Share of electricity generation from hydropower in China
China: Share of electricity generation from hydropower was 13.2% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Share of electricity generation from hydropower in China, 1985–2025
Source: Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of electricity generation from hydropower in China is 13.2%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.7% on the previous year and down 31.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of electricity generation from hydropower in China peaked at 22.5% in 1985 and was at its lowest, 13.0%, in 2023.
China ranks 95th 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 hydropower in China, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 22.5% | — |
| 1986 | 21.0% | -6.5% |
| 1987 | 20.1% | -4.4% |
| 1988 | 20.0% | -0.5% |
| 1989 | 20.2% | +1.1% |
| 1990 | 20.4% | +0.8% |
| 1991 | 18.4% | -9.8% |
| 1992 | 17.3% | -5.8% |
| 1993 | 18.7% | +7.9% |
| 1994 | 18.0% | -3.5% |
| 1995 | 18.9% | +4.9% |
| 1996 | 17.4% | -8.1% |
| 1997 | 17.3% | -0.7% |
| 1998 | 17.0% | -1.3% |
| 1999 | 15.9% | -6.9% |
| 2000 | 16.4% | +3.4% |
| 2001 | 18.7% | +14.2% |
| 2002 | 17.4% | -7.1% |
| 2003 | 14.8% | -14.7% |
| 2004 | 16.0% | +8.1% |
| 2005 | 15.9% | -1.0% |
| 2006 | 15.2% | -4.2% |
| 2007 | 14.8% | -2.8% |
| 2008 | 18.2% | +23.2% |
| 2009 | 16.6% | -9.0% |
| 2010 | 16.9% | +2.0% |
| 2011 | 14.6% | -13.7% |
| 2012 | 17.3% | +18.5% |
| 2013 | 16.7% | -3.2% |
| 2014 | 18.3% | +9.2% |
| 2015 | 19.2% | +4.8% |
| 2016 | 18.8% | -1.9% |
| 2017 | 17.6% | -6.2% |
| 2018 | 16.7% | -5.2% |
| 2019 | 17.0% | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 17.0% | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 15.2% | -10.3% |
| 2022 | 14.7% | -3.7% |
| 2023 | 13.0% | -11.6% |
| 2024 | 13.4% | +3.6% |
| 2025 | 13.2% | -1.7% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 13.2% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 13.2%, 1.0× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- China's 13.2% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 7.3%, 1.8× the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 20.8% | 20.0% | 22.5% | 5 |
| 1990s | 17.9% | 15.9% | 20.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 16.4% | 14.8% | 18.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.3% | 14.6% | 19.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.4% | 13.0% | 17.0% | 6 |
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 share of electricity generation from hydropower in China?
- Share of electricity generation from hydropower in China was 13.2% 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 hydropower recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 22.5% in 1985.
- What is the lowest share of electricity generation from hydropower recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.0% in 2023.
- How does China rank for share of electricity generation from hydropower?
- China ranks 95th out of 213 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of electricity generation from hydropower rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 31.1%. 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 hydropower. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Measured as a percentage of total electricity produced in the country or region.