providing for national secutiry will depend on energy conservation and increased coal usage.

In 2024, the United States consumed about *** quadrillion British thermal units (Btu) of energy derived from nuclear sources, recording an increase compared to the previous year. The U.S.' nuclear energy consumption reached the peak of the century in 2007, at around **** quadrillion British thermal units.

Illinois was the leading U.S. state based on the number of nuclear power plants in 2024. In that year, the state had *** nuclear facilities on its territory. South Carolina and Pennsylvania followed, with **** nuclear plants each. In terms of nuclear reactors in the U.S., ** were located in Illinois, ***** in Pennsylvania, and ***** in South Carolina.

According to a recent forecast, global nuclear power capacity was projected to grow in the coming decades, with significant variations between low and high scenarios. While the low scenario predicted an increase of *** gigawatts electric between 2024 and 2050, the high scenario envisioned a more substantial expansion, reaching ****gigawatts electric by 2050. Current nuclear energy leaders In 2025, the Western European region currently led the industry in terms of capacity of nuclear power plants worldwide. The U.S. had approximately ** gigawatts electric installed across ** operating reactors; France and China followed with ** and ** gigawatts electric, respectively. Future prospects in the nuclear energy sector While nuclear capacity in Europe and the U.S. is forecast to decrease, China is rapidly expanding its nuclear capabilities. China's capacity is expected to nearly triple by 2050, reflecting a major shift in the global nuclear energy landscape. As of July 2024, China had the largest

In 2024, almost one million people worked for utilities in the electric power generation sector in the United States. Around 370,600 of these employees worked in power generation from solar sources. Wind was the second-largest source of employment, employing some 133,000 employees that year. Fossil fuel sector in the U.S. In 2024, less than 50 percent of the people working in U.S. power utilities were employed in plants fueled by natural gas, coal, oil, or combined heat and power. The country plans over 74 gigawatts worth of capacity retirements from hydrocarbon plants between 2024 and 2035, approximately 10 percent of the existing fossil fuel energy capacity in the U.S. As a result, the fossil fuel sector will likely see employment decrease. Clean energy sector in the U.S. Nuclear energy utilities in the U.S. had the fifth-largest number of employees in 2023, and the nuclear industry jobs in the country had a four-fold increase when the power plant Vogtle started operations in 2023. Both hydropower and solar energy-related jobs showed a significant growing trend that same year.

As a weapon of mass destruction, nuclear warheads are part of the defense arsenal of some countries in the world. There were approximately 12,200 nuclear warheads worldwide as of January 2025, and almost 90 percent of them belong to two countries: Russia and the United States. Even though the number of nuclear weapons worldwide has been decreasing since the Cold War, still the same two countries possess the majority of them. Moreover, with more conflicts ongoing worldwide, nuclear weapons become more important to nuclear powers as a way of deterring. What are nuclear warheads? Nuclear warheads are weapons of mass destruction and are able to destroy whole cities and kill millions of people. They also have tremendous long-lasting effects on the environment and future generations due to radioactive contamination taking its toll years after the explosion. They have only been used once; by the United States in 1945 in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in the final stage of World War 2. Despite the devastating nature of nuclear weapons, some countries have been carrying out nuclear tests regularly. Global attitudes There have been debates about the prohibition of nuclear weapons due to the enormous destructive power that they have. In July of 2017, the United Nations General Assembly voted on the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. There were 139 countries that supported the treaty and positioned themselves against the possession of nuclear weapons. However, as the forecasted budget for the nuclear weapons program of the United States from 2022 shows, the investments in this area are increasing rather than decreasing. Similar attitudes can be expected from the Russian government.