China vs USSR: Fossil fuels
China
26,296
in 2025
USSR
4,014
in 1984
China rank
1st
USSR rank
4th
Fossil fuels over time
- China
- USSR
How they compare
China currently reports 26,296 against 4,014 in USSR, a difference of 22,282.
That makes China's figure about 6.6 times USSR's.
The two have swapped places 3 times across 84 shared years of data; in 1900 it was USSR ahead.
China ranks 1st and USSR ranks 4th of 220 countries.
Across the 9 decades both report, China averaged higher in 1 and USSR in 8.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | China | USSR | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 25.76 | 137.37 | 111.6 | USSR |
| 1910s | 55.68 | 179.2 | 123.52 | USSR |
| 1920s | 95.75 | 131.62 | 35.87 | USSR |
| 1930s | 155.65 | 613.73 | 458.08 | USSR |
| 1940s | 211.12 | 952.38 | 741.26 | USSR |
| 1950s | 739.97 | 2,153 | 1,413 | USSR |
| 1960s | 1,708 | 3,242 | 1,535 | USSR |
| 1970s | 2,738 | 3,728 | 990.66 | USSR |
| 1980s | 4,058 | 4,040 | 18.05 | China |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher fossil fuels, China or USSR?
- China, at 26,296 against 4,014 in USSR as of 2025.
- What is the difference in fossil fuels between China and USSR?
- 22,282, with China ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for China and USSR?
- 84 years are reported by both, from 1900 to 1984.
- How do China and USSR rank globally for fossil fuels?
- China ranks 1st and USSR ranks 4th of 220 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Our World in Data, published as Fossil fuels. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.