Energy intensity in China
China: Energy intensity was 6.3 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2021. ▼ Falling
Energy intensity in China, 2000–2021
Source: International Energy Agency (IEA), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), UN Statistics Division, World Health Organization (WHO), and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices.
Analysis
China recorded 6.3 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices for energy intensity in 2021. That is the lowest value across all 22 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.6% on the previous year and down 28.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, energy intensity in China peaked at 10.91 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2000 and was at its lowest, 6.3 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices, in 2021.
China ranks 47th of 201 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 22 years of available data.
Energy intensity in China, year by year
| Year | megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 10.91 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | — |
| 2001 | 10.41 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -4.6% |
| 2002 | 10.14 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.6% |
| 2003 | 10.51 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.6% |
| 2004 | 10.87 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.4% |
| 2005 | 10.75 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.1% |
| 2006 | 10.44 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.9% |
| 2007 | 9.83 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -5.8% |
| 2008 | 9.21 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -6.3% |
| 2009 | 8.98 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.5% |
| 2010 | 8.96 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 8.78 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.0% |
| 2012 | 8.43 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -4.0% |
| 2013 | 8.08 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -4.2% |
| 2014 | 7.71 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -4.6% |
| 2015 | 7.24 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -6.1% |
| 2016 | 6.74 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -6.9% |
| 2017 | 6.54 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -3.0% |
| 2018 | 6.42 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.8% |
| 2019 | 6.33 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.4% |
| 2020 | 6.4 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.1% |
| 2021 | 6.3 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 10.21 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 8.98 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 10.91 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.52 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 6.33 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 8.96 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.35 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 6.3 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 6.4 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 2 |
Countries ranked near China
- 44 Tanzania, United Republic of 6.38 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 45 Eritrea 6.37 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 46 Brunei Darussalam 6.33 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 48 Mali 6.26 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 49 Belarus 6.18 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 50 Turks and Caicos Islands 5.95 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
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)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gas production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is energy intensity in China?
- Energy intensity in China was 6.3 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2021, according to International Energy Agency (IEA), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), UN Statistics Division, World Health Organization (WHO), and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest energy intensity recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 10.91 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2000.
- What is the lowest energy intensity recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.3 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2021.
- How does China rank for energy intensity?
- China ranks 47th out of 201 countries with data for 2021.
- Is energy intensity rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 28.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from International Energy Agency (IEA), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), UN Statistics Division, World Health Organization (WHO), and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Energy intensity. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Amount of energy needed to produce one unit of economic output. A lower number means that economies produce economic value in a less energy-intensive way. This data is measured in megajoules per dollar, adjusted for inflation and differences in living costs between countries.