China Key Figures
- Population:
- 1412 million
- GDP growth rate:
- 2.99 %/year
- Energy independence:
- 81.9%
Data of the last year available: 2022
- Total consumption/GDP:*
- 57.9 (2005=100)
- CO2 Emissions:
- 7.44 tCO2/capita
- Rate of T&D power losses:
- 4.52%
* at purchasing power parity
View all macro and energy indicators in the China energy report
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Total Energy Consumption
Total energy consumption per capita is increasing regularly, reaching 2.7 toe/cap in 2022 (nearly 4 times that for India). Electricity consumption per capita increased by over 3% to 5 728 kWh in 2022, more than twice the 2010 levels.
Graph: CONSUMPTION TRENDS BY ENERGY SOURCE (Mtoe)
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View the detailed fondamentals of the market at country level (graphs, tables, analysis) in the China energy report
Crude Oil Production
Oil production has been increasing since 2018 (+2%/year), reaching 214 Mt in 2022. It declined by 3.2%/year between 2015 and 2018, after increasing by 2%/year between 2000 and 2015. Most of the production is onshore and located in the fields close to the north-eastern coast. Offshore production is in full development, with the Bohai basin being one of the most active areas.
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Oil Products Consumption
The consumption of oil products increased rapidly between 2010 and 2021 (+4%/year on average) and declined slightly in 2022 to around 666 Mt.
In 2022, the share of the transport sector remained stable at 42%; the second largest energy consuming sector is industry (including non-energy uses) with around 37%.
Graph: OIL CONSUMPTION (Mt)
Graph: OIL CONSUMPTION BREAKDOWN BY SECTOR (2022, %)
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Natural Gas Consumption
Natural gas consumption decreased slightly in 2022 to 358 bcm (-1%), after 12% growth in 2021, which was in line with the 2010-2019 trend. Despite the effects of the pandemic, gas consumption grew by 6% in 2020.
Industry represented 40% of gas demand in 2022, followed by the residential and services sector (22%), the power sector (18%), and transport (10%).
Graph: NATURAL GAS CONSUMPTION (bcm)
Graph: GAS CONSUMPTION BREAKDOWN BY SECTOR (2022, %)
Interactive Chart China Natural Gas Domestic Consumption
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Coal Consumption
Coal and lignite consumption recovered noticeably in 2021 (+4.6%) and 2022 (+8.8%), surpassing 4.5 Gt for 2022. It grew moderately between 2017 and 2020 (1%/year), after a very rapid increase between 2000 and 2013 (+9%/year) and a decrease between 2014 and 2016 (-1.9%/year).
The power sector is the largest user of coal and lignite in 2022, with 67%, followed by industry (24%). The share of the power sector has been increasing continually (45% in 2000 and 49% in 2010).
Graph: COAL CONSUMPTION (Mt)
Interactive Chart China Coal and Lignite Domestic Consumption
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Power Consumption
Electricity consumption rose by 3% in 2022 to 8 090 TWh, after a 10% jump in 2021. Previously, it had increased by 7%/year over 2010-2020.
Industry is the main consumer (55% in 2022), followed by services and residential (20% and 17%, respectively).
Graph: ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION (TWh)
Graph: ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION BREAKDOWN BY SECTOR (2022,%)
Renewable in % Electricity Production
With the 14th FYP, the country intends to get 20% of its total energy consumption from non-fossil fuels in 2025 (13% in 2021). The target of 15% of renewables in total energy consumption in 2020 was not reached (only 10%) ("Guiding Opinions on Establishing Renewable Energy Portfolio Standards", NEA, 2016). In 2018, the NDRC also set a target of a 9% share of non-hydro renewables in electricity consumption for 2020 and 35% in 2030 (11% reached in 2020 and 13% in 2021).
Interactive Chart China Share of Renewables in Electricity Production (incl hydro)
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Learn more about renewables in the Mini grid Africa & Asia markets for village electrification
CO2 Fuel Combustion/CO2 Emissions
In its updated NDC (2021), China set more ambitious targets for 2030: reaching a CO2 emission peak before 2030, lowering its CO2 intensity by over 65% (from 2005 levels), and eventually reaching carbon neutrality before 2060. It aims to cut the average coal consumption rate in power plants to 300g/kWh between 2020 and 2025.