Energy imports, net in China
China: Energy imports, net was 24.0% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Energy imports, net in China, 1990–2023
Source: IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, International Energy Agency (IEA). Measured in % of energy use.
Analysis
The most recent figure for energy imports, net in China is 24.0%, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.
The figure is up 16.2% on the previous year and up 38.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, energy imports, net in China peaked at 24.0% in 2023 and was at its lowest, -4.0%, in 1990.
China ranks 74th of 142 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Energy imports, net in China, year by year
| Year | % of energy use | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | -4.0% | — |
| 1991 | -3.6% | -10.2% |
| 1992 | -2.6% | -26.5% |
| 1993 | -0.4% | -86.0% |
| 1994 | -1.5% | +298.8% |
| 1995 | -1.2% | -15.3% |
| 1996 | -1.1% | -9.6% |
| 1997 | 0.6% | -157.7% |
| 1998 | 0.3% | -53.0% |
| 1999 | 1.3% | +314.5% |
| 2000 | 2.5% | +94.0% |
| 2001 | 0.1% | -96.1% |
| 2002 | 1.6% | +1525.3% |
| 2003 | 2.8% | +81.7% |
| 2004 | 5.8% | +106.0% |
| 2005 | 5.6% | -3.4% |
| 2006 | 7.0% | +24.1% |
| 2007 | 7.9% | +14.2% |
| 2008 | 8.6% | +8.6% |
| 2009 | 12.1% | +39.9% |
| 2010 | 13.6% | +12.5% |
| 2011 | 14.7% | +8.4% |
| 2012 | 16.6% | +12.5% |
| 2013 | 17.3% | +4.7% |
| 2014 | 17.5% | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 16.7% | -4.8% |
| 2016 | 19.2% | +14.9% |
| 2017 | 20.4% | +6.4% |
| 2018 | 21.7% | +6.1% |
| 2019 | 22.2% | +2.5% |
| 2020 | 23.0% | +3.4% |
| 2021 | 21.6% | -5.8% |
| 2022 | 20.6% | -4.7% |
| 2023 | 24.0% | +16.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | -1.2% | -4.0% | 1.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.4% | 0.1% | 12.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 18.0% | 13.6% | 22.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 22.3% | 20.6% | 24.0% | 4 |
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 energy imports, net in China?
- Energy imports, net in China was 24.0% in 2023, according to IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, International Energy Agency (IEA).
- What is the highest energy imports, net recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 24.0% in 2023.
- What is the lowest energy imports, net recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was -4.0% in 1990.
- How does China rank for energy imports, net?
- China ranks 74th out of 142 countries with data for 2023.
- Is energy imports, net rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 38.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, International Energy Agency (IEA), published as part of Energy imports, net (% of energy use). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 34 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Net energy imports are estimated as gross imports less gross exports, both measured in tons of oil equivalents (toe). A negative value indicates that the country is a net exporter. Energy use refers to use of primary energy before transformation to other end-use fuels, which is equal to indigenous production plus imports and stock changes, minus exports and fuels supplied to ships and aircraft engaged in international transport.