Fossil fuel consumption by fuel in China
China: Fossil fuel consumption by fuel was 4,419 terawatt-hours in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Fossil fuel consumption by fuel in China, 1965–2025
Source: Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); U.S. Energy Information Administration (2026); Etemad & Luciani (1991) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in terawatt-hours.
Analysis
The most recent figure for fossil fuel consumption by fuel in China is 4,419 terawatt-hours, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 61 years on record.
The figure is up 2.0% on the previous year and up 127.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fossil fuel consumption by fuel in China peaked at 4,419 terawatt-hours in 2025 and was at its lowest, 11.09 terawatt-hours, in 1965.
That places China 3rd out of 219 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 14.63 terawatt-hours | 11.09 terawatt-hours | 19.75 terawatt-hours | 5 |
| 1970s | 84.93 terawatt-hours | 28.93 terawatt-hours | 146.24 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1980s | 134.52 terawatt-hours | 120.24 terawatt-hours | 151.67 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1990s | 180.03 terawatt-hours | 154.18 terawatt-hours | 216.63 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 503.91 terawatt-hours | 246.96 terawatt-hours | 902.24 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,993 terawatt-hours | 1,089 terawatt-hours | 3,084 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 3,956 terawatt-hours | 3,366 terawatt-hours | 4,419 terawatt-hours | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
- 1 United States 9,134 terawatt-hours compare
- 2 Russia 4,800 terawatt-hours compare
- 4 Iran 2,563 terawatt-hours compare
- 5 Saudi Arabia 1,338 terawatt-hours compare
- 6 Canada 1,323 terawatt-hours 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 fossil fuel consumption by fuel in China?
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel in China was 4,419 terawatt-hours in 2025, according to Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); U.S. Energy Information Administration (2026); Etemad & Luciani (1991) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest fossil fuel consumption by fuel recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 4,419 terawatt-hours in 2025.
- What is the lowest fossil fuel consumption by fuel recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.09 terawatt-hours in 1965.
- How does China rank for fossil fuel consumption by fuel?
- China ranks 3rd out of 219 countries with data for 2025.
- Is fossil fuel consumption by fuel rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 127.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); U.S. Energy Information Administration (2026); Etemad & Luciani (1991) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Fossil fuel consumption by fuel. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 61 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Measured in terawatt-hours.