Egypt has emerged as one of the world’s most active nuclear builders and is currently the only African country constructing multiple reactors.
- Egypt is currently constructing four nuclear reactors, making it Africa’s leading nuclear builder.
- Egypt’s new reactors will add around 4.8 GW of capacity, ranking it among the top nations expanding nuclear energy.
- China is the global leader with 37 reactors under construction, totalling almost 43 GW—more than all other countries combined.
- India and Russia are tied for second, each with six reactors underway, followed by Egypt and Türkiye with four each.
Egypt has emerged as one of the world’s most active nuclear builders and is currently the only African country constructing multiple reactors.
The country has four reactors under construction, representing about 4.8 gigawatts (GW) of new capacity, placing it among the top nations expanding nuclear power.
Beyond Egypt, nuclear construction activity drops off quickly after the leading countries. Egypt and Türkiye each have four reactors underway, while most other nations are building just one or two.
Globally, China dominates the nuclear expansion drive. It has 37 reactors under construction, totalling roughly 42.9 GW of new capacity, more than six times the capacity being built in either India or Russia, the next closest countries.
In fact, China’s buildout alone exceeds the combined total currently under construction in all other nations.
India and Russia are tied for second place, with six reactors each underway. India’s projects account for 5.2 GW of capacity, slightly ahead of Russia’s 4.2 GW.
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Rising energy demand
The data, compiled by the World Nuclear Association, reflects a concentrated push toward nuclear energy as countries seek long-term energy security.
As electricity demand rises and ageing reactors approach retirement, new nuclear projects are becoming increasingly important. Most reactors are initially licensed to operate for about 40 years, though many receive extensions to 60 or even 80 years with upgrades.
Notably, several established nuclear powers are absent from the construction pipeline. As of September 2025, the United States, France, and Canada have no reactors currently under construction.
