What is energy intensity vs. gdp per capita in China?

Energy intensity vs. gdp per capita in China was 1.49 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 2022, according to Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.

What is the highest energy intensity vs. gdp per capita recorded in China?

The highest recorded value was 2.77 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 1977.

What is the lowest energy intensity vs. gdp per capita recorded in China?

The lowest recorded value was 1.49 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 2022.

How does China rank for energy intensity vs. gdp per capita?

China ranks 32nd out of 163 countries with data for 2022.

Is energy intensity vs. gdp per capita rising or falling in China?

Over the last ten years it is down 28.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.

Where does this China data come from?

The figures come from Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Energy intensity vs. GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Energy intensity vs. GDP per capita in China

Name: Energy intensity vs. GDP per capita in China
Creator: Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

China: Energy intensity vs. GDP per capita was 1.49 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 2022. ▼ Falling

Latest (2022)

1.49 kilowatt-hours per dollar

Change on year

down 1.3%

World rank

32nd

of 163 countries

All-time high

2.77 kilowatt-hours per dollar

in 1977

All-time low

1.49 kilowatt-hours per dollar

in 2022

Years of data

1965–2022

Energy intensity vs. GDP per capita in China, 1965–2022

Source: Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in kilowatt-hours per dollar.

Analysis

The most recent figure for energy intensity vs. gdp per capita in China is 1.49 kilowatt-hours per dollar, measured in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 58 years on record.

That represents a change of down 1.3% on the previous year and down 28.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, energy intensity vs. gdp per capita in China peaked at 2.77 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 1977 and was at its lowest, 1.49 kilowatt-hours per dollar, in 2022.

That places China 32nd out of 163 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 58 years of available data.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1960s	1.68 kilowatt-hours per dollar	1.57 kilowatt-hours per dollar	1.79 kilowatt-hours per dollar	5
1970s	2.46 kilowatt-hours per dollar	2.02 kilowatt-hours per dollar	2.77 kilowatt-hours per dollar	10
1980s	2.24 kilowatt-hours per dollar	2.13 kilowatt-hours per dollar	2.49 kilowatt-hours per dollar	10
1990s	2.14 kilowatt-hours per dollar	1.97 kilowatt-hours per dollar	2.31 kilowatt-hours per dollar	10
2000s	2.17 kilowatt-hours per dollar	1.89 kilowatt-hours per dollar	2.36 kilowatt-hours per dollar	10
2010s	1.86 kilowatt-hours per dollar	1.55 kilowatt-hours per dollar	2.19 kilowatt-hours per dollar	10
2020s	1.52 kilowatt-hours per dollar	1.49 kilowatt-hours per dollar	1.56 kilowatt-hours per dollar	3

Countries ranked near China

29 Kazakhstan 1.58 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
30 Estonia 1.53 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
31 Serbia 1.53 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
33 Qatar 1.49 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
34 Malaysia 1.48 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
35 Saint Lucia 1.45 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare

See the full ranking of 164 places →

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)

All data for China →

Frequently asked questions

What is energy intensity vs. gdp per capita in China?: Energy intensity vs. gdp per capita in China was 1.49 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 2022, according to Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest energy intensity vs. gdp per capita recorded in China?: The highest recorded value was 2.77 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 1977.
What is the lowest energy intensity vs. gdp per capita recorded in China?: The lowest recorded value was 1.49 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 2022.
How does China rank for energy intensity vs. gdp per capita?: China ranks 32nd out of 163 countries with data for 2022.
Is energy intensity vs. gdp per capita rising or falling in China?: Over the last ten years it is down 28.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this China data come from?: The figures come from Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Energy intensity vs. GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 58 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

About this data

Indicator: Energy intensity vs. GDP per capita
Unit: kilowatt-hours per dollar
Source: Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 164 places, 7,728 data points, 1965–2022
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

Measured in kilowatt-hours of total energy supply per international-$ of GDP.