Coal production in China
China: Coal 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 220 countries
All-time high
26,296 terawatt-hours
in 2025
All-time low
0 terawatt-hours
in 1900
Years of data
126
1900–2025
Coal production in China, 1900–2025
Source: Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in terawatt-hours.
Analysis
In 2025, coal production in China stood at 26,296 terawatt-hours. That is the highest value across all 126 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.5% on the previous year and up 23.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, coal production in China peaked at 26,296 terawatt-hours in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0 terawatt-hours, in 1900.
That places China 1st out of 220 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.
Coal production in China, year by year
| Year | terawatt-hours | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1900 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1901 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1902 | 0.2906 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1903 | 6.02 terawatt-hours | +1972.0% |
| 1904 | 6.41 terawatt-hours | +6.5% |
| 1905 | 7.05 terawatt-hours | +10.0% |
| 1906 | 52.51 terawatt-hours | +644.7% |
| 1907 | 51.67 terawatt-hours | -1.6% |
| 1908 | 69.75 terawatt-hours | +35.0% |
| 1909 | 63.94 terawatt-hours | -8.3% |
| 1910 | 57.53 terawatt-hours | -10.0% |
| 1911 | 85.45 terawatt-hours | +48.5% |
| 1912 | 30.03 terawatt-hours | -64.9% |
| 1913 | 33 terawatt-hours | +9.9% |
| 1914 | 46.35 terawatt-hours | +40.4% |
| 1915 | 49.37 terawatt-hours | +6.5% |
| 1916 | 55.12 terawatt-hours | +11.7% |
| 1917 | 60.91 terawatt-hours | +10.5% |
| 1918 | 64.57 terawatt-hours | +6.0% |
| 1919 | 74.43 terawatt-hours | +15.3% |
| 1920 | 82.14 terawatt-hours | +10.4% |
| 1921 | 77.6 terawatt-hours | -5.5% |
| 1922 | 81.73 terawatt-hours | +5.3% |
| 1923 | 98.66 terawatt-hours | +20.7% |
| 1924 | 107.68 terawatt-hours | +9.1% |
| 1925 | 101.94 terawatt-hours | -5.3% |
| 1926 | 90.78 terawatt-hours | -11.0% |
| 1927 | 102.85 terawatt-hours | +13.3% |
| 1928 | 104.51 terawatt-hours | +1.6% |
| 1929 | 109.59 terawatt-hours | +4.9% |
| 1930 | 115.63 terawatt-hours | +5.5% |
| 1931 | 122.61 terawatt-hours | +6.0% |
| 1932 | 117.49 terawatt-hours | -4.2% |
| 1933 | 128.31 terawatt-hours | +9.2% |
| 1934 | 149.97 terawatt-hours | +16.9% |
| 1935 | 174.92 terawatt-hours | +16.6% |
| 1936 | 196.43 terawatt-hours | +12.3% |
| 1937 | 182.44 terawatt-hours | -7.1% |
| 1938 | 167.11 terawatt-hours | -8.4% |
| 1939 | 201.63 terawatt-hours | +20.7% |
| 1940 | 257.7 terawatt-hours | +27.8% |
| 1941 | 322.16 terawatt-hours | +25.0% |
| 1942 | 339.31 terawatt-hours | +5.3% |
| 1943 | 293.3 terawatt-hours | -13.6% |
| 1944 | 296.6 terawatt-hours | +1.1% |
| 1945 | 152.79 terawatt-hours | -48.5% |
| 1946 | 94.99 terawatt-hours | -37.8% |
| 1947 | 101.94 terawatt-hours | +7.3% |
| 1948 | 72.19 terawatt-hours | -29.2% |
| 1949 | 180.19 terawatt-hours | +149.6% |
| 1950 | 249.48 terawatt-hours | +38.5% |
| 1951 | 308.6 terawatt-hours | +23.7% |
| 1952 | 386.49 terawatt-hours | +25.2% |
| 1953 | 405.03 terawatt-hours | +4.8% |
| 1954 | 486.29 terawatt-hours | +20.1% |
| 1955 | 571.39 terawatt-hours | +17.5% |
| 1956 | 641.49 terawatt-hours | +12.3% |
| 1957 | 759.89 terawatt-hours | +18.5% |
| 1958 | 1,569 terawatt-hours | +106.5% |
| 1959 | 2,022 terawatt-hours | +28.8% |
| 1960 | 2,441 terawatt-hours | +20.8% |
| 1961 | 1,453 terawatt-hours | -40.5% |
| 1962 | 1,453 terawatt-hours | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 1,453 terawatt-hours | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 1,686 terawatt-hours | +16.0% |
| 1965 | 1,738 terawatt-hours | +3.1% |
| 1966 | 1,901 terawatt-hours | +9.4% |
| 1967 | 1,319 terawatt-hours | -30.6% |
| 1968 | 1,744 terawatt-hours | +32.2% |
| 1969 | 1,889 terawatt-hours | +8.3% |
| 1970 | 2,093 terawatt-hours | +10.8% |
| 1971 | 2,267 terawatt-hours | +8.3% |
| 1972 | 2,325 terawatt-hours | +2.6% |
| 1973 | 2,499 terawatt-hours | +7.5% |
| 1974 | 2,616 terawatt-hours | +4.7% |
| 1975 | 2,732 terawatt-hours | +4.4% |
| 1976 | 2,790 terawatt-hours | +2.1% |
| 1977 | 3,063 terawatt-hours | +9.8% |
| 1978 | 3,447 terawatt-hours | +12.5% |
| 1979 | 3,546 terawatt-hours | +2.9% |
| 1980 | 4,048 terawatt-hours | +14.2% |
| 1981 | 3,615 terawatt-hours | -10.7% |
| 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% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Coal production in China changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1903 | +1972.0% | 0.2906 terawatt-hours | 6.02 terawatt-hours |
| 1906 | +644.7% | 7.05 terawatt-hours | 52.51 terawatt-hours |
| 1949 | +149.6% | 72.19 terawatt-hours | 180.19 terawatt-hours |
| 1958 | +106.5% | 759.89 terawatt-hours | 1,569 terawatt-hours |
| 1912 | -64.9% | 85.45 terawatt-hours | 30.03 terawatt-hours |
| 1945 | -48.5% | 296.6 terawatt-hours | 152.79 terawatt-hours |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 25.76 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 69.75 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1910s | 55.68 terawatt-hours | 30.03 terawatt-hours | 85.45 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1920s | 95.75 terawatt-hours | 77.6 terawatt-hours | 109.59 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1930s | 155.65 terawatt-hours | 115.63 terawatt-hours | 201.63 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1940s | 211.12 terawatt-hours | 72.19 terawatt-hours | 339.31 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1950s | 739.97 terawatt-hours | 249.48 terawatt-hours | 2,022 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1960s | 1,708 terawatt-hours | 1,319 terawatt-hours | 2,441 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1970s | 2,738 terawatt-hours | 2,093 terawatt-hours | 3,546 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1980s | 4,778 terawatt-hours | 3,615 terawatt-hours | 6,130 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 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 coal production in China?
- Coal production in China was 26,296 terawatt-hours 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 coal production recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 26,296 terawatt-hours in 2025.
- What is the lowest coal production recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 terawatt-hours in 1900.
- How does China rank for coal production?
- China ranks 1st out of 220 countries with data for 2025.
- Is coal 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) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Coal production. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 126 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Measured in terawatt-hours.