Energy intensity in China
China: Energy intensity was 1.49 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 2022. ▼ Falling
Energy intensity 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
In 2022, energy intensity in China stood at 1.49 kilowatt-hours per dollar. That is the lowest value across all 58 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.3% on the previous year and down 28.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, energy intensity 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.
China ranks 34th of 165 countries on this measure, 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
- 31 Kazakhstan 1.58 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
- 32 Estonia 1.53 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
- 33 Serbia 1.53 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
- 35 Qatar 1.49 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
- 36 Malaysia 1.48 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
- 37 Saint Lucia 1.45 kilowatt-hours per dollar 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)
- 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 energy intensity in China?
- Energy intensity 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 recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 2.77 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 1977.
- What is the lowest energy intensity recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.49 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 2022.
- How does China rank for energy intensity?
- China ranks 34th out of 165 countries with data for 2022.
- Is energy intensity 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. 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
Measured in kilowatt-hours of total energy supply per international-$ of GDP.