Electricity generation from fossil fuels per person in China
China: Electricity generation from fossil fuels per person was 4,361 kilowatt-hours in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
4,361 kilowatt-hours
Change on year
down 0.8%
World rank
35th
of 214 countries
All-time high
4,394 kilowatt-hours
in 2024
All-time low
300.34 kilowatt-hours
in 1985
Years of data
41
1985–2025
Electricity generation from fossil fuels per person in China, 1985–2025
Source: Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in kilowatt-hours.
Analysis
China recorded 4,361 kilowatt-hours for electricity generation from fossil fuels per person in 2025.
That represents a change of down 0.8% on the previous year and up 43.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, electricity generation from fossil fuels per person in China peaked at 4,394 kilowatt-hours in 2024 and was at its lowest, 300.34 kilowatt-hours, in 1985.
China ranks 35th of 214 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Electricity generation from fossil fuels per person in China, year by year
| Year | kilowatt-hours | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 300.34 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 1986 | 329.53 kilowatt-hours | +9.7% |
| 1987 | 362.38 kilowatt-hours | +10.0% |
| 1988 | 390.98 kilowatt-hours | +7.9% |
| 1989 | 411.29 kilowatt-hours | +5.2% |
| 1990 | 428.57 kilowatt-hours | +4.2% |
| 1991 | 472.15 kilowatt-hours | +10.2% |
| 1992 | 525.93 kilowatt-hours | +11.4% |
| 1993 | 549.4 kilowatt-hours | +4.5% |
| 1994 | 616.01 kilowatt-hours | +12.1% |
| 1995 | 655.65 kilowatt-hours | +6.4% |
| 1996 | 712.76 kilowatt-hours | +8.7% |
| 1997 | 743.04 kilowatt-hours | +4.2% |
| 1998 | 760.41 kilowatt-hours | +2.3% |
| 1999 | 813.19 kilowatt-hours | +6.9% |
| 2000 | 876.9 kilowatt-hours | +7.8% |
| 2001 | 924.82 kilowatt-hours | +5.5% |
| 2002 | 1,039 kilowatt-hours | +12.4% |
| 2003 | 1,220 kilowatt-hours | +17.4% |
| 2004 | 1,379 kilowatt-hours | +13.0% |
| 2005 | 1,559 kilowatt-hours | +13.1% |
| 2006 | 1,794 kilowatt-hours | +15.0% |
| 2007 | 2,051 kilowatt-hours | +14.3% |
| 2008 | 2,071 kilowatt-hours | +1.0% |
| 2009 | 2,220 kilowatt-hours | +7.2% |
| 2010 | 2,476 kilowatt-hours | +11.5% |
| 2011 | 2,818 kilowatt-hours | +13.8% |
| 2012 | 2,840 kilowatt-hours | +0.8% |
| 2013 | 3,065 kilowatt-hours | +7.9% |
| 2014 | 3,150 kilowatt-hours | +2.8% |
| 2015 | 3,044 kilowatt-hours | -3.4% |
| 2016 | 3,132 kilowatt-hours | +2.9% |
| 2017 | 3,320 kilowatt-hours | +6.0% |
| 2018 | 3,549 kilowatt-hours | +6.9% |
| 2019 | 3,611 kilowatt-hours | +1.7% |
| 2020 | 3,666 kilowatt-hours | +1.5% |
| 2021 | 3,981 kilowatt-hours | +8.6% |
| 2022 | 4,042 kilowatt-hours | +1.5% |
| 2023 | 4,307 kilowatt-hours | +6.6% |
| 2024 | 4,394 kilowatt-hours | +2.0% |
| 2025 | 4,361 kilowatt-hours | -0.8% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 4,361 kilowatt-hours is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1,515 kilowatt-hours, 2.9× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- China's 4,361 kilowatt-hours is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1,616 kilowatt-hours, 2.7× the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 358.9 kilowatt-hours | 300.34 kilowatt-hours | 411.29 kilowatt-hours | 5 |
| 1990s | 627.71 kilowatt-hours | 428.57 kilowatt-hours | 813.19 kilowatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,513 kilowatt-hours | 876.9 kilowatt-hours | 2,220 kilowatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 3,100 kilowatt-hours | 2,476 kilowatt-hours | 3,611 kilowatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 4,125 kilowatt-hours | 3,666 kilowatt-hours | 4,394 kilowatt-hours | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
- 32 Saint Kitts and Nevis 4,481 kilowatt-hours compare
- 33 Malaysia 4,435 kilowatt-hours compare
- 34 Turkmenistan 4,403 kilowatt-hours compare
- 36 British Virgin Islands 4,358 kilowatt-hours compare
- 37 Seychelles 4,063 kilowatt-hours compare
- 38 Iran 4,038 kilowatt-hours compare
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 electricity generation from fossil fuels per person in China?
- Electricity generation from fossil fuels per person in China was 4,361 kilowatt-hours in 2025, according to Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest electricity generation from fossil fuels per person recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 4,394 kilowatt-hours in 2024.
- What is the lowest electricity generation from fossil fuels per person recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 300.34 kilowatt-hours in 1985.
- How does China rank for electricity generation from fossil fuels per person?
- China ranks 35th out of 214 countries with data for 2025.
- Is electricity generation from fossil fuels per person rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 43.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Electricity generation from fossil fuels per person. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Electricity generation from coal, oil, and gas, measured in kilowatt-hours per person.