Egypt has become one of the world’s most active countries in nuclear construction and is currently the only African nation building multiple reactors simultaneously.
The nation has four reactors in progress, adding roughly 4.8 gigawatts (GW) of new generating capacity, ranking it among the leading countries expanding their nuclear power capabilities.
Outside of Egypt, activity in nuclear construction drops sharply. Both Egypt and Türkiye have four reactors under development, whereas most other countries are only building one or two.
China is the dominant force in the global nuclear expansion. It currently has 37 reactors under construction, representing about 42.9 GW of additional capacity more than six times the combined output of India or Russia, the next most active nations.
In fact, China’s nuclear projects alone surpass the total capacity being built in all other countries combined.
India and Russia are tied for second place, with six reactors each underway. India’s projects total 5.2 GW, slightly ahead of Russia’s 4.2 GW.
The figures, compiled by the World Nuclear Association, highlight a concentrated global effort toward nuclear energy as nations pursue long-term energy security.
As demand for electricity grows and older reactors near the end of their lifespan, the construction of new nuclear facilities is becoming increasingly vital. Reactors are typically licensed for around 40 years, though many are later extended to operate 60 or even 80 years with upgrades.
Interestingly, several established nuclear powers are absent from the current construction pipeline. As of September 2025, the United States, France, and Canada have no reactors under construction.