Leading nuclear power plants worldwide 2024, based on capacity

As of June 2024, 10 out of the 15 largest nuclear power plants in the world based on capacity were based in Asia. Their production capacity ranged between 6.5 gigawatts electric in the largest Chinese plants to almost eight gigawatts electric in the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa power plant in Japan. 

Japanese nuclear capacity

The Japanese Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant, occupying an area of 4.2 square kilometers and consisting of seven reactor units, plays a crucial role in the Japanese economy. Japan's nuclear energy industry has been overshadowed, however, after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster. As a result of the disaster, many countries reiterated their intention to phase out nuclear power.

Nuclear reactors around the world

Globally, the number of nuclear reactors is increasing in Asia, while it is decreasing in Western Europe and North America. Still, in May 2024 these two regions had 168 and 112 operating nuclear power reactors, respectively, which amounted to most of the world's active nuclear reactors.