China vs USSR: Fossil fuel cons per capita
China
18,093
in 2025
USSR
14,290
in 1984
China rank
3rd
USSR rank
1st
Fossil fuel cons per capita over time
- China
- USSR
How they compare
China currently reports 18,093 against 14,290 in USSR, a difference of 3,803.
That makes China's figure about 1.3 times USSR's.
Across all 20 years both countries report, USSR has been ahead every year.
China ranks 3rd and USSR ranks 1st of 78 countries.
USSR has averaged higher in every one of the 3 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | China | USSR | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1,784 | 15,301 | 13,517 | USSR |
| 1970s | 2,898 | 15,414 | 12,517 | USSR |
| 1980s | 3,767 | 14,577 | 10,810 | USSR |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher fossil fuel cons per capita, China or USSR?
- China, at 18,093 against 14,290 in USSR as of 2025.
- What is the difference in fossil fuel cons per capita between China and USSR?
- 3,803, with China ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for China and USSR?
- 20 years are reported by both, from 1965 to 1984.
- How do China and USSR rank globally for fossil fuel cons per capita?
- China ranks 3rd and USSR ranks 1st of 78 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Our World in Data, published as Fossil fuel cons per capita. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.