China vs United States: Energy use — Total final energy consumption

China
2.41 million Tonnes of oil equivalent
in 2023
United States
1.56 million Tonnes of oil equivalent
in 2023
China rank
1st
United States rank
1st

Energy use — Total final energy consumption over time

  • China
  • United States
500.0k1.0M1.5M2.0M2.5M198520042023

How they compare

China currently reports 2.41 million Tonnes of oil equivalent against 1.56 million Tonnes of oil equivalent in United States, a difference of 849,020 Tonnes of oil equivalent.

That makes China's figure about 1.5 times United States's.

The two have swapped places 1 time across 39 shared years of data; in 1985 it was United States ahead.

China ranks 1st and United States ranks 1st of 43 countries.

Across the 5 decades both report, China averaged higher in 2 and United States in 3.

Head to head by decade

Decade China United States Difference Ahead
1980s 617,602 Tonnes of oil equivalent 1.31 million Tonnes of oil equivalent 690,738 Tonnes of oil equivalent United States
1990s 743,022 Tonnes of oil equivalent 1.37 million Tonnes of oil equivalent 631,067 Tonnes of oil equivalent United States
2000s 1.14 million Tonnes of oil equivalent 1.54 million Tonnes of oil equivalent 399,455 Tonnes of oil equivalent United States
2010s 1.91 million Tonnes of oil equivalent 1.51 million Tonnes of oil equivalent 399,419 Tonnes of oil equivalent China
2020s 2.28 million Tonnes of oil equivalent 1.53 million Tonnes of oil equivalent 745,252 Tonnes of oil equivalent China

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher energy use — total final energy consumption, China or United States?
China, at 2.41 million Tonnes of oil equivalent against 1.56 million Tonnes of oil equivalent in United States as of 2023.
What is the difference in energy use — total final energy consumption between China and United States?
849,020 Tonnes of oil equivalent, with China ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for China and United States?
39 years are reported by both, from 1985 to 2023.
How do China and United States rank globally for energy use — total final energy consumption?
China ranks 1st and United States ranks 1st of 43 countries.
Where does this data come from?
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as Energy use — Total final energy consumption. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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China vs United States: Energy use — Total final energy consumption. Statizoid, drawing on Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Retrieved 24 August 2026, from https://energy.statizoid.com/compare/energy-use-total-final-energy-consumption/china/united-states-2/

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About this data

Indicator
Energy use — Total final energy consumption
Unit
Tonnes of oil equivalent
Source
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Licence
OECD Terms and Conditions (attribution required)
Coverage
58 places, 2,214 data points, 1985–2024
Last refreshed