Electricity generation from fossil fuels in China
China: Electricity generation from fossil fuels was 6,175 terawatt-hours in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
6,175 terawatt-hours
Change on year
down 1.0%
World rank
1st
of 214 countries
All-time high
6,237 terawatt-hours
in 2024
All-time low
318.3 terawatt-hours
in 1985
Years of data
41
1985–2025
Electricity generation from fossil fuels in China, 1985–2025
Source: Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in terawatt-hours.
Analysis
The most recent figure for electricity generation from fossil fuels in China is 6,175 terawatt-hours, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 1.0% on the previous year and up 45.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, electricity generation from fossil fuels in China peaked at 6,237 terawatt-hours in 2024 and was at its lowest, 318.3 terawatt-hours, in 1985.
That places China 1st out of 214 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Electricity generation from fossil fuels in China, year by year
| Year | terawatt-hours | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 318.3 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1986 | 354.98 terawatt-hours | +11.5% |
| 1987 | 397.24 terawatt-hours | +11.9% |
| 1988 | 436.04 terawatt-hours | +9.8% |
| 1989 | 466.4 terawatt-hours | +7.0% |
| 1990 | 494.39 terawatt-hours | +6.0% |
| 1991 | 552.79 terawatt-hours | +11.8% |
| 1992 | 623.01 terawatt-hours | +12.7% |
| 1993 | 657.81 terawatt-hours | +5.6% |
| 1994 | 744.76 terawatt-hours | +13.2% |
| 1995 | 799.98 terawatt-hours | +7.4% |
| 1996 | 877.36 terawatt-hours | +9.7% |
| 1997 | 922.22 terawatt-hours | +5.1% |
| 1998 | 951.16 terawatt-hours | +3.1% |
| 1999 | 1,025 terawatt-hours | +7.7% |
| 2000 | 1,113 terawatt-hours | +8.6% |
| 2001 | 1,183 terawatt-hours | +6.2% |
| 2002 | 1,337 terawatt-hours | +13.1% |
| 2003 | 1,580 terawatt-hours | +18.1% |
| 2004 | 1,795 terawatt-hours | +13.6% |
| 2005 | 2,043 terawatt-hours | +13.8% |
| 2006 | 2,364 terawatt-hours | +15.7% |
| 2007 | 2,719 terawatt-hours | +15.0% |
| 2008 | 2,762 terawatt-hours | +1.6% |
| 2009 | 2,980 terawatt-hours | +7.9% |
| 2010 | 3,346 terawatt-hours | +12.3% |
| 2011 | 3,833 terawatt-hours | +14.6% |
| 2012 | 3,890 terawatt-hours | +1.5% |
| 2013 | 4,227 terawatt-hours | +8.7% |
| 2014 | 4,372 terawatt-hours | +3.4% |
| 2015 | 4,250 terawatt-hours | -2.8% |
| 2016 | 4,397 terawatt-hours | +3.5% |
| 2017 | 4,689 terawatt-hours | +6.6% |
| 2018 | 5,036 terawatt-hours | +7.4% |
| 2019 | 5,140 terawatt-hours | +2.1% |
| 2020 | 5,228 terawatt-hours | +1.7% |
| 2021 | 5,678 terawatt-hours | +8.6% |
| 2022 | 5,760 terawatt-hours | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 6,128 terawatt-hours | +6.4% |
| 2024 | 6,237 terawatt-hours | +1.8% |
| 2025 | 6,175 terawatt-hours | -1.0% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 6,175 terawatt-hours is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 8.15 terawatt-hours, 757.7× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- China's 6,175 terawatt-hours is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 7.21 terawatt-hours, 855.9× the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 394.59 terawatt-hours | 318.3 terawatt-hours | 466.4 terawatt-hours | 5 |
| 1990s | 764.82 terawatt-hours | 494.39 terawatt-hours | 1,025 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,988 terawatt-hours | 1,113 terawatt-hours | 2,980 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 4,318 terawatt-hours | 3,346 terawatt-hours | 5,140 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 5,868 terawatt-hours | 5,228 terawatt-hours | 6,237 terawatt-hours | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
More energy & mining data for China
- 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)
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fuel imports 20.4% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is electricity generation from fossil fuels in China?
- Electricity generation from fossil fuels in China was 6,175 terawatt-hours in 2025, according to Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest electricity generation from fossil fuels recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 6,237 terawatt-hours in 2024.
- What is the lowest electricity generation from fossil fuels recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 318.3 terawatt-hours in 1985.
- How does China rank for electricity generation from fossil fuels?
- China ranks 1st out of 214 countries with data for 2025.
- Is electricity generation from fossil fuels rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 45.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Electricity generation from fossil fuels. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 41 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Electricity generation from coal, oil, and gas, measured in terawatt-hours.