Energy intensity level of primary energy (megajoules per constant) in China
China: Energy intensity level of primary energy (megajoules per constant) was 5.27 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
5.27
Change on year
up 1.0%
World rank
46th
of 223 countries
All-time high
19.58
in 1990
All-time low
5.22
in 2022
Years of data
34
1990–2023
Energy intensity level of primary energy in China, 1990–2023
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
China recorded 5.27 for energy intensity level of primary energy in 2023.
That represents a change of up 1.0% on the previous year and down 23.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, energy intensity level of primary energy in China peaked at 19.58 in 1990 and was at its lowest, 5.22, in 2022.
China ranks 46th of 223 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 34 years of available data.
Energy intensity level of primary energy (megajoules per constant) in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 19.58 | — |
| 1991 | 17.25 | -11.9% |
| 1992 | 15.62 | -9.4% |
| 1993 | 14.52 | -7.0% |
| 1994 | 13.46 | -7.3% |
| 1995 | 13.02 | -3.3% |
| 1996 | 12.13 | -6.8% |
| 1997 | 11.11 | -8.4% |
| 1998 | 10.34 | -6.9% |
| 1999 | 9.77 | -5.5% |
| 2000 | 9.25 | -5.3% |
| 2001 | 8.83 | -4.5% |
| 2002 | 8.62 | -2.4% |
| 2003 | 8.92 | +3.5% |
| 2004 | 9.21 | +3.3% |
| 2005 | 9.11 | -1.1% |
| 2006 | 8.85 | -2.9% |
| 2007 | 8.34 | -5.8% |
| 2008 | 7.81 | -6.4% |
| 2009 | 7.61 | -2.6% |
| 2010 | 7.6 | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 7.45 | -2.0% |
| 2012 | 7.15 | -4.0% |
| 2013 | 6.85 | -4.2% |
| 2014 | 6.53 | -4.7% |
| 2015 | 6.13 | -6.1% |
| 2016 | 5.71 | -6.9% |
| 2017 | 5.54 | -3.0% |
| 2018 | 5.44 | -1.8% |
| 2019 | 5.34 | -1.8% |
| 2020 | 5.38 | +0.7% |
| 2021 | 5.27 | -2.0% |
| 2022 | 5.22 | -0.9% |
| 2023 | 5.27 | +1.0% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 5.27 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3.16, 1.7× the median. (56 countries reporting)
- China's 5.27 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 3.74, 1.4× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 13.68 | 9.77 | 19.58 | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.65 | 7.61 | 9.25 | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.37 | 5.34 | 7.6 | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.29 | 5.22 | 5.38 | 4 |
Countries ranked near China
More energy & mining data for China
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- 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)
- Fuel imports 18.1% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is energy intensity level of primary energy in China?
- Energy intensity level of primary energy in China was 5.27 in 2023, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest energy intensity level of primary energy recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 19.58 in 1990.
- What is the lowest energy intensity level of primary energy recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.22 in 2022.
- How does China rank for energy intensity level of primary energy?
- China ranks 46th out of 223 countries with data for 2023.
- Is energy intensity level of primary energy rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 23.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Energy intensity level of primary energy (megajoules per constant 2021 purchasing power parity GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 34 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).