China (People’s Republic of) vs United States: Fossil fuel production
China (People’s Republic of)
26,296
in 2025
United States
3,067
in 2025
China (People’s Republic of) rank
1st
United States rank
4th
Fossil fuel production over time
- China (People’s Republic of)
- United States
How they compare
China (People’s Republic of) currently reports 26,296 against 3,067 in United States, a difference of 23,229.
That makes China (People’s Republic of)'s figure about 8.6 times United States's.
The two have swapped places 1 time across 45 shared years of data; in 1981 it was United States ahead.
China (People’s Republic of) ranks 1st and United States ranks 4th of 34 countries.
Across the 5 decades both report, China (People’s Republic of) averaged higher in 4 and United States in 1.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | China (People’s Republic of) | United States | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 4,859 | 5,415 | 556.56 | United States |
| 1990s | 7,278 | 6,234 | 1,043 | China (People’s Republic of) |
| 2000s | 13,198 | 6,401 | 6,797 | China (People’s Republic of) |
| 2010s | 21,080 | 5,097 | 15,983 | China (People’s Republic of) |
| 2020s | 24,608 | 3,141 | 21,468 | China (People’s Republic of) |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher fossil fuel production, China (People’s Republic of) or United States?
- China (People’s Republic of), at 26,296 against 3,067 in United States as of 2025.
- What is the difference in fossil fuel production between China (People’s Republic of) and United States?
- 23,229, with China (People’s Republic of) ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for China (People’s Republic of) and United States?
- 45 years are reported by both, from 1981 to 2025.
- How do China (People’s Republic of) and United States rank globally for fossil fuel production?
- China (People’s Republic of) ranks 1st and United States ranks 4th of 34 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Our World in Data, published as Fossil fuel production. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.