Mains electricity by country
This is an overview of mains electricity by country, with a focus on listing the regional differences in plug and socket types, nominal supply voltages, and AC supply frequencies commonly used for delivering electrical power to low-voltage appliances, equipment, and lighting typically found in homes and offices.
For industrial machinery, see industrial and multiphase power plugs and sockets.
Voltage and frequency
Mains electricity varies in voltage and AC frequency across the world. As shown in the adjacent map and in the table below, premises in most of the world receive a supply of between 220–240 volts at an AC frequency of 50 hertz. North America is the biggest exception.With the notable exception of North America, premises around the world receive either a three-phase supply or a single-phase supply derived from a three-phase system. In North America, most premises are instead served by a unique split-phase connection which provides a choice of either 120 or 240 V at 60 Hz. Each circuit in the premises can be connected to either one of two 120 V supplies or to a 240 V supply, with the latter being useful for appliances with larger power requirements. Different sockets are mandated for different voltage or current levels.
Internationally standardized mains supply voltages and frequencies are defined in IEC 60038. In a 1997 amendment, the old standard values of 220/380 V and 240/415 V were replaced with a new harmonized standard of 230/400 V, but the use of the old standards may still persist in some regions. All voltages expressed in this article are AC RMS and are nominal values. Standards and laws define the nominal values for each region and are accompanied with a certain degree of permitted variation. Thus the nominal value may deviate somewhat from typically encountered values.
Current
Many countries with a voltage around 120 V use 10 A for regular usage and 15 or 16 A for high-power applications. Appliances may include batteries and/or supercapacitors to compensate for the lack of outlets above 10 A, or to further increase the usable power beyond the maximum output of 15 or 16 A outlets. Due to the high cost of those appliances, applications that require high power at low cost are much less common in 120 V countries.Some countries with a voltage around 230 V use 10 A for regular usage and 15 or 16 A for high-power applications. In such cases, 15 and 16 A outlets may be much less common, since 10 A at 230 V already provides considerably more power than even the high-power outlets in 120 V countries. Sockets of Type E and Type F, used in large parts of continental Europe and various other countries, are rated for 16 A at 230 V. However, the actual circuit protection may vary by country, as some national wiring codes allow lower ratings such as 10 A or 13 A for ordinary outlets.
Plugs
Socket and plug types can vary significantly by region. In some cases plugs from one region may fit sockets of another, but physical compatibility of receptacles may not ensure compatibility of voltage, frequency, or connection to earth, including plugs and cords. In some areas, plugs and sockets from outdated standards may still exist. Foreign enclaves, extraterritorial government installations, or buildings frequented by tourists, may support plugs not otherwise used in the host country for the convenience of travellers.A system of identification of plug and socket types is used here in the adjacent world map and the below table, involving a single letter. This comes from the which defines these letters in terms of a general description, without making reference to specific standards. Where a plug does not have a specific assigned letter code, it may be defined by the style sheet number listed in the IEC TR 60083 standard.
Identification guide
Table of mains voltages, frequencies, and plugs
Supply voltages are presented here as in IEC 60038. Those with an A/B form thus represent phase-to-neutral and phase-to-phase voltages respectively, with the exception of 120/240 and 110/220 split-phase. If several voltages are listed, the first one is typically the standard mains voltage that most residential buildings and offices receive, while additional voltages may be used in industrial settings.| Country or territory | Plug type | National plug standard | Nominal supply voltage | Supply frequency | Notes |
 AfghanistanPrimary source, published by the International Electrotechnical Commission, provided the primary source of data for the above table. The website includes some history, a description of plug types, and a list of countries, giving the type used and the mains voltage and frequency of each. Although useful for a quick reference, especially for travellers, IEC World Plugs is not necessarily totally accurate and up-to-date. |