Electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables in China
China: Electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables was 6,175 terawatt-hours in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
6,175 terawatt-hours
Change on year
down 1.0%
World rank
1st
of 208 countries
All-time high
6,237 terawatt-hours
in 2024
All-time low
318.3 terawatt-hours
in 1985
Years of data
41
1985–2025
Electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables in China, 1985–2025
Source: Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in terawatt-hours.
Analysis
The most recent figure for electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables in China is 6,175 terawatt-hours, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 1.0% on the previous year and up 45.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables in China peaked at 6,237 terawatt-hours in 2024 and was at its lowest, 318.3 terawatt-hours, in 1985.
China ranks 1st of 208 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables in China, year by year
| Year | terawatt-hours | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 318.3 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1986 | 354.98 terawatt-hours | +11.5% |
| 1987 | 397.24 terawatt-hours | +11.9% |
| 1988 | 436.04 terawatt-hours | +9.8% |
| 1989 | 466.4 terawatt-hours | +7.0% |
| 1990 | 494.39 terawatt-hours | +6.0% |
| 1991 | 552.79 terawatt-hours | +11.8% |
| 1992 | 623.01 terawatt-hours | +12.7% |
| 1993 | 657.81 terawatt-hours | +5.6% |
| 1994 | 744.76 terawatt-hours | +13.2% |
| 1995 | 799.98 terawatt-hours | +7.4% |
| 1996 | 877.36 terawatt-hours | +9.7% |
| 1997 | 922.22 terawatt-hours | +5.1% |
| 1998 | 951.16 terawatt-hours | +3.1% |
| 1999 | 1,025 terawatt-hours | +7.7% |
| 2000 | 1,113 terawatt-hours | +8.6% |
| 2001 | 1,183 terawatt-hours | +6.2% |
| 2002 | 1,337 terawatt-hours | +13.1% |
| 2003 | 1,580 terawatt-hours | +18.1% |
| 2004 | 1,795 terawatt-hours | +13.6% |
| 2005 | 2,043 terawatt-hours | +13.8% |
| 2006 | 2,364 terawatt-hours | +15.7% |
| 2007 | 2,719 terawatt-hours | +15.0% |
| 2008 | 2,762 terawatt-hours | +1.6% |
| 2009 | 2,980 terawatt-hours | +7.9% |
| 2010 | 3,346 terawatt-hours | +12.3% |
| 2011 | 3,833 terawatt-hours | +14.6% |
| 2012 | 3,890 terawatt-hours | +1.5% |
| 2013 | 4,227 terawatt-hours | +8.7% |
| 2014 | 4,372 terawatt-hours | +3.4% |
| 2015 | 4,250 terawatt-hours | -2.8% |
| 2016 | 4,397 terawatt-hours | +3.5% |
| 2017 | 4,689 terawatt-hours | +6.6% |
| 2018 | 5,036 terawatt-hours | +7.4% |
| 2019 | 5,140 terawatt-hours | +2.1% |
| 2020 | 5,228 terawatt-hours | +1.7% |
| 2021 | 5,678 terawatt-hours | +8.6% |
| 2022 | 5,760 terawatt-hours | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 6,128 terawatt-hours | +6.4% |
| 2024 | 6,237 terawatt-hours | +1.8% |
| 2025 | 6,175 terawatt-hours | -1.0% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 6,175 terawatt-hours is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 8.52 terawatt-hours, 725.2× the median. (54 countries reporting)
- China's 6,175 terawatt-hours is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 5.55 terawatt-hours, 1112.7× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 394.59 terawatt-hours | 318.3 terawatt-hours | 466.4 terawatt-hours | 5 |
| 1990s | 764.82 terawatt-hours | 494.39 terawatt-hours | 1,025 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,988 terawatt-hours | 1,113 terawatt-hours | 2,980 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 4,318 terawatt-hours | 3,346 terawatt-hours | 5,140 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 5,868 terawatt-hours | 5,228 terawatt-hours | 6,237 terawatt-hours | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
More reference data data for China
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 49.4 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 75.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 18.8 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 165.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 206.2 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 350.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1,480 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 102.37 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables in China?
- Electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables in China was 6,175 terawatt-hours in 2025, according to Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 6,237 terawatt-hours in 2024.
- What is the lowest electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 318.3 terawatt-hours in 1985.
- How does China rank for electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables?
- China ranks 1st out of 208 countries with data for 2025.
- Is electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 45.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- 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 Electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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 in terawatt-hours.