Electricity generation from fossil fuels in China
China: Electricity generation from fossil fuels was 6,175 terawatt-hours in 2025. ◆ Volatile
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 209 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.
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
- 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 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 209 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.
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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.