Electric power transmission and distribution losses (% of output) in China
China: Electric power transmission and distribution losses (% of output) was 3.1% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Electric power transmission and distribution losses in China, 1990–2024
Source: IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, International Energy Agency (IEA). Measured in % of output.
Analysis
China recorded 3.1% for electric power transmission and distribution losses in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
The figure is down 4.0% on the previous year and down 42.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, electric power transmission and distribution losses in China peaked at 7.4% in 1995 and was at its lowest, 3.1%, in 2024.
China ranks 146th of 151 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Electric power transmission and distribution losses (% of output) in China, year by year
| Year | % of output | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 7.0% | — |
| 1991 | 7.2% | +2.8% |
| 1992 | 7.2% | +0.6% |
| 1993 | 7.4% | +2.0% |
| 1994 | 6.4% | -13.0% |
| 1995 | 7.4% | +15.0% |
| 1996 | 7.1% | -3.6% |
| 1997 | 7.0% | -1.3% |
| 1998 | 6.8% | -3.6% |
| 1999 | 7.0% | +2.6% |
| 2000 | 6.9% | -0.6% |
| 2001 | 7.0% | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 7.1% | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 6.6% | -6.6% |
| 2004 | 6.4% | -2.3% |
| 2005 | 6.8% | +5.9% |
| 2006 | 6.5% | -5.0% |
| 2007 | 6.3% | -3.1% |
| 2008 | 6.2% | -1.9% |
| 2009 | 6.1% | -1.4% |
| 2010 | 6.1% | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 5.7% | -6.2% |
| 2012 | 5.8% | +1.3% |
| 2013 | 5.8% | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 5.3% | -7.6% |
| 2015 | 5.1% | -4.2% |
| 2016 | 4.9% | -3.2% |
| 2017 | 4.8% | -3.7% |
| 2018 | 4.7% | -1.4% |
| 2019 | 4.4% | -5.4% |
| 2020 | 4.2% | -6.2% |
| 2021 | 3.8% | -9.1% |
| 2022 | 3.4% | -9.6% |
| 2023 | 3.2% | -6.9% |
| 2024 | 3.1% | -4.0% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 3.1% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 10.4%, 30% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- China's 3.1% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 6.8%, 45% of the median. (18 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 7.1% | 6.4% | 7.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.6% | 6.1% | 7.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.3% | 4.4% | 6.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.5% | 3.1% | 4.2% | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
- 143 Cyprus 4.1% compare
- 144 Finland 3.8% compare
- 145 Netherlands 3.5% compare
- 147 South Korea 3.0% compare
- 148 Bahrain 2.8% compare
- 149 Uzbekistan 2.7% compare
More energy & mining data for China
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate 2.15 % change on previous year (2025)
- Coal consumption, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal consumption, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fuel imports 18.1% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is electric power transmission and distribution losses in China?
- Electric power transmission and distribution losses in China was 3.1% in 2024, according to IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, International Energy Agency (IEA).
- What is the highest electric power transmission and distribution losses recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 7.4% in 1995.
- What is the lowest electric power transmission and distribution losses recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.1% in 2024.
- How does China rank for electric power transmission and distribution losses?
- China ranks 146th out of 151 countries with data for 2024.
- Is electric power transmission and distribution losses rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 42.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, International Energy Agency (IEA), published as part of Electric power transmission and distribution losses (% of output). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Electric power transmission and distribution losses include losses in transmission between sources of supply and points of distribution and in the distribution to consumers, including pilferage. The losses are expressed as a share of the total output.