Global primary energy use by source in China
China: Global primary energy use by source was 415.16 terawatt-hours in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Global primary energy use by source in China, 1965–2025
Source: Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in terawatt-hours.
Analysis
The most recent figure for global primary energy use by source in China is 415.16 terawatt-hours, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 61 years on record.
That represents a change of up 10.0% on the previous year and up 248.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, global primary energy use by source in China peaked at 415.16 terawatt-hours in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0 terawatt-hours, in 1965.
That places China 1st out of 77 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 | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 5 |
| 1970s | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1980s | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.65 terawatt-hours | 0.5912 terawatt-hours | 9.9 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 22.27 terawatt-hours | 8.42 terawatt-hours | 64.27 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 124.68 terawatt-hours | 55.13 terawatt-hours | 235.96 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 345.57 terawatt-hours | 275.3 terawatt-hours | 415.16 terawatt-hours | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
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 global primary energy use by source in China?
- Global primary energy use by source in China was 415.16 terawatt-hours in 2025, according to Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest global primary energy use by source recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 415.16 terawatt-hours in 2025.
- What is the lowest global primary energy use by source recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 terawatt-hours in 1965.
- How does China rank for global primary energy use by source?
- China ranks 1st out of 77 countries with data for 2025.
- Is global primary energy use by source rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 248.5%. 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); Smil (2017) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Global primary energy use by source. 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 of total energy supply.