Electricity generation from low-carbon sources per person in China
China: Electricity generation from low-carbon sources per person was 3,113 kilowatt-hours in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Electricity generation from low-carbon sources per person in China, 1971–2025
Source: Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in kilowatt-hours.
Analysis
In 2025, electricity generation from low-carbon sources per person in China stood at 3,113 kilowatt-hours. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
The figure is up 14.8% on the previous year and up 177.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, electricity generation from low-carbon sources per person in China peaked at 3,113 kilowatt-hours in 2025 and was at its lowest, 34.45 kilowatt-hours, in 1971.
China ranks 32nd of 214 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Electricity generation from low-carbon sources per person in China, year by year
| Year | kilowatt-hours | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 34.45 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 1972 | 38.15 kilowatt-hours | +10.8% |
| 1973 | 41.73 kilowatt-hours | +9.4% |
| 1974 | 46.29 kilowatt-hours | +10.9% |
| 1975 | 47.6 kilowatt-hours | +2.8% |
| 1976 | 47.5 kilowatt-hours | -0.2% |
| 1977 | 48.89 kilowatt-hours | +2.9% |
| 1978 | 45.21 kilowatt-hours | -7.5% |
| 1979 | 50.09 kilowatt-hours | +10.8% |
| 1980 | 59.22 kilowatt-hours | +18.2% |
| 1981 | 65.66 kilowatt-hours | +10.9% |
| 1982 | 73.42 kilowatt-hours | +11.8% |
| 1983 | 83.98 kilowatt-hours | +14.4% |
| 1984 | 83.17 kilowatt-hours | -1.0% |
| 1985 | 87.17 kilowatt-hours | +4.8% |
| 1986 | 87.77 kilowatt-hours | +0.7% |
| 1987 | 91.24 kilowatt-hours | +4.0% |
| 1988 | 97.89 kilowatt-hours | +7.3% |
| 1989 | 104.42 kilowatt-hours | +6.7% |
| 1990 | 109.93 kilowatt-hours | +5.3% |
| 1991 | 106.56 kilowatt-hours | -3.1% |
| 1992 | 110.53 kilowatt-hours | +3.7% |
| 1993 | 128.44 kilowatt-hours | +16.2% |
| 1994 | 151.39 kilowatt-hours | +17.9% |
| 1995 | 169.69 kilowatt-hours | +12.1% |
| 1996 | 165.68 kilowatt-hours | -2.4% |
| 1997 | 171.88 kilowatt-hours | +3.7% |
| 1998 | 172.56 kilowatt-hours | +0.4% |
| 1999 | 170.25 kilowatt-hours | -1.3% |
| 2000 | 190.85 kilowatt-hours | +12.1% |
| 2001 | 233.2 kilowatt-hours | +22.2% |
| 2002 | 245.98 kilowatt-hours | +5.5% |
| 2003 | 255.4 kilowatt-hours | +3.8% |
| 2004 | 313.26 kilowatt-hours | +22.7% |
| 2005 | 349.2 kilowatt-hours | +11.5% |
| 2006 | 380.53 kilowatt-hours | +9.0% |
| 2007 | 424.52 kilowatt-hours | +11.6% |
| 2008 | 549.9 kilowatt-hours | +29.5% |
| 2009 | 547.06 kilowatt-hours | -0.5% |
| 2010 | 637.13 kilowatt-hours | +16.5% |
| 2011 | 646.63 kilowatt-hours | +1.5% |
| 2012 | 801.65 kilowatt-hours | +24.0% |
| 2013 | 873.72 kilowatt-hours | +9.0% |
| 2014 | 1,025 kilowatt-hours | +17.3% |
| 2015 | 1,121 kilowatt-hours | +9.4% |
| 2016 | 1,236 kilowatt-hours | +10.3% |
| 2017 | 1,356 kilowatt-hours | +9.7% |
| 2018 | 1,501 kilowatt-hours | +10.7% |
| 2019 | 1,660 kilowatt-hours | +10.6% |
| 2020 | 1,789 kilowatt-hours | +7.8% |
| 2021 | 2,002 kilowatt-hours | +11.9% |
| 2022 | 2,167 kilowatt-hours | +8.2% |
| 2023 | 2,340 kilowatt-hours | +8.0% |
| 2024 | 2,712 kilowatt-hours | +15.9% |
| 2025 | 3,113 kilowatt-hours | +14.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 44.44 kilowatt-hours | 34.45 kilowatt-hours | 50.09 kilowatt-hours | 9 |
| 1980s | 83.39 kilowatt-hours | 59.22 kilowatt-hours | 104.42 kilowatt-hours | 10 |
| 1990s | 145.69 kilowatt-hours | 106.56 kilowatt-hours | 172.56 kilowatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 348.99 kilowatt-hours | 190.85 kilowatt-hours | 549.9 kilowatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,086 kilowatt-hours | 637.13 kilowatt-hours | 1,660 kilowatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 2,354 kilowatt-hours | 1,789 kilowatt-hours | 3,113 kilowatt-hours | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
More climate change data for China
- 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)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 5,052 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is electricity generation from low-carbon sources per person in China?
- Electricity generation from low-carbon sources per person in China was 3,113 kilowatt-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 low-carbon sources per person recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 3,113 kilowatt-hours in 2025.
- What is the lowest electricity generation from low-carbon sources per person recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 34.45 kilowatt-hours in 1971.
- How does China rank for electricity generation from low-carbon sources per person?
- China ranks 32nd out of 214 countries with data for 2025.
- Is electricity generation from low-carbon sources per person rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 177.7%. 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 low-carbon sources per person. 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
Measured in kilowatt-hours per person. Low-carbon sources correspond to renewables and nuclear power, that produce significantly less greenhouse-gas emissions than fossil fuels. Renewables include solar, wind, hydropower, bioenergy, geothermal, wave, and tidal.