Annual change in primary energy use in China
China: Annual change in primary energy use was 947.2 terawatt-hours in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Annual change in primary energy use in China, 1966–2025
Source: Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017); U.S. Energy Information Administration (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in terawatt-hours.
Analysis
In 2025, annual change in primary energy use in China stood at 947.2 terawatt-hours.
The figure is down 27.5% on the previous year and up 243.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual change in primary energy use in China peaked at 2,566 terawatt-hours in 2004 and was at its lowest, -162.17 terawatt-hours, in 1967.
China ranks 1st of 218 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 76.68 terawatt-hours | -162.17 terawatt-hours | 327.73 terawatt-hours | 4 |
| 1970s | 287.71 terawatt-hours | 90.38 terawatt-hours | 514.99 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1980s | 292.79 terawatt-hours | -77.95 terawatt-hours | 498.98 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1990s | 339.9 terawatt-hours | 13.4 terawatt-hours | 642.69 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,502 terawatt-hours | 363.77 terawatt-hours | 2,566 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,065 terawatt-hours | -19.41 terawatt-hours | 2,293 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,396 terawatt-hours | 649.48 terawatt-hours | 2,497 terawatt-hours | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
More energy & mining data for China
- Fuel imports 20.4% (2024)
- Ores and metals imports 15.1% (2024)
- Ores and metals exports 1.5% (2024)
- Gas production 2,641 terawatt-hours (2025)
- Fossil fuel production per person, by fuel 1,865 kilowatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel 2,641 terawatt-hours (2025)
- Gas production per person 1,865 kilowatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fuel exports 1.5% (2024)
- Electric power transmission and distribution losses 3.4% (2023)
- Share of dietary energy supply from carbohydrates vs. GDP per capita 59.5% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual change in primary energy use in China?
- Annual change in primary energy use in China was 947.2 terawatt-hours in 2025, according to Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017); U.S. Energy Information Administration (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual change in primary energy use recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 2,566 terawatt-hours in 2004.
- What is the lowest annual change in primary energy use recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was -162.17 terawatt-hours in 1967.
- How does China rank for annual change in primary energy use?
- China ranks 1st out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is annual change in primary energy use rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 243.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures 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 part of Annual change in primary energy use. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 60 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Change in total energy supply relative to the previous year, measured in terawatt-hours.