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.
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
- 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 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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CSV · JSON — 41 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Electricity generation from coal, oil, and gas, measured as a percentage of total electricity produced in the country or region.