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
Share of primary energy from low-carbon energy in China, 1965–2025
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 80 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.
Share of primary energy from low-carbon energy in China, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 1.5% | — |
| 1966 | 1.4% | -6.5% |
| 1967 | 1.3% | -4.2% |
| 1968 | 1.6% | +17.3% |
| 1969 | 1.3% | -16.8% |
| 1970 | 1.0% | -19.6% |
| 1971 | 1.1% | +2.1% |
| 1972 | 1.1% | +5.2% |
| 1973 | 1.2% | +6.0% |
| 1974 | 1.3% | +10.0% |
| 1975 | 1.2% | -6.7% |
| 1976 | 1.2% | -3.8% |
| 1977 | 1.1% | -4.4% |
| 1978 | 1.0% | -14.8% |
| 1979 | 1.0% | +9.2% |
| 1980 | 1.2% | +19.0% |
| 1981 | 1.4% | +14.4% |
| 1982 | 1.5% | +9.0% |
| 1983 | 1.7% | +9.4% |
| 1984 | 1.6% | -6.6% |
| 1985 | 1.5% | -1.7% |
| 1986 | 1.5% | -2.4% |
| 1987 | 1.5% | -2.0% |
| 1988 | 1.5% | +1.6% |
| 1989 | 1.6% | +3.5% |
| 1990 | 1.7% | +6.3% |
| 1991 | 1.5% | -6.5% |
| 1992 | 1.5% | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 1.7% | +11.4% |
| 1994 | 2.2% | +28.0% |
| 1995 | 2.4% | +8.9% |
| 1996 | 2.2% | -6.5% |
| 1997 | 2.3% | +4.5% |
| 1998 | 2.4% | +0.4% |
| 1999 | 2.3% | -3.3% |
| 2000 | 2.5% | +8.9% |
| 2001 | 2.8% | +14.6% |
| 2002 | 2.9% | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 2.8% | -2.5% |
| 2004 | 2.9% | +4.2% |
| 2005 | 2.9% | -1.4% |
| 2006 | 2.9% | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 3.0% | +4.0% |
| 2008 | 3.7% | +23.9% |
| 2009 | 3.6% | -2.6% |
| 2010 | 3.8% | +6.2% |
| 2011 | 3.7% | -3.3% |
| 2012 | 4.4% | +18.8% |
| 2013 | 4.7% | +7.2% |
| 2014 | 5.5% | +15.8% |
| 2015 | 6.1% | +11.4% |
| 2016 | 6.9% | +13.7% |
| 2017 | 7.5% | +7.6% |
| 2018 | 8.1% | +8.1% |
| 2019 | 8.8% | +9.3% |
| 2020 | 9.2% | +4.5% |
| 2021 | 9.7% | +5.8% |
| 2022 | 10.2% | +5.0% |
| 2023 | 10.3% | +0.8% |
| 2024 | 11.3% | +9.5% |
| 2025 | 12.5% | +10.3% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 12.5% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 11.9%, 1.0× the median. (24 countries reporting)
- China's 12.5% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 11.7%, 1.1× the median. (12 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | 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
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 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 80 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
Measured as a percentage of total energy supply.