As the world begins to look towards a future with dwindling petroleum supplies and uncertain energy prospects, a number of alternative energy sources are being examined. In addition to more novel sources of energy, a great deal of attention is being paid to nuclear power, and countries around the world are either resuming construction of new nuclear power plants, or beginning product of their first plants.

There are currently just under 450 nuclear power plants on earth, with another thirty or so being built at any given time, and a bit over two hundred more proposed for the next ten years. Together, these nuclear power plants produce more than 370,000 Megawatts, or just over 15% of the world’s total energy use.

The United States has by far the most nuclear power plants, with more than one hundred currently in operation. All told, nuclear power in the United States accounts for just over 20% of the country’s energy needs. A large push is being made by some factions to ramp up the number of nuclear power plants in the country, hoping to add another thirty plants in the coming years, to wean the nation off of a dependence on foreign oil.

Both France and Japan have more than fifty nuclear power plants each in their countries, France with fifty-nine and Japan with fifty-five. France is one of only a handful of nations to produce the majority of its energy using nuclear power, and meets some 77% of its needs that way, the largest percentage of any nation in the world. Japan covers roughly 30% of its energy needs through nuclear power.

Russia has thirty-one nuclear power plants in its country, producing just over 15% of its total energy needs. After a period of relative stagnation in nuclear power development, following the catastrophic meltdown at Chernobyl, Russia has undertaken plans to grow its nuclear power generation immensely. Sixteen new plants are either currently being built or have been ordered, while another nineteen have been proposed, making it one of the most ambitious growth projects currently underway.

Only a handful of other nations have more than fifteen nuclear power plants, many of them countries which built their plants years ago. Germany produces roughly a quarter of their energy through their seventeen nuclear power plants, but they are currently decommissioning them and moving to other energy production methods. The Ukraine has fifteen power plants, responsible for roughly half of their energy needs, and are planning on adding another thirteen plants by the year 2030. Canada, India, the United Kingdom, and South Korea also each have more than fifteen power plants, with both India and South Korea planning on growing that number substantially in the future.

Only four countries aside from France generate more than half of their energy through nuclear power. Sweden’s ten plants account for just over 50% of their energy, Belgium’s seven make up 54% of their energy, although they are considering decommissioning them, Slovakia’s six plants generate just over 50% of their energy, and Lithuania’s single nuclear power plant meets 64% of their energy needs.

A number of countries have undertaken ambitious programs to grow their nuclear power generation enormously in the coming years. Both Brazil and China are at the forefront of this movement. With only two current nuclear power plants, Brazil generates very little of their energy through nuclear power, but they have plans to build another fifty plants soon. China has the most ambitious growth program, aiming to add another hundred nuclear power plants to their existing ten, which would cover roughly a fifth of their energy needs, and make them the top producer of nuclear power in the world.

Countries with only a handful of nuclear power plants include: Pakistan, Armenia, Romania, Mexico, Slovenia, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Spain, Taiwan, Bulgaria, Finland, South Africa, Hungary, Argentina, and the Netherlands. A few countries have no nuclear power plants at the moment, but aim to in the future. These countries are: Indonesia, Egypt, Vietnam, Israel, North Korea, Iran, and Turkey.