Oil consumption per person in China
China: Oil consumption per person was 6,639 kilowatt-hours per person in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
6,639 kilowatt-hours per person
Change on year
up 2.7%
World rank
122nd
of 219 countries
All-time high
6,639 kilowatt-hours per person
in 2025
All-time low
178.41 kilowatt-hours per person
in 1965
Years of data
61
1965–2025
Oil consumption per person in China, 1965–2025
Source: Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in kilowatt-hours per person.
Analysis
In 2025, oil consumption per person in China stood at 6,639 kilowatt-hours per person. That is the highest value across all 61 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.7% on the previous year and up 40.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, oil consumption per person in China peaked at 6,639 kilowatt-hours per person in 2025 and was at its lowest, 178.41 kilowatt-hours per person, in 1965.
China ranks 122nd of 219 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Oil consumption per person in China, year by year
| Year | kilowatt-hours per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 178.41 kilowatt-hours per person | — |
| 1966 | 223.33 kilowatt-hours per person | +25.2% |
| 1967 | 215.09 kilowatt-hours per person | -3.7% |
| 1968 | 229.23 kilowatt-hours per person | +6.6% |
| 1969 | 299.25 kilowatt-hours per person | +30.5% |
| 1970 | 403.31 kilowatt-hours per person | +34.8% |
| 1971 | 535 kilowatt-hours per person | +32.7% |
| 1972 | 601.73 kilowatt-hours per person | +12.5% |
| 1973 | 718.33 kilowatt-hours per person | +19.4% |
| 1974 | 809.8 kilowatt-hours per person | +12.7% |
| 1975 | 877.7 kilowatt-hours per person | +8.4% |
| 1976 | 987.98 kilowatt-hours per person | +12.6% |
| 1977 | 1,029 kilowatt-hours per person | +4.2% |
| 1978 | 1,126 kilowatt-hours per person | +9.4% |
| 1979 | 1,114 kilowatt-hours per person | -1.1% |
| 1980 | 989.19 kilowatt-hours per person | -11.2% |
| 1981 | 923.64 kilowatt-hours per person | -6.6% |
| 1982 | 899.53 kilowatt-hours per person | -2.6% |
| 1983 | 903.83 kilowatt-hours per person | +0.5% |
| 1984 | 924.36 kilowatt-hours per person | +2.3% |
| 1985 | 953.57 kilowatt-hours per person | +3.2% |
| 1986 | 997.39 kilowatt-hours per person | +4.6% |
| 1987 | 1,042 kilowatt-hours per person | +4.5% |
| 1988 | 1,102 kilowatt-hours per person | +5.8% |
| 1989 | 1,136 kilowatt-hours per person | +3.0% |
| 1990 | 1,105 kilowatt-hours per person | -2.7% |
| 1991 | 1,178 kilowatt-hours per person | +6.6% |
| 1992 | 1,263 kilowatt-hours per person | +7.2% |
| 1993 | 1,390 kilowatt-hours per person | +10.0% |
| 1994 | 1,398 kilowatt-hours per person | +0.6% |
| 1995 | 1,496 kilowatt-hours per person | +7.0% |
| 1996 | 1,643 kilowatt-hours per person | +9.8% |
| 1997 | 1,790 kilowatt-hours per person | +8.9% |
| 1998 | 1,829 kilowatt-hours per person | +2.2% |
| 1999 | 1,934 kilowatt-hours per person | +5.8% |
| 2000 | 2,069 kilowatt-hours per person | +7.0% |
| 2001 | 2,098 kilowatt-hours per person | +1.4% |
| 2002 | 2,250 kilowatt-hours per person | +7.2% |
| 2003 | 2,499 kilowatt-hours per person | +11.1% |
| 2004 | 2,901 kilowatt-hours per person | +16.1% |
| 2005 | 2,930 kilowatt-hours per person | +1.0% |
| 2006 | 3,123 kilowatt-hours per person | +6.6% |
| 2007 | 3,254 kilowatt-hours per person | +4.2% |
| 2008 | 3,305 kilowatt-hours per person | +1.6% |
| 2009 | 3,412 kilowatt-hours per person | +3.2% |
| 2010 | 3,858 kilowatt-hours per person | +13.1% |
| 2011 | 3,963 kilowatt-hours per person | +2.7% |
| 2012 | 4,129 kilowatt-hours per person | +4.2% |
| 2013 | 4,284 kilowatt-hours per person | +3.8% |
| 2014 | 4,426 kilowatt-hours per person | +3.3% |
| 2015 | 4,734 kilowatt-hours per person | +7.0% |
| 2016 | 4,860 kilowatt-hours per person | +2.7% |
| 2017 | 5,086 kilowatt-hours per person | +4.7% |
| 2018 | 5,306 kilowatt-hours per person | +4.3% |
| 2019 | 5,455 kilowatt-hours per person | +2.8% |
| 2020 | 5,518 kilowatt-hours per person | +1.2% |
| 2021 | 5,712 kilowatt-hours per person | +3.5% |
| 2022 | 5,801 kilowatt-hours per person | +1.5% |
| 2023 | 6,406 kilowatt-hours per person | +10.4% |
| 2024 | 6,463 kilowatt-hours per person | +0.9% |
| 2025 | 6,639 kilowatt-hours per person | +2.7% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 6,639 kilowatt-hours per person is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 7,115 kilowatt-hours per person, 93% of the median. (57 countries reporting)
- China's 6,639 kilowatt-hours per person is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 8,326 kilowatt-hours per person, 80% of the median. (35 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Oil consumption per person in China changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | +34.8% | 299.25 kilowatt-hours per person | 403.31 kilowatt-hours per person |
| 1971 | +32.7% | 403.31 kilowatt-hours per person | 535 kilowatt-hours per person |
| 1969 | +30.5% | 229.23 kilowatt-hours per person | 299.25 kilowatt-hours per person |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 229.06 kilowatt-hours per person | 178.41 kilowatt-hours per person | 299.25 kilowatt-hours per person | 5 |
| 1970s | 820.25 kilowatt-hours per person | 403.31 kilowatt-hours per person | 1,126 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 987.14 kilowatt-hours per person | 899.53 kilowatt-hours per person | 1,136 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 1,503 kilowatt-hours per person | 1,105 kilowatt-hours per person | 1,934 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 2,784 kilowatt-hours per person | 2,069 kilowatt-hours per person | 3,412 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 4,610 kilowatt-hours per person | 3,858 kilowatt-hours per person | 5,455 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 6,090 kilowatt-hours per person | 5,518 kilowatt-hours per person | 6,639 kilowatt-hours per person | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
- 119 Azerbaijan 6,832 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 120 Brazil 6,771 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 121 Cuba 6,644 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 123 Samoa 6,290 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 124 Micronesia (country) 6,204 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 125 Venezuela 6,202 kilowatt-hours per person compare
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 oil consumption per person in China?
- Oil consumption per person in China was 6,639 kilowatt-hours per person in 2025, according to Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest oil consumption per person recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 6,639 kilowatt-hours per person in 2025.
- What is the lowest oil consumption per person recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 178.41 kilowatt-hours per person in 1965.
- How does China rank for oil consumption per person?
- China ranks 122nd out of 219 countries with data for 2025.
- Is oil consumption per person rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 40.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Oil consumption per person. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 61 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Measured in kilowatt-hours per person. Includes refined petroleum products and other liquid fuels.