China vs India: Electricity Compared
China generated 10,506 TWh of electricity in 2025 and India 2,084 TWh, according to Ember. Coal was the largest source in both, at 54.8% in China and 70.9% in India. Each kWh generated emitted 528 gCO2/kWh in China and 671 gCO2/kWh in India. These are Ember annual statistics for 2025, compiled from national sources; they are not real time.
Why this comparison: neighbours by land border or interconnector, both among the 20 largest electricity users and similar electricity demand on the same continent.
Key Facts
- Coal supplied 70.9% of India's electricity in 2025, against 54.8% in China.
- The average person in China used 7.46 MWh of electricity in 2025, 5.3 times as much as in India (1.42 MWh).
- Low carbon sources supplied 41.1% of China's electricity in 2025 and 26.5% of India's.
- Electricity demand in 2025 was 10,486 TWh in China and 2,086 TWh in India.
Key Figures, 2025
Ember annual statistics| Measure | China | India |
|---|---|---|
| Total generation | 10,506 TWh | 2,084 TWh |
| Electricity demand | 10,486 TWh | 2,086 TWh |
| Demand per person | 7.46 MWh | 1.42 MWh |
| Carbon intensity | 528 gCO2/kWh | 671 gCO2/kWh |
| Power sector emissions | 5,550 MtCO2 | 1,399 MtCO2 |
| Low carbon share | 41.1% | 26.5% |
| Largest source | Coal 54.8% | Coal 70.9% |
Generation Mix, 2025
Share of generationCarbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025
Ember annual statisticsAnnual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh
| Year | China | India |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 709 gCO2/kWh | 635 gCO2/kWh |
| 1986 | 728 gCO2/kWh | 652 gCO2/kWh |
| 1987 | 739 gCO2/kWh | 690 gCO2/kWh |
| 1988 | 740 gCO2/kWh | 684 gCO2/kWh |
| 1989 | 740 gCO2/kWh | 686 gCO2/kWh |
| 1990 | 745 gCO2/kWh | 679 gCO2/kWh |
| 1991 | 766 gCO2/kWh | 683 gCO2/kWh |
| 1992 | 778 gCO2/kWh | 700 gCO2/kWh |
| 1993 | 759 gCO2/kWh | 713 gCO2/kWh |
| 1994 | 761 gCO2/kWh | 705 gCO2/kWh |
| 1995 | 753 gCO2/kWh | 723 gCO2/kWh |
| 1996 | 771 gCO2/kWh | 738 gCO2/kWh |
| 1997 | 772 gCO2/kWh | 738 gCO2/kWh |
| 1998 | 774 gCO2/kWh | 720 gCO2/kWh |
| 1999 | 787 gCO2/kWh | 729 gCO2/kWh |
| 2000 | 784 gCO2/kWh | 740 gCO2/kWh |
| 2001 | 763 gCO2/kWh | 747 gCO2/kWh |
| 2002 | 773 gCO2/kWh | 756 gCO2/kWh |
| 2003 | 791 gCO2/kWh | 758 gCO2/kWh |
| 2004 | 779 gCO2/kWh | 724 gCO2/kWh |
| 2005 | 782 gCO2/kWh | 734 gCO2/kWh |
| 2006 | 787 gCO2/kWh | 723 gCO2/kWh |
| 2007 | 785 gCO2/kWh | 718 gCO2/kWh |
| 2008 | 747 gCO2/kWh | 733 gCO2/kWh |
| 2009 | 753 gCO2/kWh | 745 gCO2/kWh |
| 2010 | 742 gCO2/kWh | 739 gCO2/kWh |
| 2011 | 754 gCO2/kWh | 722 gCO2/kWh |
| 2012 | 722 gCO2/kWh | 743 gCO2/kWh |
| 2013 | 719 gCO2/kWh | 739 gCO2/kWh |
| 2014 | 696 gCO2/kWh | 743 gCO2/kWh |
| 2015 | 670 gCO2/kWh | 751 gCO2/kWh |
| 2016 | 653 gCO2/kWh | 752 gCO2/kWh |
| 2017 | 646 gCO2/kWh | 743 gCO2/kWh |
| 2018 | 639 gCO2/kWh | 738 gCO2/kWh |
| 2019 | 622 gCO2/kWh | 723 gCO2/kWh |
| 2020 | 609 gCO2/kWh | 710 gCO2/kWh |
| 2021 | 602 gCO2/kWh | 716 gCO2/kWh |
| 2022 | 590 gCO2/kWh | 707 gCO2/kWh |
| 2023 | 586 gCO2/kWh | 714 gCO2/kWh |
| 2024 | 559 gCO2/kWh | 707 gCO2/kWh |
| 2025 | 528 gCO2/kWh | 671 gCO2/kWh |
Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025
Ember annual statisticsAnnual statistics through 2025, MWh
| Year | China | India |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | n/a | n/a |
| 1986 | n/a | n/a |
| 1987 | n/a | n/a |
| 1988 | n/a | n/a |
| 1989 | n/a | n/a |
| 1990 | n/a | n/a |
| 1991 | n/a | n/a |
| 1992 | n/a | n/a |
| 1993 | n/a | n/a |
| 1994 | n/a | n/a |
| 1995 | n/a | n/a |
| 1996 | n/a | n/a |
| 1997 | n/a | n/a |
| 1998 | n/a | n/a |
| 1999 | n/a | n/a |
| 2000 | 1.06 MWh | 0.54 MWh |
| 2001 | 1.15 MWh | 0.55 MWh |
| 2002 | 1.28 MWh | 0.56 MWh |
| 2003 | 1.47 MWh | 0.57 MWh |
| 2004 | 1.69 MWh | 0.62 MWh |
| 2005 | 1.90 MWh | 0.61 MWh |
| 2006 | 2.17 MWh | 0.64 MWh |
| 2007 | 2.47 MWh | 0.67 MWh |
| 2008 | 2.61 MWh | 0.69 MWh |
| 2009 | 2.76 MWh | 0.72 MWh |
| 2010 | 3.10 MWh | 0.76 MWh |
| 2011 | 3.46 MWh | 0.82 MWh |
| 2012 | 3.63 MWh | 0.86 MWh |
| 2013 | 3.93 MWh | 0.88 MWh |
| 2014 | 4.17 MWh | 0.96 MWh |
| 2015 | 4.16 MWh | 0.99 MWh |
| 2016 | 4.36 MWh | 1.04 MWh |
| 2017 | 4.67 MWh | 1.07 MWh |
| 2018 | 5.04 MWh | 1.14 MWh |
| 2019 | 5.26 MWh | 1.15 MWh |
| 2020 | 5.44 MWh | 1.12 MWh |
| 2021 | 5.97 MWh | 1.19 MWh |
| 2022 | 6.20 MWh | 1.27 MWh |
| 2023 | 6.64 MWh | 1.33 MWh |
| 2024 | 7.10 MWh | 1.40 MWh |
| 2025 | 7.46 MWh | 1.42 MWh |
Source: Ember (ember-energy.org), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Data as of 2025.