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Built 2026-11-05 (5 November 2026)

China vs Iran: Electricity Compared

China generated 10,506 TWh of electricity in 2025 and Iran 399 TWh, according to Ember. China's largest source was coal (54.8%); Iran's was gas (73.3%). Each kWh generated emitted 528 gCO2/kWh in China and 656 gCO2/kWh in Iran. These are Ember annual statistics for 2025, compiled from national sources; they are not real time.

Who is bigger and who is cleaner? China is the bigger electricity producer, generating 26.4 times as much as Iran in 2025 (10,506 TWh against 399 TWh). China has the cleaner electricity by carbon intensity, at 528 gCO2/kWh against 656 gCO2/kWh in Iran in 2025.

Why this comparison: both among the 20 largest electricity users.

Open this comparison in the interactive tool to add more countries or change the metric.

Key Facts

  • Gas supplied 73.3% of Iran's electricity in 2025, against 3.2% in China.
  • Carbon intensity rose 4% in Iran between 2020 and 2025, while it fell 13% in China.
  • Low carbon sources supplied 41.1% of China's electricity in 2025 and 5.2% of Iran's.
  • Electricity demand in 2025 was 10,486 TWh in China and 397 TWh in Iran.

Key Figures, 2025

Ember annual statistics
Measure China Iran
Total generation10,506 TWh399 TWh
Electricity demand10,486 TWh397 TWh
Demand per person7.46 MWh4.28 MWh
Carbon intensity528 gCO2/kWh656 gCO2/kWh
Power sector emissions5,550 MtCO2262 MtCO2
Low carbon share41.1%5.2%
Largest sourceCoal 54.8%Gas 73.3%

Generation Mix, 2025

Share of generation
Source China Iran
Gas 3.2% 73.3%
Coal 54.8% 0.2%
Other fossil 0.9% 21.3%
Hydro 13.3% 3.0%
Solar 11.2% 0.6%
Wind 10.7% 0.3%
Nuclear 4.6% 1.4%
Bioenergy 1.3% 0.0%

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics
Carbon intensity of electricity in China and Iran, 1985 to 2025 Carbon intensity of electricity generated in China and Iran each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2025 it was 528 gCO2/kWh in China and 656 gCO2/kWh in Iran. 0 200 400 600 800 198519901995200020052010201520202025
Carbon intensity of electricity generated in China and Iran each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2025 it was 528 gCO2/kWh in China and 656 gCO2/kWh in Iran.
Annual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh
Carbon intensity of electricity in China and Iran, 1985 to 2025
YearChinaIran
1985709 gCO2/kWh577 gCO2/kWh
1986728 gCO2/kWh568 gCO2/kWh
1987739 gCO2/kWh561 gCO2/kWh
1988740 gCO2/kWh565 gCO2/kWh
1989740 gCO2/kWh597 gCO2/kWh
1990745 gCO2/kWh599 gCO2/kWh
1991766 gCO2/kWh625 gCO2/kWh
1992778 gCO2/kWh595 gCO2/kWh
1993759 gCO2/kWh592 gCO2/kWh
1994761 gCO2/kWh629 gCO2/kWh
1995753 gCO2/kWh619 gCO2/kWh
1996771 gCO2/kWh619 gCO2/kWh
1997772 gCO2/kWh645 gCO2/kWh
1998774 gCO2/kWh641 gCO2/kWh
1999787 gCO2/kWh659 gCO2/kWh
2000784 gCO2/kWh667 gCO2/kWh
2001763 gCO2/kWh668 gCO2/kWh
2002773 gCO2/kWh652 gCO2/kWh
2003791 gCO2/kWh649 gCO2/kWh
2004779 gCO2/kWh642 gCO2/kWh
2005782 gCO2/kWh636 gCO2/kWh
2006787 gCO2/kWh625 gCO2/kWh
2007785 gCO2/kWh631 gCO2/kWh
2008747 gCO2/kWh662 gCO2/kWh
2009753 gCO2/kWh667 gCO2/kWh
2010742 gCO2/kWh661 gCO2/kWh
2011754 gCO2/kWh654 gCO2/kWh
2012722 gCO2/kWh648 gCO2/kWh
2013719 gCO2/kWh634 gCO2/kWh
2014696 gCO2/kWh644 gCO2/kWh
2015670 gCO2/kWh651 gCO2/kWh
2016653 gCO2/kWh642 gCO2/kWh
2017646 gCO2/kWh642 gCO2/kWh
2018639 gCO2/kWh658 gCO2/kWh
2019622 gCO2/kWh605 gCO2/kWh
2020609 gCO2/kWh630 gCO2/kWh
2021602 gCO2/kWh658 gCO2/kWh
2022590 gCO2/kWh651 gCO2/kWh
2023586 gCO2/kWh638 gCO2/kWh
2024559 gCO2/kWh643 gCO2/kWh
2025528 gCO2/kWh656 gCO2/kWh

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics
Electricity demand per person in China and Iran, 1985 to 2025 Electricity demand per person in China and Iran each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2025 it was 7.46 MWh in China and 4.28 MWh in Iran. 0.0 2.0 4.0 6.0 8.0 198519901995200020052010201520202025
Electricity demand per person in China and Iran each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2025 it was 7.46 MWh in China and 4.28 MWh in Iran.
Annual statistics through 2025, MWh
Electricity demand per person in China and Iran, 1985 to 2025
YearChinaIran
1985n/an/a
1986n/an/a
1987n/an/a
1988n/an/a
1989n/an/a
1990n/an/a
1991n/an/a
1992n/an/a
1993n/an/a
1994n/an/a
1995n/an/a
1996n/an/a
1997n/an/a
1998n/an/a
1999n/an/a
20001.06 MWh1.79 MWh
20011.15 MWh1.89 MWh
20021.28 MWh2.04 MWh
20031.47 MWh2.21 MWh
20041.69 MWh2.32 MWh
20051.90 MWh2.46 MWh
20062.17 MWh2.63 MWh
20072.47 MWh2.71 MWh
20082.61 MWh2.76 MWh
20092.76 MWh2.85 MWh
20103.10 MWh3.00 MWh
20113.46 MWh2.94 MWh
20123.63 MWh3.04 MWh
20133.93 MWh3.12 MWh
20144.17 MWh3.31 MWh
20154.16 MWh3.36 MWh
20164.36 MWh3.39 MWh
20174.67 MWh3.54 MWh
20185.04 MWh3.58 MWh
20195.26 MWh3.58 MWh
20205.44 MWh3.77 MWh
20215.97 MWh3.95 MWh
20226.20 MWh4.03 MWh
20236.64 MWh4.14 MWh
20247.10 MWh4.30 MWh
20257.46 MWh4.28 MWh

China history · Iran history

Source: Ember (ember-energy.org), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Data as of 2025.

Cite this page
APA 7

World Power Monitor. (2025). China vs Iran: Electricity Compared. https://worldpowermonitor.com/compare/china-vs-iran/

Plain text

World Power Monitor. China vs Iran: Electricity Compared. Data as of 2025. Data from Ember. https://worldpowermonitor.com/compare/china-vs-iran/

BibTeX 
@misc{wpm_compare_china_vs_iran_2025,
  title = {{China vs Iran: Electricity Compared}},
  author = {{World Power Monitor}},
  year = {2025},
  note = {Data as of 2025. Data from Ember.},
  url = {https://worldpowermonitor.com/compare/china-vs-iran/}
}

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