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Global Nuclear Capacity Forecast to More Than Triple by 2060

By NAM NewsroomOctober 15, 2026

Global Nuclear Capacity Forecast to More Than Triple by 2060

The world’s nuclear energy capacity could more than triple by 2060, according to new projections from the International Atomic Energy Agency.

What’s going on: The projections come “as countries increasingly consider nuclear power to meet rising electricity demand and energy security, with small modular reactors (SMRs) set to become a significant new source of clean power and a growing need to offset retiring reactors.”

  • The outlook, contained in the agency’s 46th annual report, “Energy, Electricity and Nuclear Power Estimates for the Period up to 2060,” was announced at last month’s 70th IAEA General Conference in Vienna, Austria.
  • This marks the sixth consecutive year that the IAEA has revised its nuclear expansion projections upward.

A closer look: “At the end of 2025, 413 nuclear power reactors were operating worldwide, providing 377.1 gigawatts electric (GW(e)) of global nuclear generating capacity.”

  • Under the IAEA’s high case projection, nuclear capacity would reach 1,045 GW(e) by 2050, while the low case projection forecasts 696 GW(e), nearly double last year’s total generation.
  • Most of the nuclear additions are expected in Central and Eastern Asia.

The SMR factor: The IAEA anticipates SMRs will be a big contributor to the growth of nuclear power.

  • Under the agency’s high-growth projection, SMRs would account for 28% of new nuclear capacity added by 2060, compared with 23% under its low-growth projection.
  • In North America, SMRs are expected to account for approximately 60% of new nuclear capacity over that time frame.

The NAM says: “These latest projections underscore what manufacturers have long recognized: nuclear energy is essential to meeting growing energy demand and strengthening our economic competitiveness,” said NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons.

  • “Manufacturers need reliable, affordable, abundant energy to power our operations, create jobs and make the products Americans rely on every day. But unlocking the full potential of nuclear energy, including innovative technologies like small modular reactors, requires a modern, predictable permitting process. Congress must act on bipartisan permitting reform to cut delays, accelerate critical energy projects and ensure America leads the way in powering the future of manufacturing.”