Primary energy use in China
China: Primary energy use was 45,054 terawatt-hours in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Primary energy use in China, 1965–2025
Source: Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017); U.S. Energy Information Administration (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in terawatt-hours.
Analysis
The most recent figure for primary energy use in China is 45,054 terawatt-hours, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 61 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.1% on the previous year and up 37.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary energy use in China peaked at 45,054 terawatt-hours in 2025 and was at its lowest, 1,463 terawatt-hours, in 1967.
That places China 1st out of 218 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 | 1,571 terawatt-hours | 1,463 terawatt-hours | 1,800 terawatt-hours | 5 |
| 1970s | 3,507 terawatt-hours | 2,315 terawatt-hours | 4,677 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1980s | 5,867 terawatt-hours | 4,636 terawatt-hours | 7,605 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1990s | 9,593 terawatt-hours | 7,691 terawatt-hours | 11,004 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 18,709 terawatt-hours | 11,367 terawatt-hours | 26,028 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 32,539 terawatt-hours | 27,707 terawatt-hours | 36,677 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 41,591 terawatt-hours | 37,624 terawatt-hours | 45,054 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 primary energy use in China?
- Primary energy use in China was 45,054 terawatt-hours in 2025, according to Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017); U.S. Energy Information Administration (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest primary energy use recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 45,054 terawatt-hours in 2025.
- What is the lowest primary energy use recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,463 terawatt-hours in 1967.
- How does China rank for primary energy use?
- China ranks 1st out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is primary energy use rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 37.0%. 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); Smil (2017); U.S. Energy Information Administration (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Primary energy use. 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.