China vs United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Primary energy from fossil fuels, nuclear, and renewables
China
3.3%
in 2025
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
6.2%
in 2025
China rank
24th
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank
22nd
Primary energy from fossil fuels, nuclear, and renewables over time
- China
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
How they compare
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland currently reports 6.2% against 3.3% in China, a difference of 2.9%.
That makes United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's figure about 1.9 times China's.
Across all 61 years both countries report, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has been ahead every year.
China ranks 24th and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 22nd of 216 countries.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has averaged higher in every one of the 7 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | China | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.0% | 2.9% | 2.9% | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| 1970s | 0.0% | 3.9% | 3.9% | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| 1980s | 0.0% | 6.8% | 6.8% | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| 1990s | 0.3% | 10.1% | 9.9% | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| 2000s | 0.7% | 8.9% | 8.2% | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| 2010s | 1.6% | 9.0% | 7.4% | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| 2020s | 3.1% | 7.2% | 4.1% | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher primary energy from fossil fuels, nuclear, and renewables, China or United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, at 6.2% against 3.3% in China as of 2025.
- What is the difference in primary energy from fossil fuels, nuclear, and renewables between China and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- 2.9%, with United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for China and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- 61 years are reported by both, from 1965 to 2025.
- How do China and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank globally for primary energy from fossil fuels, nuclear, and renewables?
- China ranks 24th and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 22nd of 216 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017); U.S. Energy Information Administration (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as Primary energy from fossil fuels, nuclear, and renewables. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Measured as a percentage of total energy supply.