Energy use per capita vs. CO₂ emissions per capita in China
China: Energy use per capita vs. CO₂ emissions per capita was 9.32 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Energy use per capita vs. CO₂ emissions per capita in China, 1970–2024
Source: Joint Research Centre (European Commission) and International Energy Agency (IEA), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
China recorded 9.32 for energy use per capita vs. co₂ emissions per capita in 2024. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
The figure is up 0.9% on the previous year and up 17.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, energy use per capita vs. co₂ emissions per capita in China peaked at 9.32 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 1.09, in 1971.
That places China 22nd out of 203 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Energy use per capita vs. CO₂ emissions per capita in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 1.11 | — |
| 1971 | 1.09 | -2.3% |
| 1972 | 1.13 | +4.0% |
| 1973 | 1.15 | +1.7% |
| 1974 | 1.15 | -0.4% |
| 1975 | 1.29 | +12.7% |
| 1976 | 1.32 | +2.5% |
| 1977 | 1.47 | +10.9% |
| 1978 | 1.63 | +11.2% |
| 1979 | 1.65 | +1.1% |
| 1980 | 1.59 | -3.4% |
| 1981 | 1.56 | -2.2% |
| 1982 | 1.61 | +3.0% |
| 1983 | 1.67 | +3.7% |
| 1984 | 1.79 | +7.5% |
| 1985 | 1.79 | -0.3% |
| 1986 | 1.87 | +4.6% |
| 1987 | 1.97 | +5.2% |
| 1988 | 2.08 | +5.8% |
| 1989 | 2.12 | +1.8% |
| 1990 | 2.13 | +0.3% |
| 1991 | 2.22 | +4.2% |
| 1992 | 2.29 | +3.4% |
| 1993 | 2.45 | +7.0% |
| 1994 | 2.56 | +4.2% |
| 1995 | 2.79 | +9.3% |
| 1996 | 2.74 | -1.8% |
| 1997 | 2.79 | +1.9% |
| 1998 | 2.84 | +1.5% |
| 1999 | 2.75 | -3.0% |
| 2000 | 2.89 | +5.0% |
| 2001 | 3.01 | +4.1% |
| 2002 | 3.23 | +7.3% |
| 2003 | 3.7 | +14.8% |
| 2004 | 4.24 | +14.5% |
| 2005 | 4.78 | +12.8% |
| 2006 | 5.28 | +10.4% |
| 2007 | 5.71 | +8.1% |
| 2008 | 5.85 | +2.5% |
| 2009 | 6.25 | +6.8% |
| 2010 | 6.81 | +8.9% |
| 2011 | 7.4 | +8.7% |
| 2012 | 7.58 | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 7.89 | +4.1% |
| 2014 | 7.93 | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 7.79 | -1.8% |
| 2016 | 7.76 | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 7.88 | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 8.22 | +4.3% |
| 2019 | 8.39 | +2.1% |
| 2020 | 8.48 | +1.0% |
| 2021 | 8.89 | +4.8% |
| 2022 | 8.86 | -0.3% |
| 2023 | 9.23 | +4.1% |
| 2024 | 9.32 | +0.9% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 9.32 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 2.79, 3.3× the median. (56 countries reporting)
- China's 9.32 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 2.5, 3.7× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.3 | 1.09 | 1.65 | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.8 | 1.56 | 2.12 | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.56 | 2.13 | 2.84 | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.49 | 2.89 | 6.25 | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.77 | 6.81 | 8.39 | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.96 | 8.48 | 9.32 | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
More climate change data for China
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 31.25 billion kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 604,831 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 191,478 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 413,353 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 722.56 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 14,763 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 342,069 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 200,605 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 141,464 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 757 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is energy use per capita vs. co₂ emissions per capita in China?
- Energy use per capita vs. co₂ emissions per capita in China was 9.32 in 2024, according to Joint Research Centre (European Commission) and International Energy Agency (IEA), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest energy use per capita vs. co₂ emissions per capita recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 9.32 in 2024.
- What is the lowest energy use per capita vs. co₂ emissions per capita recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.09 in 1971.
- How does China rank for energy use per capita vs. co₂ emissions per capita?
- China ranks 22nd out of 203 countries with data for 2024.
- Is energy use per capita vs. co₂ emissions per capita rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Joint Research Centre (European Commission) and International Energy Agency (IEA), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Energy use per capita vs. CO₂ emissions per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Average energy consumption per capita is measured in kilowatt-hours per person. Average carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions per capita are measured in tonnes per person.