How does China rank for coal energy consumption per capita vs. gdp per capita?

China ranks 3rd out of 77 countries with data for 2025.

Is coal energy consumption per capita vs. gdp per capita rising or falling in China?

Over the last ten years it is up 13.1%. 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); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Coal energy consumption per capita vs. GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Coal energy consumption per capita vs. GDP per capita in China

Name: Coal energy consumption per capita vs. GDP per capita in China
Creator: Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

China: Coal energy consumption per capita vs. GDP per capita was 18.09 kilowatt-hours per person in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)

18.09 kilowatt-hours per person

Change on year

up 0.2%

World rank

3rd

of 77 countries

All-time high

18.09 kilowatt-hours per person

in 2025

All-time low

1.61 kilowatt-hours per person

in 1968

Years of data

1965–2025

Coal energy consumption per capita vs. GDP per capita in China, 1965–2025

Source: Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in kilowatt-hours per person.

Analysis

In 2025, coal energy consumption per capita vs. gdp per capita in China stood at 18.09 kilowatt-hours per person. That is the highest value across all 61 years on record.

That represents a change of up 0.2% on the previous year and up 13.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, coal energy consumption per capita vs. gdp per capita in China peaked at 18.09 kilowatt-hours per person in 2025 and was at its lowest, 1.61 kilowatt-hours per person, in 1968.

China ranks 3rd of 77 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	1.78 kilowatt-hours per person	1.61 kilowatt-hours per person	1.92 kilowatt-hours per person	5
1970s	2.9 kilowatt-hours per person	2.34 kilowatt-hours per person	3.51 kilowatt-hours per person	10
1980s	4.33 kilowatt-hours per person	3.53 kilowatt-hours per person	5.33 kilowatt-hours per person	10
1990s	6.08 kilowatt-hours per person	5.32 kilowatt-hours per person	6.58 kilowatt-hours per person	10
2000s	10.65 kilowatt-hours per person	6.47 kilowatt-hours per person	14.6 kilowatt-hours per person	10
2010s	15.94 kilowatt-hours per person	15.05 kilowatt-hours per person	16.61 kilowatt-hours per person	10
2020s	17.32 kilowatt-hours per person	16.15 kilowatt-hours per person	18.09 kilowatt-hours per person	6

Countries ranked near China

1 Kazakhstan 20.95 kilowatt-hours per person compare
2 Estonia 18.97 kilowatt-hours per person compare
4 South Africa 15.64 kilowatt-hours per person compare
5 Taiwan 15.41 kilowatt-hours per person compare
6 South Korea 15.35 kilowatt-hours per person compare

See the full ranking of 78 places →

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)

All data for China →

Frequently asked questions

What is coal energy consumption per capita vs. gdp per capita in China?: Coal energy consumption per capita vs. gdp per capita in China was 18.09 kilowatt-hours per person in 2025, according to Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest coal energy consumption per capita vs. gdp per capita recorded in China?: The highest recorded value was 18.09 kilowatt-hours per person in 2025.
What is the lowest coal energy consumption per capita vs. gdp per capita recorded in China?: The lowest recorded value was 1.61 kilowatt-hours per person in 1968.
How does China rank for coal energy consumption per capita vs. gdp per capita?: China ranks 3rd out of 77 countries with data for 2025.
Is coal energy consumption per capita vs. gdp per capita rising or falling in China?: Over the last ten years it is up 13.1%. 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); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Coal energy consumption per capita vs. GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 61 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

About this data

Indicator: Coal energy consumption per capita vs. GDP per capita
Unit: kilowatt-hours per person
Source: Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 78 places, 4,195 data points, 1965–2025
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

Measured in kilowatt-hours of total energy supply per person.