A total of 437 nuclear power plants were operating around the world in 1997, based on data reported to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Power Reactor Information System (PRIS). During 1997, three nuclear power plants representing 3555 MW(e) net electric capacity were connected to the grid, two in France and one in the Republic of Korea.

Additionally, construction of five new nuclear reactors started in 1997 - two at Lingao and one at Qinshan in China as well as two at Yonggwang, Republic of Korea, bringing the total number of nuclear reactors reported as being under construction to 36 in 14 countries.

The countries with the highest reliance on nuclear power in 1997 were: Lithuania, 81.5%; France, 78.2%; Belgium, 60.1%; Ukraine, 46.8%; Sweden, 46.2%; Bulgaria, 45.4%; Slovak Republic, 44%; Switzerland, 40.6%; Slovenia 39.9% and Hungary, 39.9%. In total, 17 countries and Taiwan, China relied upon nuclear power plants to supply at least a quarter of their total electricity needs.

Worldwide in 1997, total nuclear generated electricity was 2276.49 Terawatt-hours. This is more than the world's total electricity generation - 1912 terawatt-hours - from all sources in 1958. Overall nuclear power plants provided approximately 17 percent of the world's electricity production in 1997. Cumulative worldwide operating experience from civil nuclear reactors at the end of 1997 was over 8577 years.

A table showing the electricity supplied by nuclear power reactors in 1997 and the respective percentage of electricity produced by nuclear energy is attached.