Electricity generation from renewables in China
China: Electricity generation from renewables was 3,920 terawatt-hours in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Electricity generation from renewables in China, 1971–2025
Source: Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in terawatt-hours.
Analysis
China recorded 3,920 terawatt-hours for electricity generation from renewables in 2025. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
That represents a change of up 15.3% on the previous year and up 181.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, electricity generation from renewables in China peaked at 3,920 terawatt-hours in 2025 and was at its lowest, 29.08 terawatt-hours, in 1971.
China ranks 1st of 209 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 40.69 terawatt-hours | 29.08 terawatt-hours | 48.56 terawatt-hours | 9 |
| 1980s | 88.59 terawatt-hours | 58.22 terawatt-hours | 118.41 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1990s | 168.7 terawatt-hours | 124.76 terawatt-hours | 201.74 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 412.37 terawatt-hours | 225.56 terawatt-hours | 665.08 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,339 terawatt-hours | 786.38 terawatt-hours | 2,015 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 2,920 terawatt-hours | 2,185 terawatt-hours | 3,920 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 renewables in China?
- Electricity generation from renewables in China was 3,920 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 renewables recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 3,920 terawatt-hours in 2025.
- What is the lowest electricity generation from renewables recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 29.08 terawatt-hours in 1971.
- How does China rank for electricity generation from renewables?
- China ranks 1st out of 209 countries with data for 2025.
- Is electricity generation from renewables rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 181.3%. 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 renewables. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Measured in terawatt-hours.