Primary energy from low-carbon energy per person in China
China: Primary energy from low-carbon energy per person was 3,962 kilowatt-hours per person in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
3,962 kilowatt-hours per person
Change on year
up 13.0%
World rank
36th
of 80 countries
All-time high
3,962 kilowatt-hours per person
in 2025
All-time low
25.47 kilowatt-hours per person
in 1967
Years of data
61
1965–2025
Primary energy from low-carbon energy per person in China, 1965–2025
Source: Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in kilowatt-hours per person.
Analysis
The most recent figure for primary energy from low-carbon energy per person in China is 3,962 kilowatt-hours per person, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 61 years on record.
The figure is up 13.0% on the previous year and up 175.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary energy from low-carbon energy per person in China peaked at 3,962 kilowatt-hours per person in 2025 and was at its lowest, 25.47 kilowatt-hours per person, in 1967.
China ranks 36th of 80 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Primary energy from low-carbon energy per person in China, year by year
| Year | kilowatt-hours per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 30.55 kilowatt-hours per person | — |
| 1966 | 30.29 kilowatt-hours per person | -0.8% |
| 1967 | 25.47 kilowatt-hours per person | -15.9% |
| 1968 | 29.28 kilowatt-hours per person | +15.0% |
| 1969 | 29 kilowatt-hours per person | -1.0% |
| 1970 | 29.2 kilowatt-hours per person | +0.7% |
| 1971 | 34.45 kilowatt-hours per person | +18.0% |
| 1972 | 38.15 kilowatt-hours per person | +10.8% |
| 1973 | 41.73 kilowatt-hours per person | +9.4% |
| 1974 | 46.29 kilowatt-hours per person | +10.9% |
| 1975 | 47.6 kilowatt-hours per person | +2.8% |
| 1976 | 47.5 kilowatt-hours per person | -0.2% |
| 1977 | 48.89 kilowatt-hours per person | +2.9% |
| 1978 | 45.21 kilowatt-hours per person | -7.5% |
| 1979 | 50.09 kilowatt-hours per person | +10.8% |
| 1980 | 59.22 kilowatt-hours per person | +18.2% |
| 1981 | 65.66 kilowatt-hours per person | +10.9% |
| 1982 | 73.42 kilowatt-hours per person | +11.8% |
| 1983 | 83.98 kilowatt-hours per person | +14.4% |
| 1984 | 83.17 kilowatt-hours per person | -1.0% |
| 1985 | 87.17 kilowatt-hours per person | +4.8% |
| 1986 | 87.77 kilowatt-hours per person | +0.7% |
| 1987 | 91.24 kilowatt-hours per person | +4.0% |
| 1988 | 97.89 kilowatt-hours per person | +7.3% |
| 1989 | 104.42 kilowatt-hours per person | +6.7% |
| 1990 | 110.39 kilowatt-hours per person | +5.7% |
| 1991 | 107.01 kilowatt-hours per person | -3.1% |
| 1992 | 111.35 kilowatt-hours per person | +4.1% |
| 1993 | 132 kilowatt-hours per person | +18.5% |
| 1994 | 177.58 kilowatt-hours per person | +34.5% |
| 1995 | 196.69 kilowatt-hours per person | +10.8% |
| 1996 | 192.47 kilowatt-hours per person | -2.1% |
| 1997 | 200.53 kilowatt-hours per person | +4.2% |
| 1998 | 200.07 kilowatt-hours per person | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 198.99 kilowatt-hours per person | -0.5% |
| 2000 | 222.27 kilowatt-hours per person | +11.7% |
| 2001 | 265.6 kilowatt-hours per person | +19.5% |
| 2002 | 291.55 kilowatt-hours per person | +9.8% |
| 2003 | 331.6 kilowatt-hours per person | +13.7% |
| 2004 | 401.06 kilowatt-hours per person | +20.9% |
| 2005 | 446.73 kilowatt-hours per person | +11.4% |
| 2006 | 485.83 kilowatt-hours per person | +8.8% |
| 2007 | 545.46 kilowatt-hours per person | +12.3% |
| 2008 | 691.02 kilowatt-hours per person | +26.7% |
| 2009 | 700.15 kilowatt-hours per person | +1.3% |
| 2010 | 786.43 kilowatt-hours per person | +12.3% |
| 2011 | 818.48 kilowatt-hours per person | +4.1% |
| 2012 | 996.26 kilowatt-hours per person | +21.7% |
| 2013 | 1,098 kilowatt-hours per person | +10.2% |
| 2014 | 1,286 kilowatt-hours per person | +17.1% |
| 2015 | 1,436 kilowatt-hours per person | +11.7% |
| 2016 | 1,622 kilowatt-hours per person | +13.0% |
| 2017 | 1,798 kilowatt-hours per person | +10.8% |
| 2018 | 2,021 kilowatt-hours per person | +12.4% |
| 2019 | 2,269 kilowatt-hours per person | +12.3% |
| 2020 | 2,427 kilowatt-hours per person | +7.0% |
| 2021 | 2,706 kilowatt-hours per person | +11.5% |
| 2022 | 2,891 kilowatt-hours per person | +6.8% |
| 2023 | 3,101 kilowatt-hours per person | +7.3% |
| 2024 | 3,508 kilowatt-hours per person | +13.1% |
| 2025 | 3,962 kilowatt-hours per person | +13.0% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 3,962 kilowatt-hours per person is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1,452 kilowatt-hours per person, 2.7× the median. (24 countries reporting)
- China's 3,962 kilowatt-hours per person is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1,647 kilowatt-hours per person, 2.4× the median. (12 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 28.92 kilowatt-hours per person | 25.47 kilowatt-hours per person | 30.55 kilowatt-hours per person | 5 |
| 1970s | 42.91 kilowatt-hours per person | 29.2 kilowatt-hours per person | 50.09 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 83.39 kilowatt-hours per person | 59.22 kilowatt-hours per person | 104.42 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 162.71 kilowatt-hours per person | 107.01 kilowatt-hours per person | 200.53 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 438.13 kilowatt-hours per person | 222.27 kilowatt-hours per person | 700.15 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,413 kilowatt-hours per person | 786.43 kilowatt-hours per person | 2,269 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 3,099 kilowatt-hours per person | 2,427 kilowatt-hours per person | 3,962 kilowatt-hours per person | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
- 33 Ireland 4,177 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 34 Lithuania 4,058 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 35 Italy 4,022 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 37 Chile 3,901 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 38 Latvia 3,504 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 39 Croatia 3,381 kilowatt-hours per person compare
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 per person in China?
- Primary energy from low-carbon energy per person in China was 3,962 kilowatt-hours per person in 2025, according to Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest primary energy from low-carbon energy per person recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 3,962 kilowatt-hours per person in 2025.
- What is the lowest primary energy from low-carbon energy per person recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 25.47 kilowatt-hours per person in 1967.
- How does China rank for primary energy from low-carbon energy per person?
- China ranks 36th out of 80 countries with data for 2025.
- Is primary energy from low-carbon energy per person rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 175.9%. 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); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Primary energy from low-carbon energy per person. 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 kilowatt-hours of total energy supply per person.