What is energy intensity of the economy in China?

Energy intensity of the economy in China was 2.09 kWh per 2011$PPP in 2016, according to Our World in Data based on BP; World Bank; and Maddison Project Database.

What is the highest energy intensity of the economy recorded in China?

The highest recorded value was 3.17 kWh per 2011$PPP in 1977.

What is the lowest energy intensity of the economy recorded in China?

The lowest recorded value was 1.73 kWh per 2011$PPP in 1967.

How does China rank for energy intensity of the economy?

China ranks 20th out of 161 countries with data for 2016.

Is energy intensity of the economy rising or falling in China?

Over the last ten years it is down 18.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.

Where does this China data come from?

The figures come from Our World in Data based on BP; World Bank; and Maddison Project Database, published as part of Energy intensity of the economy (kWh per 2011$PPP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Energy intensity of the economy in China

Name: Energy intensity of the economy in China
Creator: Our World in Data based on BP; World Bank; and Maddison Project Database
License: CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)

China: Energy intensity of the economy was 2.09 kWh per 2011$PPP in 2016. ▬ Flat

Latest (2016)

2.09 kWh per 2011$PPP

Change on year

down 1.7%

World rank

20th

of 161 countries

All-time high

3.17 kWh per 2011$PPP

in 1977

All-time low

1.73 kWh per 2011$PPP

in 1967

Years of data

1965–2016

Energy intensity of the economy in China, 1965–2016

Source: Our World in Data based on BP; World Bank; and Maddison Project Database. Measured in kWh per 2011$PPP.

Analysis

The most recent figure for energy intensity of the economy in China is 2.09 kWh per 2011$PPP, measured in 2016.

The figure is down 1.7% on the previous year and down 18.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, energy intensity of the economy in China peaked at 3.17 kWh per 2011$PPP in 1977 and was at its lowest, 1.73 kWh per 2011$PPP, in 1967.

China ranks 20th of 161 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

Energy intensity of the economy in China, year by year

Annual values for Energy intensity of the economy (kWh per 2011$PPP) in China, 1965 to 2016.
Year	kWh per 2011$PPP	Change
1965	1.89 kWh per 2011$PPP	—
1966	1.97 kWh per 2011$PPP	+4.4%
1967	1.73 kWh per 2011$PPP	-12.6%
1968	1.79 kWh per 2011$PPP	+3.5%
1969	1.97 kWh per 2011$PPP	+10.5%
1970	2.22 kWh per 2011$PPP	+12.7%
1971	2.45 kWh per 2011$PPP	+10.3%
1972	2.67 kWh per 2011$PPP	+8.7%
1973	2.63 kWh per 2011$PPP	-1.4%
1974	2.65 kWh per 2011$PPP	+0.6%
1975	2.8 kWh per 2011$PPP	+6.0%
1976	3 kWh per 2011$PPP	+6.9%
1977	3.17 kWh per 2011$PPP	+5.8%
1978	3.06 kWh per 2011$PPP	-3.4%
1979	2.98 kWh per 2011$PPP	-2.8%
1980	2.92 kWh per 2011$PPP	-1.7%
1981	2.89 kWh per 2011$PPP	-1.3%
1982	2.73 kWh per 2011$PPP	-5.3%
1983	2.73 kWh per 2011$PPP	-0.1%
1984	2.6 kWh per 2011$PPP	-4.9%
1985	2.54 kWh per 2011$PPP	-2.1%
1986	2.52 kWh per 2011$PPP	-0.9%
1987	2.57 kWh per 2011$PPP	+1.9%
1988	2.65 kWh per 2011$PPP	+3.2%
1989	2.8 kWh per 2011$PPP	+5.7%
1990	2.86 kWh per 2011$PPP	+2.0%
1991	2.86 kWh per 2011$PPP	+0.0%
1992	2.77 kWh per 2011$PPP	-3.0%
1993	2.69 kWh per 2011$PPP	-3.0%
1994	2.7 kWh per 2011$PPP	+0.5%
1995	2.62 kWh per 2011$PPP	-3.2%
1996	2.57 kWh per 2011$PPP	-1.7%
1997	2.53 kWh per 2011$PPP	-1.7%
1998	2.5 kWh per 2011$PPP	-1.0%
1999	2.42 kWh per 2011$PPP	-3.1%
2000	2.3 kWh per 2011$PPP	-5.0%
2001	2.23 kWh per 2011$PPP	-3.1%
2002	2.22 kWh per 2011$PPP	-0.5%
2003	2.4 kWh per 2011$PPP	+8.3%
2004	2.56 kWh per 2011$PPP	+6.4%
2005	2.55 kWh per 2011$PPP	-0.3%
2006	2.54 kWh per 2011$PPP	-0.3%
2007	2.55 kWh per 2011$PPP	+0.2%
2008	2.54 kWh per 2011$PPP	-0.1%
2009	2.44 kWh per 2011$PPP	-4.1%
2010	2.3 kWh per 2011$PPP	-5.8%
2011	2.28 kWh per 2011$PPP	-0.7%
2012	2.27 kWh per 2011$PPP	-0.4%
2013	2.25 kWh per 2011$PPP	-1.1%
2014	2.17 kWh per 2011$PPP	-3.5%
2015	2.12 kWh per 2011$PPP	-2.1%
2016	2.09 kWh per 2011$PPP	-1.7%

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1960s	1.87 kWh per 2011$PPP	1.73 kWh per 2011$PPP	1.97 kWh per 2011$PPP	5
1970s	2.76 kWh per 2011$PPP	2.22 kWh per 2011$PPP	3.17 kWh per 2011$PPP	10
1980s	2.7 kWh per 2011$PPP	2.52 kWh per 2011$PPP	2.92 kWh per 2011$PPP	10
1990s	2.65 kWh per 2011$PPP	2.42 kWh per 2011$PPP	2.86 kWh per 2011$PPP	10
2000s	2.44 kWh per 2011$PPP	2.22 kWh per 2011$PPP	2.56 kWh per 2011$PPP	10
2010s	2.21 kWh per 2011$PPP	2.09 kWh per 2011$PPP	2.3 kWh per 2011$PPP	7

Countries ranked near China

17 South Africa 2.27 kWh per 2011$PPP compare
18 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 2.1 kWh per 2011$PPP compare
19 Estonia 2.09 kWh per 2011$PPP compare
21 Saudi Arabia 2.03 kWh per 2011$PPP compare
22 Kyrgyzstan 2.01 kWh per 2011$PPP compare
23 Oman 2 kWh per 2011$PPP compare

See the full ranking of 161 places →

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)

All data for China →

Frequently asked questions

What is energy intensity of the economy in China?: Energy intensity of the economy in China was 2.09 kWh per 2011$PPP in 2016, according to Our World in Data based on BP; World Bank; and Maddison Project Database.
What is the highest energy intensity of the economy recorded in China?: The highest recorded value was 3.17 kWh per 2011$PPP in 1977.
What is the lowest energy intensity of the economy recorded in China?: The lowest recorded value was 1.73 kWh per 2011$PPP in 1967.
How does China rank for energy intensity of the economy?: China ranks 20th out of 161 countries with data for 2016.
Is energy intensity of the economy rising or falling in China?: Over the last ten years it is down 18.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this China data come from?: The figures come from Our World in Data based on BP; World Bank; and Maddison Project Database, published as part of Energy intensity of the economy (kWh per 2011$PPP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Energy intensity of the economy in China. Statizoid, drawing on Our World in Data based on BP; World Bank; and Maddison Project Database. Retrieved 26 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/energy-intensity-of-the-economy-kwh-per-2011-ppp/china/

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About this data

Indicator: Energy intensity of the economy (kWh per 2011$PPP)
Unit: kWh per 2011$PPP
Source: Our World in Data based on BP; World Bank; and Maddison Project Database
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage: 161 places, 6,650 data points, 1965–2016
Last refreshed: 24 August 2026

Energy intensity is measured as primary energy consumption per unit of gross domestic product. This is measured in kilowatt-hours per 2011$ (PPP).