Fossil fuel consumption per person in China
China: Fossil fuel consumption per person was 27,853 kilowatt-hours per person in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Fossil fuel consumption per person in China, 1965–2025
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 person.
Analysis
In 2025, fossil fuel consumption per person in China stood at 27,853 kilowatt-hours per person. That is the highest value across all 61 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.0% on the previous year and up 25.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fossil fuel consumption per person in China peaked at 27,853 kilowatt-hours per person in 2025 and was at its lowest, 1,855 kilowatt-hours per person, in 1968.
China ranks 50th of 213 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
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 | 2,032 kilowatt-hours per person | 1,855 kilowatt-hours per person | 2,215 kilowatt-hours per person | 5 |
| 1970s | 3,810 kilowatt-hours per person | 2,782 kilowatt-hours per person | 4,775 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 5,446 kilowatt-hours per person | 4,581 kilowatt-hours per person | 6,602 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 7,734 kilowatt-hours per person | 6,556 kilowatt-hours per person | 8,533 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 13,819 kilowatt-hours per person | 8,731 kilowatt-hours per person | 18,687 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 21,975 kilowatt-hours per person | 19,713 kilowatt-hours per person | 23,569 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 26,194 kilowatt-hours per person | 24,023 kilowatt-hours per person | 27,853 kilowatt-hours per person | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
- 47 Belarus 28,935 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 48 Israel 28,497 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 49 Germany 28,151 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 51 Czechia 27,844 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 52 Puerto Rico 27,164 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 53 Bosnia and Herzegovina 26,689 kilowatt-hours per person 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 per person in China?
- Fossil fuel consumption per person in China was 27,853 kilowatt-hours per person in 2025, 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 fossil fuel consumption per person recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 27,853 kilowatt-hours per person in 2025.
- What is the lowest fossil fuel consumption per person recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,855 kilowatt-hours per person in 1968.
- How does China rank for fossil fuel consumption per person?
- China ranks 50th out of 213 countries with data for 2025.
- Is fossil fuel consumption per person rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.9%. 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) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Fossil fuel consumption per person. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 61 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Measured in kilowatt-hours per person. Fossil fuels include coal, oil, and gas.