Share of electricity generation from fossil fuels in China
China: Share of electricity generation from fossil fuels was 58.3% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Share of electricity generation from fossil fuels in China, 1985–2025
Source: Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
China recorded 58.3% for share of electricity generation from fossil fuels in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 41 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.6% on the previous year and down 20.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of electricity generation from fossil fuels in China peaked at 82.8% in 2007 and was at its lowest, 58.3%, in 2025.
China ranks 118th of 213 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 41 years of available data.
Share of electricity generation from fossil fuels in China, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 77.5% | — |
| 1986 | 79.0% | +1.9% |
| 1987 | 79.9% | +1.2% |
| 1988 | 80.0% | +0.1% |
| 1989 | 79.8% | -0.3% |
| 1990 | 79.6% | -0.2% |
| 1991 | 81.6% | +2.5% |
| 1992 | 82.6% | +1.3% |
| 1993 | 81.1% | -1.9% |
| 1994 | 80.3% | -1.0% |
| 1995 | 79.4% | -1.0% |
| 1996 | 81.1% | +2.1% |
| 1997 | 81.2% | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 81.5% | +0.4% |
| 1999 | 82.7% | +1.5% |
| 2000 | 82.1% | -0.7% |
| 2001 | 79.9% | -2.8% |
| 2002 | 80.9% | +1.3% |
| 2003 | 82.7% | +2.3% |
| 2004 | 81.5% | -1.5% |
| 2005 | 81.7% | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 82.5% | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 82.8% | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 79.0% | -4.6% |
| 2009 | 80.2% | +1.5% |
| 2010 | 79.5% | -0.9% |
| 2011 | 81.3% | +2.3% |
| 2012 | 78.0% | -4.1% |
| 2013 | 77.8% | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 75.5% | -3.0% |
| 2015 | 73.1% | -3.1% |
| 2016 | 71.7% | -1.9% |
| 2017 | 71.0% | -1.0% |
| 2018 | 70.3% | -1.0% |
| 2019 | 68.5% | -2.5% |
| 2020 | 67.2% | -1.9% |
| 2021 | 66.5% | -1.0% |
| 2022 | 65.1% | -2.2% |
| 2023 | 64.8% | -0.5% |
| 2024 | 61.8% | -4.6% |
| 2025 | 58.3% | -5.6% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 58.3% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 73.2%, 80% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
- China's 58.3% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 75.0%, 78% of the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 79.2% | 77.5% | 80.0% | 5 |
| 1990s | 81.1% | 79.4% | 82.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 81.3% | 79.0% | 82.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 74.7% | 68.5% | 81.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 64.0% | 58.3% | 67.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
More energy & mining data for China
- Primary energy from fossil nuclear renewables, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fuel imports 18.1% (2025)
- Ores and metals imports 16.1% (2025)
- Fuel exports 1.4% (2025)
- Ores and metals exports 1.6% (2025)
- 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)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of electricity generation from fossil fuels in China?
- Share of electricity generation from fossil fuels in China was 58.3% in 2025, according to Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of electricity generation from fossil fuels recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 82.8% in 2007.
- What is the lowest share of electricity generation from fossil fuels recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 58.3% in 2025.
- How does China rank for share of electricity generation from fossil fuels?
- China ranks 118th out of 213 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of electricity generation from fossil fuels rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of electricity generation from fossil fuels. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Electricity generation from coal, oil, and gas, measured as a percentage of total electricity produced in the country or region.