Share of Electricity Production from Nuclear

Data, Graphs, and Maps

Grades6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12Social Studies, Earth and Space Sciences, Mathematics

Scientist Reviewed

Provided by Our World in Data

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What it is

In this resource from Our World in Data, students will find an interactive map, graph, and chart to illustrate the percentage of electricity countries get from nuclear energy.
Students can isolate the data by country and see how it has changed since 1985.

Teaching tips

Positives

The different options for visualization make this data accessible for multiple students, even with diverse needs.
Students can easily isolate the data they need to reduce overwhelming and distracting information.

Prerequisites

Students may need nuclear energy defined.
Students should also understand that nuclear energy is a clean source of energy and why this is important.

Differentiation & Implementation

Students can compare the health and environmental impacts of nuclear energy to those associated with burning fossil fuels. Students can discuss pollution, radioactivity, and greenhouse gas emissions.
History students can create a timeline of notable events in nuclear energy, noting under each the worldwide or national use of nuclear at or after the time of that event.
If students don't know the difference between nuclear fission and nuclear fusion, the fact sheet in the Introduction to Nuclear Energy resource is a useful tool to illustrate the differences and similarities.
Social studies teachers can use this resource in conjunction with this nuclear energy lesson.

From the scientist review

The resource underscores electricity production from nuclear in different countries beginning in 1985. The method used is relevant and suitable for teaching.

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At a glance

Grades: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Subjects: Social Studies, Earth and Space Sciences, Mathematics
Other types: Interactive Media
Format: Microsoft Excel
Language: English
Location: Earth
Provider: Our World in Data
Authors: Hannah Ritchie, Max Roser
Published: July 20, 2021
Last updated: July 16, 2026
: Reviewed by our climate scientists How we review

Standards alignment · CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.HSS.IC.B.6 + 5 more

Connecticut Climate Education Hub

Common Core Math Standards (CCSS.MATH)

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.HSS.IC.B.6Evaluate reports based on data.

Connecticut Elementary and Secondary Social Studies Standards

6.Inq.4.e.Analyze how a specific problem can manifest itself at local, regional, and global levels over time, identifying its characteristics and causes.
6.Geo.4.a.Explain how cultural patterns influence the environment and daily life within and among regions (e.g., pollution of the Ganges River, Croatian access to Adriatic Seacoast, Main-Danube waterway, Chinese New Year, Hajj).
MW.Geo.9.a.Evaluate the influence of long-term climate variability on contemporary human migration, settlement patterns, resource use, and land use at local-to-global scales (e.g., heat waves, desertification, loss of biodiversity, fish migration, irrigation, wildfires).

Connecticut Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)

MS-ESS3-5.Ask questions to clarify evidence of the factors that have caused the rise in global temperatures over the past century.

Core

College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Standards

D2.Geo.1.9-12Use geospatial and related technologies to create maps to display and explain the spatial patterns of cultural and environmental characteristics.

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Teaching tips

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