Share of electricity generation from fossil fuels, renewables and nuclear in China
China: Share of electricity generation from fossil fuels, renewables and nuclear was 4.6% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Share of electricity generation from fossil fuels, renewables and nuclear in China, 1985–2025
Source: Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of electricity generation from fossil fuels, renewables and nuclear in China is 4.6%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.1% on the previous year and up 56.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of electricity generation from fossil fuels, renewables and nuclear in China peaked at 4.8% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1985.
China ranks 25th of 207 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of electricity generation from fossil fuels, renewables and nuclear in China, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 0.0% | — |
| 1986 | 0.0% | — |
| 1987 | 0.0% | — |
| 1988 | 0.0% | — |
| 1989 | 0.0% | — |
| 1990 | 0.0% | — |
| 1991 | 0.0% | — |
| 1992 | 0.0% | — |
| 1993 | 0.2% | — |
| 1994 | 1.6% | +704.7% |
| 1995 | 1.3% | -19.9% |
| 1996 | 1.3% | +4.1% |
| 1997 | 1.3% | -4.2% |
| 1998 | 1.2% | -4.8% |
| 1999 | 1.2% | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 1.2% | +2.4% |
| 2001 | 1.2% | -4.5% |
| 2002 | 1.5% | +28.8% |
| 2003 | 2.3% | +49.3% |
| 2004 | 2.3% | +1.0% |
| 2005 | 2.1% | -7.3% |
| 2006 | 1.9% | -9.9% |
| 2007 | 1.9% | -1.1% |
| 2008 | 2.0% | +3.3% |
| 2009 | 1.9% | -3.6% |
| 2010 | 1.8% | -5.8% |
| 2011 | 1.9% | +4.1% |
| 2012 | 2.0% | +6.5% |
| 2013 | 2.1% | +4.1% |
| 2014 | 2.3% | +12.0% |
| 2015 | 2.9% | +28.2% |
| 2016 | 3.5% | +17.9% |
| 2017 | 3.8% | +8.1% |
| 2018 | 4.1% | +9.6% |
| 2019 | 4.6% | +12.9% |
| 2020 | 4.7% | +1.3% |
| 2021 | 4.8% | +1.4% |
| 2022 | 4.7% | -1.1% |
| 2023 | 4.6% | -2.6% |
| 2024 | 4.5% | -2.8% |
| 2025 | 4.6% | +3.1% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Share of electricity generation from fossil fuels, renewables and nuclear in China changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | +704.7% | 0.2% | 1.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 5 |
| 1990s | 0.8% | 0.0% | 1.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.8% | 1.2% | 2.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.9% | 1.8% | 4.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.6% | 4.5% | 4.8% | 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 share of electricity generation from fossil fuels, renewables and nuclear in China?
- Share of electricity generation from fossil fuels, renewables and nuclear in China was 4.6% in 2025, according to Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of electricity generation from fossil fuels, renewables and nuclear recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 4.8% in 2021.
- What is the lowest share of electricity generation from fossil fuels, renewables and nuclear recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1985.
- How does China rank for share of electricity generation from fossil fuels, renewables and nuclear?
- China ranks 25th out of 207 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of electricity generation from fossil fuels, renewables and nuclear rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 56.3%. 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 Share of electricity generation from fossil fuels, renewables and nuclear. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Measured as a percentage of total electricity produced in the country or region.