Primary energy from low-carbon energy in China
China: Primary energy from low-carbon energy was 5,611 terawatt-hours in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
5,611 terawatt-hours
Change on year
up 12.7%
World rank
1st
of 80 countries
All-time high
5,611 terawatt-hours
in 2025
All-time low
19.38 terawatt-hours
in 1967
Years of data
61
1965–2025
Primary energy from low-carbon energy in China, 1965–2025
Source: Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in terawatt-hours.
Analysis
The most recent figure for primary energy from low-carbon energy in China is 5,611 terawatt-hours, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 61 years on record.
That represents a change of up 12.7% on the previous year and up 179.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary energy from low-carbon energy in China peaked at 5,611 terawatt-hours in 2025 and was at its lowest, 19.38 terawatt-hours, in 1967.
That places China 1st out of 80 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Primary energy from low-carbon energy in China, year by year
| Year | terawatt-hours | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 22.1 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1966 | 22.49 terawatt-hours | +1.8% |
| 1967 | 19.38 terawatt-hours | -13.8% |
| 1968 | 22.87 terawatt-hours | +18.0% |
| 1969 | 23.26 terawatt-hours | +1.7% |
| 1970 | 24.04 terawatt-hours | +3.3% |
| 1971 | 29.08 terawatt-hours | +21.0% |
| 1972 | 32.95 terawatt-hours | +13.3% |
| 1973 | 36.83 terawatt-hours | +11.8% |
| 1974 | 41.67 terawatt-hours | +13.2% |
| 1975 | 43.61 terawatt-hours | +4.6% |
| 1976 | 44.19 terawatt-hours | +1.3% |
| 1977 | 46.13 terawatt-hours | +4.4% |
| 1978 | 43.23 terawatt-hours | -6.3% |
| 1979 | 48.56 terawatt-hours | +12.3% |
| 1980 | 58.22 terawatt-hours | +19.9% |
| 1981 | 65.51 terawatt-hours | +12.5% |
| 1982 | 74.41 terawatt-hours | +13.6% |
| 1983 | 86.42 terawatt-hours | +16.1% |
| 1984 | 86.81 terawatt-hours | +0.5% |
| 1985 | 92.39 terawatt-hours | +6.4% |
| 1986 | 94.55 terawatt-hours | +2.3% |
| 1987 | 100.02 terawatt-hours | +5.8% |
| 1988 | 109.17 terawatt-hours | +9.1% |
| 1989 | 118.41 terawatt-hours | +8.5% |
| 1990 | 127.34 terawatt-hours | +7.5% |
| 1991 | 125.29 terawatt-hours | -1.6% |
| 1992 | 131.9 terawatt-hours | +5.3% |
| 1993 | 158.04 terawatt-hours | +19.8% |
| 1994 | 214.69 terawatt-hours | +35.8% |
| 1995 | 239.99 terawatt-hours | +11.8% |
| 1996 | 236.93 terawatt-hours | -1.3% |
| 1997 | 248.89 terawatt-hours | +5.0% |
| 1998 | 250.26 terawatt-hours | +0.6% |
| 1999 | 250.77 terawatt-hours | +0.2% |
| 2000 | 282.19 terawatt-hours | +12.5% |
| 2001 | 339.62 terawatt-hours | +20.4% |
| 2002 | 375.19 terawatt-hours | +10.5% |
| 2003 | 429.26 terawatt-hours | +14.4% |
| 2004 | 522.23 terawatt-hours | +21.7% |
| 2005 | 585.22 terawatt-hours | +12.1% |
| 2006 | 640.35 terawatt-hours | +9.4% |
| 2007 | 723.17 terawatt-hours | +12.9% |
| 2008 | 921.7 terawatt-hours | +27.5% |
| 2009 | 939.97 terawatt-hours | +2.0% |
| 2010 | 1,063 terawatt-hours | +13.1% |
| 2011 | 1,113 terawatt-hours | +4.7% |
| 2012 | 1,364 terawatt-hours | +22.6% |
| 2013 | 1,514 terawatt-hours | +11.0% |
| 2014 | 1,785 terawatt-hours | +17.9% |
| 2015 | 2,005 terawatt-hours | +12.3% |
| 2016 | 2,278 terawatt-hours | +13.6% |
| 2017 | 2,539 terawatt-hours | +11.5% |
| 2018 | 2,868 terawatt-hours | +13.0% |
| 2019 | 3,231 terawatt-hours | +12.6% |
| 2020 | 3,462 terawatt-hours | +7.2% |
| 2021 | 3,860 terawatt-hours | +11.5% |
| 2022 | 4,120 terawatt-hours | +6.7% |
| 2023 | 4,412 terawatt-hours | +7.1% |
| 2024 | 4,979 terawatt-hours | +12.8% |
| 2025 | 5,611 terawatt-hours | +12.7% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 5,611 terawatt-hours is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 64.98 terawatt-hours, 86.4× the median. (24 countries reporting)
- China's 5,611 terawatt-hours is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 134.27 terawatt-hours, 41.8× the median. (12 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 22.02 terawatt-hours | 19.38 terawatt-hours | 23.26 terawatt-hours | 5 |
| 1970s | 39.03 terawatt-hours | 24.04 terawatt-hours | 48.56 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1980s | 88.59 terawatt-hours | 58.22 terawatt-hours | 118.41 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1990s | 198.41 terawatt-hours | 125.29 terawatt-hours | 250.77 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 575.89 terawatt-hours | 282.19 terawatt-hours | 939.97 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,976 terawatt-hours | 1,063 terawatt-hours | 3,231 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 4,407 terawatt-hours | 3,462 terawatt-hours | 5,611 terawatt-hours | 6 |
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 primary energy from low-carbon energy in China?
- Primary energy from low-carbon energy in China was 5,611 terawatt-hours in 2025, according to Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest primary energy from low-carbon energy recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 5,611 terawatt-hours in 2025.
- What is the lowest primary energy from low-carbon energy recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 19.38 terawatt-hours in 1967.
- How does China rank for primary energy from low-carbon energy?
- China ranks 1st out of 80 countries with data for 2025.
- Is primary energy from low-carbon energy rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 179.8%. 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); Smil (2017) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Primary energy from low-carbon energy. 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 terawatt-hours of total energy supply.