Share of primary energy from low-carbon energy in China

China: Share of primary energy from low-carbon energy was 12.5% in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)
12.5%
Change on year
up 10.3%
World rank
43rd
of 79 countries
All-time high
12.5%
in 2025
All-time low
1.0%
in 1978
Years of data
61
1965–2025

Share of primary energy from low-carbon energy in China, 1965–2025

02.557.51012.5196519952025

Source: Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017); U.S. Energy Information Administration (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

China recorded 12.5% for share of primary energy from low-carbon energy in 2025. That is the highest value across all 61 years on record.

That represents a change of up 10.3% on the previous year and up 104.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, share of primary energy from low-carbon energy in China peaked at 12.5% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 1.0%, in 1978.

That places China 43rd out of 79 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 1.4% 1.3% 1.6% 5
1970s 1.1% 1.0% 1.3% 10
1980s 1.5% 1.2% 1.7% 10
1990s 2.0% 1.5% 2.4% 10
2000s 3.0% 2.5% 3.7% 10
2010s 6.0% 3.7% 8.8% 10
2020s 10.5% 9.2% 12.5% 6

Countries ranked near China

  1. 40 Estonia 13.5% compare
  2. 41 Venezuela 13.0% compare
  3. 42 North Macedonia 13.0% compare
  4. 44 Sri Lanka 12.4% compare
  5. 45 Netherlands 12.0% compare
  6. 46 Argentina 12.0% compare

See the full ranking of 82 places →

More climate change data for China

All data for China →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of primary energy from low-carbon energy in China?
Share of primary energy from low-carbon energy in China was 12.5% in 2025, according to Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017); U.S. Energy Information Administration (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest share of primary energy from low-carbon energy recorded in China?
The highest recorded value was 12.5% in 2025.
What is the lowest share of primary energy from low-carbon energy recorded in China?
The lowest recorded value was 1.0% in 1978.
How does China rank for share of primary energy from low-carbon energy?
China ranks 43rd out of 79 countries with data for 2025.
Is share of primary energy from low-carbon energy rising or falling in China?
Over the last ten years it is up 104.3%. 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); U.S. Energy Information Administration (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share 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

Indicator
Share of primary energy from low-carbon energy
Unit
%
Source
Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017); U.S. Energy Information Administration (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
82 places, 4,680 data points, 1965–2025
Last refreshed

Measured as a percentage of total energy supply.