The world's nuclear fleet in 1956
In 1956, 6 nuclear reactors were operating in 4 countries, 116 MWe net, with 15 under construction.
Compared with 1955, the operating fleet grew by 3 reactors. 3 reactors were connected to the grid that year, 61 MWe: Marcoule G1 (France), Calder Hall 1 (United Kingdom) and Experimental Boiling Water Reactor 1 (United States). France and the United Kingdom connected their first nuclear reactor in 1956. The countries with the most operating capacity were Russia (55 MWe), United Kingdom (49 MWe) and France (7 MWe).
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Connected to the grid in 1956
| Unit | Country | Type | Model | MWe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marcoule G1 |  France | — | unknown | 7 |
| Calder Hall 1 |  United Kingdom | GCR | Magnox | 49 |
| Experimental Boiling Water Reactor 1 |  United States | — | unknown | 5 |
Countries by operating capacity in 1956
| # | Country | Reactors | MWe | Under construction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Russia | 2 | 55 | — |
| 2 | United Kingdom | 1 | 49 | 8 |
| 3 | France | 1 | 7 | 2 |
| 4 | United States | 2 | 5 | 5 |
Data: Global Energy Monitor (CC BY 4.0), IAEA PRIS 2025, Wikipedia (CC BY-SA), Wikidata and Wikimedia Commons. Capacities in net MWe unless stated.
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