BASIC MAP

is located in the United States, making it the country with the most nuclear energy.

of nuclear power

19%

are currently operating throughout the world.

nuclear power reactors

440

Countries in which nuclear energy is found the most, the last nuclear power plant in California, and the Chernobyl and Fukushima disaster locations are placed below.

Global Nuclear Energy

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THE UNITED STATES The United States produces more nuclear energy than any other country, producing 91.5GW or 19% of the global output. Of the 440 nuclear power reactors in the world, 88 nuclear power plants have been built in the United States. "U.S. installed nuclear capacity by reactor" / EIA / Today in Energy / Public Domain

DIABLO CANYON California's last nuclear power plant, the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant, was scheduled to fully shut down by 2025, yet on Sept. 1, California lawmakers voted to keep it open for five more years. Due to blackouts in 2020 and the fact that Diablo Canyon generated 6% of the state's electricity last year, it was considered a necessity. "Lawmakers approve $1.4-billion loan to keep Diablo Canyon nuclear plant open" / Taryn Luna / Los Angeles Times / CC-BY-SA

FRANCE France produces the second most nuclear energy, after the United States, producing 61.3GW. Of the 440 nuclear power reactors in the world, 56 nuclear power plants have been built in France. "Nuclear Power in Francer" / World Nuclear Association / world-nuclear.org / CC-BY

CHERNOBYL DISASTER On April 26, 1986, a reactor in the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant went out of control during a test at low power, leading to an explosion and fire that demolished the reactor building and released large amounts of radiation into the atmosphere. The Chernobyl disaster took place near the city of Pripyat in the north of the Ukrainian SSR in the Soviet Union, killing two plant workers and 28 more due to acute radiation syndrome. "Ukrainian Society for Friendship and Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries" / IAEA / CC BY-SA 2.0

JAPAN Japan is the fourth most nuclear energy-producing country in the world, producing 31.7GW. Of the 440 nuclear power reactors in the world, 33 nuclear power plants are operable in Japan. "Nuclear power in Japan" / NIIGATA / Economist / CC-BY-SA

CHINA China is the third most nuclear energy-producing country in the world, producing 50.8GW. Of the 440 nuclear power reactors in the world, 47 nuclear power plants have been built in China. "Nuclear Power Plants in China" / World Nuclear Association / world-nuclear.org / CC-BY-SA

FUKUSHIMA DAIICHI DISASTER On March 11, 2011, following a major earthquake, a 15-meter tsunami disabled the power supply and cooling of three Fukushima Daiichi reactors in Japan, causing a nuclear accident. All three cores mostly melted in the first three days. There were no worker deaths linked to the accident, however, there was one radiation-caused death confirmed four years later. "Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Disaster" / Jennifer Straka / Suffolk University / CC BY