China Electricity
Generation (2024)#1 World
10,162TWh+7.2% YoY
Consumption (2024)#1 World
9,793.7TWh+7.1% YoY
Generation Mix (2024)
Fossil Fuels (oil + gas + coal)
(nuclear + renewables) Low-Carbon
61.4%38.6%
Electricity Generation in China
- Net electricity generation in China reached 10,162 terawatt-hours in 2024 (#1 in the world), an increase of 7.2% from 9,483.2 terawatt-hours in 2023. This is equivalent to 33.1% of global electricity generation.
- In 2024, fossil fuels generated 61.4% (6,248.4 terawatt-hours) of electricity in China, renewables 34.2% (3,480.3 terawatt-hours), and nuclear 4.4% (450.8 terawatt-hours).
- China reduced its fossil fuel use for electricity generation 2024 by 3.3% compared to 2023, with low-carbon sources (nuclear + renewables) generating 38.6% of the total electricity.
Electricity Consumption in China
- China consumed 9,793.7 terawatt-hours of electricity in 2024 (#1 in the world), an increase of 7.1% from 2023. This represents 34.3% of the world's total electricity consumption.
- Per capita, electricity consumption in China averaged 6,900.3 kilowatt-hours in 2024, equivalent to 18.9 kilowatt-hours per day (#33 in the world).
Installed Electricity Capacity in China
- China had a total installed electricity capacity of 3,376.7 gigawatts in 2024 (#1 in the world), an increase of 14.5% from the previous year.
- fossil fuels made up 42.8%, renewables at 53.8%, and nuclear at 1.6% of China's installed capacity in 2024.
- China's power plants ran at an overall capacity factor of 34.4% in 2024, with nuclear at 93%, fossil fuels at 49.4% and hydro at 43.1%.
Electricity Imports & Exports in China
- China imported 5 terawatt-hours of electricity in 2024 (≈0.05% of consumption).
- China exported 22 terawatt-hours of electricity in 2024 (≈0.22% of generation).
- This made China a net exporter of 17 terawatt-hours of electricity in 2024.
Grid Efficiency in China
- Distribution losses in China were 350.8 terawatt-hours in 2024, equivalent to 3.5% of total generation, down from 5.4% in 2014.
Electricity Balance in China
- In 2024, China generated approximately 27.84 terawatt-hours per day and consumed 26.83 terawatt-hours per day. This represents a daily surplus of 1.01 terawatt-hours.
China Electricity History (1980-2024)
| Generation | Consumption | Capacity | Trade | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 10,162 | +7.2% | 1 | 33.1% | 9,793.7 | +7.1% | 1 | 34.3% | 6,900.3 | 3,376.7 | +14.5% | 1 | 34.6% | 5 | 22 | −17 | 350.8 |
| 2023 | 9,483.2 | +9.4% | 1 | 32.1% | 9,140.8 | +9.5% | 1 | 33.3% | 6,425.5 | 2,949.1 | +14% | 1 | 32.5% | 5.02 | 22.1 | −17.08 | 325.4 |
| 2022 | 8,665.2 | +4.1% | 1 | 30.4% | 8,346 | +4.6% | 1 | 31.6% | 5,856.1 | 2,586.5 | +7.7% | 1 | 30.3% | 7.14 | 20.09 | −12.95 | 306.3 |
| 2021 | 8,320.8 | +7.7% | 1 | 29.9% | 7,980.9 | +8.1% | 1 | 30.9% | 5,595 | 2,401 | +7.9% | 1 | 29.3% | 5.94 | 20.18 | −14.24 | 325.6 |
| 2020 | 7,725.9 | +3.8% | 1 | 29.2% | 7,385.5 | +4.1% | 1 | 30.1% | 5,178.8 | 2,225 | +9.9% | 1 | 28.5% | 4.75 | 21.79 | −17.04 | 323.3 |
| 2019 | 7,446.5 | +5.1% | 1 | 28.1% | 7,096.7 | +5.4% | 1 | 29.0% | 4,985.3 | 2,025.2 | +5.9% | 1 | 27.2% | 4.86 | 21.66 | −16.8 | 333 |
| 2018 | 7,084.8 | +6.4% | 1 | 27.1% | 6,734.4 | +6.5% | 1 | 27.9% | 4,745.8 | 1,912 | +6.8% | 1 | 26.6% | 5.69 | 20.91 | −15.22 | 335.2 |
| 2017 | 6,655.6 | +8.3% | 1 | 26.3% | 6,322.9 | +8.5% | 1 | 27.1% | 4,476.9 | 1,790.8 | +7.9% | 1 | 26.0% | 6.42 | 19.47 | −13.05 | 319.6 |
| 2016 | 6,144.9 | +5.6% | 1 | 25.0% | 5,825.9 | +5.7% | 1 | 25.8% | 4,149.4 | 1,660.1 | +9.3% | 1 | 25.0% | 6.19 | 18.91 | −12.72 | 306.3 |
| 2015 | 5,820.8 | +0.6% | 1 | 24.3% | 5,509.5 | +0.82% | 1 | 25.0% | 3,946.3 | 1,519.1 | +10.1% | 1 | 24.0% | 6.21 | 18.65 | −12.44 | 298.8 |
| 2014 | 5,786.1 | +6.7% | 1 | 24.4% | 5,464.7 | +7.2% | 1 | 25.1% | 3,937.2 | 1,379.4 | +8.9% | 1 | 22.7% | 6.75 | 18.16 | −11.41 | 310 |
| 2013 | 5,424.1 | +9.1% | 1 | 23.5% | 5,098.8 | +9.1% | 1 | 24.0% | 3,697.4 | 1,267.2 | +9.7% | 1 | 21.7% | 7.44 | 18.67 | −11.23 | 314.1 |
| 2012 | 4,973.1 | +5.9% | 1 | 22.3% | 4,672.7 | +5.9% | 1 | 22.8% | 3,412 | 1,155 | +8.3% | 1 | 20.6% | 6.87 | 17.65 | −10.78 | 289.6 |
| 2011 | 4,694.6 | +12.1% | 1 | 21.5% | 4,411.8 | +12.6% | 1 | 22.0% | 3,243.4 | 1,066.4 | +10% | 1 | 19.9% | 6.56 | 19.31 | −12.75 | 270.1 |
| 2010 | 4,186.8 | +13% | 1 | 19.8% | 3,916.5 | +13% | 1 | 20.2% | 2,897.8 | 969.9 | +10.4% | 2 | 18.9% | 5.55 | 19.06 | −13.51 | 256.8 |
| 2009 | 3,704.6 | +7.1% | 2 | 18.7% | 3,467.4 | +7.3% | 2 | 19.2% | 2,582.7 | 878.5 | +10.6% | 2 | 18.0% | 6.01 | 17.39 | −11.38 | 225.8 |
| 2008 | 3,458.2 | +5.6% | 2 | 17.4% | 3,231.6 | +5.7% | 2 | 17.8% | 2,422.8 | 794.3 | +10.5% | 2 | 17.0% | 3.84 | 16.64 | −12.8 | 213.8 |
| 2007 | 3,274.1 | +14.5% | 2 | 16.7% | 3,057.6 | +14.7% | 2 | 17.1% | 2,306.2 | 718.6 | +14.7% | 2 | 16.0% | 4.25 | 14.57 | −10.32 | 206.2 |
| 2006 | 2,858.5 | +14.6% | 2 | 15.3% | 2,665.8 | +15.1% | 2 | 15.6% | 2,022.5 | 626.7 | +20.8% | 2 | 14.5% | 5.39 | 12.27 | −6.88 | 185.9 |
| 2005 | 2,493.7 | +13.5% | 2 | 13.9% | 2,316.9 | +13.1% | 2 | 14.2% | 1,768.6 | 518.6 | +16.8% | 2 | 12.5% | 5.01 | 11.19 | −6.18 | 170.6 |
| 2004 | 2,197.3 | +15.3% | 2 | 12.7% | 2,049.2 | +15.6% | 2 | 13.0% | 1,573.8 | 444.1 | +13% | 2 | 11.1% | 3.4 | 9.48 | −6.08 | 142.1 |
| 2003 | 1,906.1 | +15.4% | 2 | 11.6% | 1,772.7 | +16.2% | 2 | 11.8% | 1,369.4 | 393.1 | +9.5% | 2 | 10.2% | 2.98 | 10.34 | −7.36 | 126.1 |
| 2002 | 1,651.2 | +11.8% | 2 | 10.4% | 1,526 | +11.8% | 2 | 10.6% | 1,185.8 | 359.1 | +5.8% | 2 | 9.7% | 2.3 | 10.7 | −8.4 | 116.8 |
| 2001 | 1,477.2 | +9.2% | 2 | 9.6% | 1,365.3 | +9.2% | 2 | 9.8% | 1,067.7 | 339.4 | +5.9% | 2 | 9.5% | 1.8 | 10.4 | −8.6 | 103.3 |
| 2000 | 1,352.6 | +15.4% | 2 | 8.9% | 1,250 | +16.1% | 2 | 9.1% | 984.6 | 320.6 | +6.1% | 2 | 9.2% | 1.55 | 10.3 | −8.75 | 93.83 |
| 1999 | 1,172.3 | +6.2% | 2 | 8.4% | 1,076.8 | +5.8% | 2 | 8.5% | 854.5 | 302.1 | +8% | 2 | 9.2% | 0.37 | 9.65 | −9.28 | 86.21 |
| 1998 | 1,103.7 | +3.1% | 2 | 8.1% | 1,017.5 | +3.5% | 2 | 8.2% | 813.4 | 279.7 | +9.1% | 2 | 8.7% | 0.1 | 7.16 | −7.06 | 79.18 |
| 1997 | 1,070.2 | +6.4% | 2 | 8.0% | 983.5 | +6.8% | 2 | 8.1% | 792.4 | 256.3 | +7.6% | 2 | 8.1% | 0.09 | 8.05 | −7.96 | 78.77 |
| 1996 | 1,005.5 | +5.1% | 2 | 7.7% | 921 | +5.1% | 2 | 7.8% | 748.2 | 238.1 | +8.9% | 2 | 7.7% | 0.12 | 7.7 | −7.58 | 76.96 |
| 1995 | 956.3 | +8.6% | 2 | 7.6% | 876.6 | +7.1% | 3 | 7.6% | 718.4 | 218.7 | +8.7% | 3 | 7.2% | 0.76 | 6.03 | −5.27 | 74.46 |
| 1994 | 880.4 | +10.6% | 3 | 7.2% | 818.5 | +10.8% | 3 | 7.4% | 677 | 201.2 | +9.6% | 4 | 6.8% | 1.63 | 3.89 | −2.26 | 59.61 |
| 1993 | 795.7 | +11.1% | 4 | 6.7% | 738.8 | +10.9% | 4 | 6.8% | 617.1 | 183.5 | +10.2% | 4 | 6.3% | 4.5 | 0.45 | 4.06 | 60.98 |
| 1992 | 716 | +11.3% | 4 | 6.2% | 666.1 | +11.5% | 4 | 6.2% | 562.3 | 166.5 | +10.2% | 4 | 5.9% | 4.98 | 0.26 | 4.72 | 54.62 |
| 1991 | 643.1 | +8.9% | 3 | 5.6% | 597.2 | +8.7% | 3 | 5.6% | 510.1 | 151.2 | +9.6% | 3 | 5.5% | 3.11 | 0.26 | 2.85 | 48.76 |
| 1990 | 590.3 | +6.3% | 3 | 5.2% | 549.3 | +10.2% | 3 | 5.3% | 476.2 | 137.9 | +8.9% | 3 | 5.0% | 1.93 | 0.09 | 1.84 | 42.84 |
| 1989 | 555.5 | +7.3% | 3 | 5.0% | 498.7 | +6.9% | 3 | 4.9% | 439.8 | 126.6 | +9.6% | 3 | 4.7% | 1.55 | 0.04 | 1.51 | 58.34 |
| 1988 | 517.8 | +9.6% | 3 | 4.9% | 466.5 | +9.7% | 3 | 4.8% | 418.3 | 115.5 | +12.2% | 3 | 4.4% | 1.51 | 0.04 | 1.47 | 52.84 |
| 1987 | 472.5 | +10.6% | 4 | 4.7% | 425.2 | +10.4% | 3 | 4.6% | 387.9 | 102.9 | +9.7% | 3 | 4.1% | 1.3 | 0.04 | 1.26 | 48.54 |
| 1986 | 427.3 | +9.4% | 4 | 4.4% | 385.3 | +9.7% | 4 | 4.3% | 357.7 | 93.82 | +7.8% | 4 | 3.8% | 1.21 | 0.04 | 1.17 | 43.22 |
| 1985 | 390.7 | +8.9% | 4 | 4.1% | 351.3 | +6.4% | 4 | 4.1% | 331.5 | 87.05 | +8.6% | 4 | 3.6% | 1.11 | 0.04 | 1.07 | 40.43 |
| 1984 | 358.7 | +7.2% | 4 | 3.9% | 330.1 | +7.3% | 4 | 3.9% | 316.3 | 80.12 | +4.8% | 5 | 3.5% | 0.8 | 0.03 | 0.77 | 29.36 |
| 1983 | 334.6 | +7.3% | 4 | 3.9% | 307.6 | +7.6% | 4 | 3.9% | 298.9 | 76.44 | +5.6% | 5 | 3.5% | 0.43 | 0 | 0.43 | 27.46 |
| 1982 | 311.8 | +6% | 4 | 3.8% | 285.9 | +6.4% | 4 | 3.8% | 282 | 72.36 | +4.7% | 5 | 3.4% | 0.33 | 0 | 0.33 | 26.23 |
| 1981 | 294 | +3% | 4 | 3.6% | 268.8 | +2.8% | 4 | 3.6% | 269.4 | 69.13 | +4.9% | 5 | 3.3% | 0.24 | 0 | 0.24 | 25.5 |
| 1980 | 285.5 | — | 4 | 3.6% | 261.5 | — | 4 | 3.6% | 266 | 65.87 | — | 5 | 3.3% | 0.31 | 0 | 0.31 | 24.29 |
See also
Sources
- U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), International Energy Statistics.