Renewable energy consumption in China
China: Renewable energy consumption was 15.2% in 2021. ▼ Falling
Renewable energy consumption in China, 1990–2021
Source: IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, International Energy Agency (IEA). Measured in % of total final energy consumption.
Analysis
The most recent figure for renewable energy consumption in China is 15.2%, measured in 2021.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.0% on the previous year and up 34.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, renewable energy consumption in China peaked at 33.9% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 11.3%, in 2011.
That places China 122nd out of 212 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 32 years of available data.
Renewable energy consumption in China, year by year
| Year | % of total final energy consumption | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 33.9% | — |
| 1991 | 33.1% | -2.4% |
| 1992 | 32.8% | -0.9% |
| 1993 | 31.5% | -4.0% |
| 1994 | 31.1% | -1.3% |
| 1995 | 29.4% | -5.5% |
| 1996 | 30.5% | +3.7% |
| 1997 | 30.0% | -1.6% |
| 1998 | 29.5% | -1.7% |
| 1999 | 30.3% | +2.7% |
| 2000 | 29.6% | -2.3% |
| 2001 | 28.4% | -4.1% |
| 2002 | 27.0% | -4.9% |
| 2003 | 23.9% | -11.5% |
| 2004 | 20.2% | -15.5% |
| 2005 | 17.4% | -13.9% |
| 2006 | 16.4% | -5.7% |
| 2007 | 14.9% | -9.1% |
| 2008 | 14.1% | -5.4% |
| 2009 | 13.4% | -5.0% |
| 2010 | 12.3% | -8.2% |
| 2011 | 11.3% | -8.1% |
| 2012 | 11.5% | +1.8% |
| 2013 | 11.5% | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 11.9% | +3.5% |
| 2015 | 12.2% | +2.5% |
| 2016 | 12.6% | +3.3% |
| 2017 | 13.1% | +4.0% |
| 2018 | 13.5% | +3.1% |
| 2019 | 14.3% | +5.9% |
| 2020 | 14.9% | +4.2% |
| 2021 | 15.2% | +2.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 31.2% | 29.4% | 33.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 20.5% | 13.4% | 29.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.4% | 11.3% | 14.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.1% | 14.9% | 15.2% | 2 |
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 renewable energy consumption in China?
- Renewable energy consumption in China was 15.2% in 2021, according to IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, International Energy Agency (IEA).
- What is the highest renewable energy consumption recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 33.9% in 1990.
- What is the lowest renewable energy consumption recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.3% in 2011.
- How does China rank for renewable energy consumption?
- China ranks 122nd out of 212 countries with data for 2021.
- Is renewable energy consumption rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 34.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, International Energy Agency (IEA), published as part of Renewable energy consumption (% of total final energy consumption). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Renewable energy consumption is the share of renewable energy in total final energy consumption.