Photo: Seebeer Edited by Nicholasjf21 · Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 16 of 18 · Country Index 2026
China: Energy
Where does a country’s electricity come from, and who can get it?
China is placed joint 87th of 165 countries on energy in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics. Readings behind it: Carbon Intensity of Electricity 558.97 (2024); Renewable Share of Electricity Generation 33.16 (2024).
Share
Energy
joint87th
of 165 countries placed
Placed from 3 of 3 key statistics
01The evidence
The 3 key statistics that decide it
Only these place China on energy — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
558.97
Carbon intensity (gCO₂e per kWh generated)
Lower is better
China: 558.97. Across the 165 countries in this edition, values run from 23.73 (Bhutan) to 1,306 (Turkmenistan); the world median is 433.75.
- World median
- 433.75
- Best in Eastern Asia
- 340.59 North Korea
- Land neighbours
- Afghanistan 117.17 · Bhutan 23.73 · Hong Kong 675.56 · Kyrgyzstan 120.17 · Laos 232.08 · Macau 474.36 · Myanmar 502.3 · Mongolia 817.01 · Nepal 23.99 · Pakistan 334.42 · North Korea 340.59 · Tajikistan 70.81
33.16
Renewables (% of electricity generated)
Higher is better
China: 33.16. Across the 165 countries in this edition, values run from 0 (Gambia) to 100 (Paraguay); the world median is 32.06.
- World median
- 32.06
- Best in Eastern Asia
- 63.36 North Korea
- Land neighbours
- Afghanistan 86.87 · Bhutan 100 · Hong Kong 1.042 · Kyrgyzstan 88.78 · Laos 76.72 · Macau 30.77 · Myanmar 47.86 · Mongolia 8.844 · Nepal 100 · Pakistan 41.13 · North Korea 63.36 · Tajikistan 94.59
Key 3 of 3
World Energy Trilemma Index
World Energy Council
2023 edition · data for 2023 · Express reuse grant (no Creative Commons licence named)
64.4
Trilemma score (0–100)
Higher is better
Ranked 47th of 99 by World Energy Council
China: 64.4. Across the 126 countries in this edition, values run from 27.7 (Niger) to 83.2 (Denmark); the world median is 63.8.
- World median
- 63.8
- Best in Eastern Asia
- 75 Japan
- Land neighbours
- Hong Kong 62.5 · India 55.6 · Kazakhstan 63.4 · Myanmar 46.5 · Mongolia 52.7 · Nepal 40.5 · Pakistan 45.5 · Russia 66.1 · Tajikistan 57.5 · Vietnam 61.9
02Over time
Which way China is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Carbon Intensity of Electricity
Carbon intensity (gCO₂e per kWh generated) · lower is better
ChinaWorld median
China fell from 783.51 in 2000 to 558.97 in 2024; the world median went from 540.34 to 433.75.
Every year’s figures
Year China World median 2024 559 433.7 2023 586 452.7 2022 590 476.3 2021 602 469.0 2020 609 482.0 2019 622 488.2 2018 639 500.4 2017 646 506.3 2016 653 521.9 2015 670 524.8 2014 696 522.3 2013 719 508.8 2012 722 525.4 2011 754 521.4 2010 742 515.5 2009 753 533.6 2008 747 517.2 2007 785 535.3 2006 787 537.5 2005 782 521.4 2004 779 523.1 2003 791 543.1 2002 773 551.3 2001 763 559.3 2000 784 540.3 Renewable Share of Electricity Generation
Renewables (% of electricity generated) · higher is better
ChinaWorld median
China rose from 16.64 in 2000 to 33.16 in 2024; the world median went from 15.61 to 32.06.
Every year’s figures
Year China World median 2024 33.16 32.062 2023 30.00 28.000 2022 29.58 28.881 2021 28.09 28.286 2020 27.63 27.125 2019 26.49 26.296 2018 25.33 25.505 2017 25.02 24.023 2016 24.71 22.218 2015 23.77 21.915 2014 22.07 21.151 2013 20.00 21.593 2012 19.94 19.869 2011 16.70 18.584 2010 18.57 18.572 2009 17.89 17.886 2008 19.03 15.923 2007 15.26 15.586 2006 15.59 15.392 2005 16.17 16.438 2004 16.22 16.445 2003 15.04 16.339 2002 17.62 13.826 2001 18.96 14.023 2000 16.64 15.612
03In context
China beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 165 countries on energy, never a place within the region.
China and the countries it borders
Standing among all 165; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Carbon Intensity of ElectricityCarbon intensity (gCO₂e per kWh generated) | Renewable Share of Electricity GenerationRenewables (% of electricity generated) | World Energy Trilemma IndexTrilemma score (0–100) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Bhutan | 1st | 23.73 | 100 | — |
 Kyrgyzstan | 15th | 120.17 | 88.78 | — |
 Afghanistan | 16th | 117.17 | 86.87 | — |
 Laos | 30th | 232.08 | 76.72 | — |
 Tajikistan | 45th | 70.81 | 94.59 | 57.5 |
 Nepal | =47th | 23.99 | 100 | 40.5 |
 North Korea | 51st | 340.59 | 63.36 | — |
 Macau | 83rd | 474.36 | 30.77 | — |
| China | =87th | 558.97 | 33.16 | 64.4 |
 Pakistancompare | 90th | 334.42 | 41.13 | 45.5 |
 Myanmar | 94th | 502.3 | 47.86 | 46.5 |
 Hong Kong | 141st | 675.56 | 1.042 | 62.5 |
 Mongolia | 143rd | 817.01 | 8.844 | 52.7 |
 Indiacompare | not placed | — | — | 55.6 |
 Kazakhstan | not placed | — | — | 63.4 |
 Russiacompare | not placed | — | — | 66.1 |
 Vietnam | not placed | — | — | 61.9 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Eastern Asia
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 165.
Placed either side on energy
The countries immediately above and below China in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where China is ahead of the world, and behind
26 more statistics filed under energy, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median7
Statistics on which China does better than the middle country measured.
Firms Identifying Electricity as a Major ConstraintWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 25.770.67225.77No earlier reading
China: 0.672 · world median 25.77 · Firms rating electricity a major or very severe constraint (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 84.77; lower is better.
Position 176th of 179 · derived, 1st = worst.
Firms Owning or Sharing a GeneratorWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 24.855.75324.85No earlier reading
China: 5.753 · world median 24.85 · Firms owning or sharing a generator (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0.158 to 90.51; lower is better.
RISE Clean Cooking Policy ScoreESMAP · 2023 · world median 29.7256.6729.72▼ Worsened since 2013
China: 56.67 · world median 29.72 · Clean cooking policy score (0–100). World Bank Group (ESMAP), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 80.69; higher is better.
Wind and Solar Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 5.27918.325.279No real change since 2014
China: 18.32 · world median 5.279 · Wind and solar (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 69.12; higher is better.
RISE Renewable Energy Policy ScoreESMAP · 2023 · world median 33.2658.4133.26▲ Improved since 2013
China: 58.41 · world median 33.26 · Renewable energy policy score (0–100). World Bank Group (ESMAP), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 3.056 to 89.52; higher is better.
RISE Energy Efficiency Policy ScoreESMAP · 2023 · world median 48.2368.7348.23▲ Improved since 2013
China: 68.73 · world median 48.23 · Energy efficiency policy score (0–100). World Bank Group (ESMAP), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.975 to 95.93; higher is better.
Low-Carbon Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 37.3237.6637.32No real change since 2014
China: 37.66 · world median 37.32 · Low-carbon sources (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Position 82nd of 162 · derived.
Behind the world median4
Statistics on which China does worse than the middle country measured.
Primary Schools with ElectricityUIS · 2024 · world median 10099.21100No real change since 2017
China: 99.21 · world median 100 · Primary schools with access to electricity (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.246 to 100; higher is better.
CO₂ Emissions per CapitaGlobal Carbon Project · 2024 · world median 3.218.6583.21▼ Worsened since 2014
China: 8.658 · world median 3.21 · Fossil CO₂ (tonnes per person). Global Carbon Project, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.054 to 41.27; lower is better.
Position 29th of 210 · derived, 1st = worst.
Energy Intensity of GDP (PPP)EIA · 2024 · world median 2.7385.832.738▲ Improved since 2014
China: 5.83 · world median 2.738 · Energy use per dollar of GDP (thousand Btu per US$ at PPP). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.666 to 17.45; lower is better.
Coal Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 058.220No real change since 2014
China: 58.22 · world median 0 · Coal (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 98.25; lower is better.
Level with the median, or no median to compare2
Access to ElectricityWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 100100100▼ Worsened since 2014
China: 100 · world median 100 · Population with electricity access (%). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 5.4 to 100; higher is better.
Access to Electricity, RuralWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 100100100▼ Worsened since 2014
China: 100 · world median 100 · Rural population with electricity access (%). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.7 to 100; higher is better.
No better end13
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Operating Coal Power CapacityGlobal Energy Monitor · 2026 · world median 5251,263,101525No earlier reading
China: 1,263,101 · world median 525 · Coal-fired capacity in operation (megawatts). Global Energy Monitor, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 1,263,101.
Operating Wind Power CapacityGlobal Energy Monitor · 2026 · world median 100542,758100No earlier reading
China: 542,758 · world median 100 · Wind farm capacity in operation (megawatts). Global Energy Monitor, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 542,758.
Primary Energy ProductionEIA · 2024 · world median 0.077130.760.077No real change since 2014
China: 130.76 · world median 0.077 · Primary energy produced (quadrillion Btu). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 130.76.
Solar Electricity Installed CapacityEIA · 2024 · world median 0.144886.660.144No real change since 2014
China: 886.66 · world median 0.144 · Solar generating capacity installed (gigawatts). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 886.66.
Natural Gas ProductionEIA · 2024 · world median 0258.440No real change since 2014
China: 258.44 · world median 0 · Dry natural gas produced (billion cubic metres). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 1,069.
Crude Oil ProductionEIA · 2025 · world median 04,3250No real change since 2015
China: 4,325 · world median 0 · Crude oil produced (thousand barrels per day). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 13,586.
Nuclear Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 04.4970No real change since 2014
China: 4.497 · world median 0 · Nuclear (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 67.4.
Primary Energy Consumption per CapitaEIA · 2024 · world median 49.5120.1849.5Moved since 2014
China: 120.18 · world median 49.5 · Energy use per person (million Btu). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.95 to 766.07.
Solar Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 3.0498.3693.049Moved since 2014
China: 8.369 · world median 3.049 · Solar (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 50.
Gas Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 2.5853.1992.585Moved since 2014
China: 3.199 · world median 2.585 · Natural gas (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 99.97.
Hydro Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 12.8513.612.85Moved since 2014
China: 13.6 · world median 12.85 · Hydropower (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100.
Photovoltaic Power Potential (PVOUT)World Bank Group (ESMAP), data by Solargis · 2020 · world median 4.2733.8824.273No earlier reading
China: 3.882 · world median 4.273 · Practical solar power potential (kWh per kWp per day, long-term average). World Bank Group (ESMAP), data by Solargis, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 2.513 to 5.379.
Net Electricity Imports (share of generation)Ember · 2024 · world median 0-0.170Moved since 2014
China: -0.17 · world median 0 · Net electricity imports (% of domestic generation). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from -70.16 to 707.07.
No current reading for China
RISE Electricity Access Policy Score. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Energy among China’s 16 topics
Energy is China’s 11th best-placed topic of 16. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Food & Agriculture6th of 1844/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade9th of 1774/4 keys
- Digital & Technologyjoint 23rd of 1984/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing47th of 2003/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality39th of 1593/3 keys
- Education & Knowledge51st of 1982/4 keys
- Economy & Innovationjoint 46th of 1764/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital62nd of 1963/3 keys
- Work & Labour60th of 1824/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience80th of 1934/4 keys
- Energyjoint 87th of 1653/3 keys
- Peace & Security102nd of 1774/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions125th of 1944/4 keys
- Gender & Equality124th of 1834/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainability157th of 1864/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties178th of 1983/4 keys
06The top of the list
Who leads on energy
The three countries placed highest of 165, and the leaders China can most readily be measured against.
1BhutanSouthern Asia
1st of 165 · 2 of 3 keys
Photo: VIkramjit Kakati derivative work: ויקיג'אנקי · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
NorwayNorthern Europe
2nd of 165 · 3 of 3 keys
Photo: Ximonic , Simo Räsänen · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
UgandaEastern Africa
3rd of 165 · 2 of 3 keys
Photo: Rod Waddington from Kergunyah, Australia · CC BY-SA 2.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Asia
Bhutan1st2/3 keysHighest in Eastern Asia
North Korea51st2/3 keysThis page
China=87th3/3 keys
Positions out of 165 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
08Questions
China on energy: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does China rank on energy?
China is placed joint 87th of 165 countries on Energy in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics (Carbon Intensity of Electricity, Renewable Share of Electricity Generation and World Energy Trilemma Index). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Carbon Intensity of Electricity figure for China?
558.97 in 2024 (carbon intensity (gCO₂e per kWh generated)), according to Ember. The world median in the same edition was 433.75.
What is the latest Renewable Share of Electricity Generation figure for China?
33.16 in 2024 (renewables (% of electricity generated)), according to Ember. The world median in the same edition was 32.06.
How does China compare with India on energy?
India is not placed on Energy, holding too few of its key statistics, and China joint 87th. World Energy Trilemma Index: India 55.6, China 64.4.
How have China’s energy figures changed?
Carbon Intensity of Electricity fell from 783.51 in 2000 to 558.97 in 2024; Renewable Share of Electricity Generation rose from 16.64 in 2000 to 33.16 in 2024.
Which energy statistics are missing for China?
No current reading is published for China on RISE Electricity Access Policy Score. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
This is deliberately the electricity and energy-system subject, not an infrastructure one: roads, railways, ports, water and telecommunications would each need a global series this site does not hold. Emissions are under Environment & Sustainability. Access to electricity is published here in full but takes no part in any ranking — more than half the world’s countries now report 100%, and a position derived from that would read “1, 1, 1 … 123”, which is noise rather than information.
How the Energy standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 3 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 3 keys to be placed.
The energy method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Carbon Intensity of Electricity — Ember, CC BY 4.0
- Renewable Share of Electricity Generation — Ember, CC BY 4.0
- World Energy Trilemma Index — World Energy Council, Express reuse grant (no Creative Commons licence named)
The other 26 statistics on this page come from 8 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
China’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- China (banner) — Seebeer Edited by Nicholasjf21, Public domain
- Bhutan — VIkramjit Kakati derivative work: ויקיג'אנקי, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Norway — Ximonic , Simo Räsänen, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Uganda — Rod Waddington from Kergunyah, Australia, CC BY-SA 2.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). China: Energy — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/china/energy