Fossil fuel production in China
China: Fossil fuel production was 26,296 terawatt-hours in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
26,296 terawatt-hours
Change on year
up 1.5%
World rank
1st
of 34 countries
All-time high
26,296 terawatt-hours
in 2025
All-time low
3,615 terawatt-hours
in 1981
Years of data
45
1981–2025
Fossil fuel production in China, 1981–2025
Source: Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in terawatt-hours.
Analysis
China recorded 26,296 terawatt-hours for fossil fuel production in 2025. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
The figure is up 1.5% on the previous year and up 23.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fossil fuel production in China peaked at 26,296 terawatt-hours in 2025 and was at its lowest, 3,615 terawatt-hours, in 1981.
That places China 1st out of 34 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.
Fossil fuel production in China, year by year
| Year | terawatt-hours | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 3,615 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1982 | 3,875 terawatt-hours | +7.2% |
| 1983 | 4,155 terawatt-hours | +7.2% |
| 1984 | 4,589 terawatt-hours | +10.5% |
| 1985 | 5,072 terawatt-hours | +10.5% |
| 1986 | 5,199 terawatt-hours | +2.5% |
| 1987 | 5,397 terawatt-hours | +3.8% |
| 1988 | 5,698 terawatt-hours | +5.6% |
| 1989 | 6,130 terawatt-hours | +7.6% |
| 1990 | 6,280 terawatt-hours | +2.4% |
| 1991 | 6,323 terawatt-hours | +0.7% |
| 1992 | 6,492 terawatt-hours | +2.7% |
| 1993 | 6,691 terawatt-hours | +3.1% |
| 1994 | 7,210 terawatt-hours | +7.8% |
| 1995 | 7,913 terawatt-hours | +9.7% |
| 1996 | 8,122 terawatt-hours | +2.6% |
| 1997 | 8,068 terawatt-hours | -0.7% |
| 1998 | 7,746 terawatt-hours | -4.0% |
| 1999 | 7,932 terawatt-hours | +2.4% |
| 2000 | 8,226 terawatt-hours | +3.7% |
| 2001 | 8,715 terawatt-hours | +5.9% |
| 2002 | 9,307 terawatt-hours | +6.8% |
| 2003 | 10,994 terawatt-hours | +18.1% |
| 2004 | 12,874 terawatt-hours | +17.1% |
| 2005 | 14,441 terawatt-hours | +12.2% |
| 2006 | 15,450 terawatt-hours | +7.0% |
| 2007 | 16,739 terawatt-hours | +8.3% |
| 2008 | 17,349 terawatt-hours | +3.6% |
| 2009 | 17,885 terawatt-hours | +3.1% |
| 2010 | 19,367 terawatt-hours | +8.3% |
| 2011 | 21,535 terawatt-hours | +11.2% |
| 2012 | 21,789 terawatt-hours | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 22,034 terawatt-hours | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 21,681 terawatt-hours | -1.6% |
| 2015 | 21,274 terawatt-hours | -1.9% |
| 2016 | 19,671 terawatt-hours | -7.5% |
| 2017 | 20,326 terawatt-hours | +3.3% |
| 2018 | 21,353 terawatt-hours | +5.1% |
| 2019 | 21,771 terawatt-hours | +2.0% |
| 2020 | 21,988 terawatt-hours | +1.0% |
| 2021 | 22,826 terawatt-hours | +3.8% |
| 2022 | 25,016 terawatt-hours | +9.6% |
| 2023 | 25,609 terawatt-hours | +2.4% |
| 2024 | 25,916 terawatt-hours | +1.2% |
| 2025 | 26,296 terawatt-hours | +1.5% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 26,296 terawatt-hours is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 297.03 terawatt-hours, 88.5× the median. (13 countries reporting)
- China's 26,296 terawatt-hours is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 297.03 terawatt-hours, 88.5× the median. (9 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 4,859 terawatt-hours | 3,615 terawatt-hours | 6,130 terawatt-hours | 9 |
| 1990s | 7,278 terawatt-hours | 6,280 terawatt-hours | 8,122 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 13,198 terawatt-hours | 8,226 terawatt-hours | 17,885 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 21,080 terawatt-hours | 19,367 terawatt-hours | 22,034 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 24,608 terawatt-hours | 21,988 terawatt-hours | 26,296 terawatt-hours | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
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 fossil fuel production in China?
- Fossil fuel production in China was 26,296 terawatt-hours in 2025, according to Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest fossil fuel production recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 26,296 terawatt-hours in 2025.
- What is the lowest fossil fuel production recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,615 terawatt-hours in 1981.
- How does China rank for fossil fuel production?
- China ranks 1st out of 34 countries with data for 2025.
- Is fossil fuel production rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 23.6%. 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) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Fossil fuel production. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 45 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Measured in terawatt-hours.