The total installed capacity of operating nuclear power plants worldwide could more than triple by 2060. This forecast is driven by the growing demand for electricity and countries' efforts to strengthen energy security.
This forecast is contained in the 46th annual report of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), titled 'Energy, Electricity and Nuclear Energy Outlook to 2060.' The updated projections were presented by IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi during the 70th General Conference of the Agency in Vienna. For the first time, the analytical horizon of the report was extended from 2050 to 2060.
As of the end of 2025, 413 power units were operating globally, with a total installed electrical capacity of 377.1 GW. According to the high-level scenario, global nuclear capacity will reach 1045 GW by 2050 and 1284 GW by 2060. The 2060 figure will be approximately 3.4 times higher than the 2025 level, whereas last year's projection for 2050 was 992 GW.
The low-level scenario suggests that installed nuclear capacity will reach 696 GW by 2060, which is still almost double the level at the end of 2025. Grossi noted that the IAEA forecasts confirm the increasing role of nuclear energy in meeting global electricity demand. However, realizing the sector's potential requires timely investments in new capacity and life extension of existing reactors.
In 2025, electricity generation from nuclear power plants increased by 1.1% to 2689.1 TWh. Meanwhile, the overall growth in global electricity generation was 2.7%, leading to a decrease in the share of nuclear energy in total generation from 8.7% in 2024 to 8.4% in 2025.