Electricity generation in China
China: Electricity generation was 10,583 terawatt-hours in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Electricity generation 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 in China is 10,583 terawatt-hours, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 41 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.9% on the previous year and up 82.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, electricity generation in China peaked at 10,583 terawatt-hours in 2025 and was at its lowest, 410.69 terawatt-hours, in 1985.
China ranks 1st of 214 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 497.5 terawatt-hours | 410.69 terawatt-hours | 584.81 terawatt-hours | 5 |
| 1990s | 942.23 terawatt-hours | 621.2 terawatt-hours | 1,239 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 2,446 terawatt-hours | 1,356 terawatt-hours | 3,715 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 5,836 terawatt-hours | 4,207 terawatt-hours | 7,503 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 9,215 terawatt-hours | 7,779 terawatt-hours | 10,583 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 in China?
- Electricity generation in China was 10,583 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 recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 10,583 terawatt-hours in 2025.
- What is the lowest electricity generation recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 410.69 terawatt-hours in 1985.
- How does China rank for electricity generation?
- China ranks 1st out of 214 countries with data for 2025.
- Is electricity generation rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 82.0%. 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. 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
Total electricity generated in each country or region, measured in terawatt-hours.