Egypt has emerged as one of the world’s most active nuclear developers, and it is now the only African country building several reactors.
The country has four reactors under construction, totaling around 4.8 gigawatts (GW) of new capacity, putting it among the top nations expanding nuclear power.
Beyond Egypt, nuclear construction activity falls sharply after the main countries. Egypt and Turkey each have four reactors under construction, although most other countries are only building one or two.
Globally, China leads the nuclear growth drive. It now has 37 reactors under development, totaling around 42.9 GW of additional capacity, more than six times the capacity being built in India or Russia, the next closest countries.
In reality, China’s buildout exceeds the amount of all other countries’ present construction projects.
India and Russia are tied for second place, each with six reactors under construction. India’s projects account for 5.2 GW of capacity, somewhat more than Russia’s 4.2 GW.
The World Nuclear Association’s findings show a concentrated drive for nuclear energy as governments seek long-term energy security.
As electricity demand rises and existing reactors approach retirement, new nuclear projects become more crucial. Most reactors are initially licensed to operate for roughly 40 years, although many are extended to 60 or even 80 years with enhancements.
Notably, several established nuclear power plants are not part of the building pipeline. As of September 2025, the United States, France, and Canada have no reactors under construction.