China vs Italy: Electricity Compared
China generated 10,506 TWh of electricity in 2025 and Italy 266 TWh, according to Ember. China's largest source was coal (54.8%); Italy's was gas (47.3%). Each kWh generated emitted 528 gCO2/kWh in China and 284 gCO2/kWh in Italy. These are Ember annual statistics for 2025, compiled from national sources; they are not real time.
Why this comparison: both among the 20 largest electricity users.
Key Facts
- Coal supplied 54.8% of China's electricity in 2025, against 1.3% in Italy.
- China's electricity was 1.9 times as carbon intensive as Italy's in 2025, at 528 gCO2/kWh against 284 gCO2/kWh.
- Low carbon sources supplied 41.1% of China's electricity in 2025 and 48.8% of Italy's.
- Electricity demand in 2025 was 10,486 TWh in China and 313 TWh in Italy.
Key Figures, 2025
Ember annual statistics| Measure | China | Italy |
|---|---|---|
| Total generation | 10,506 TWh | 266 TWh |
| Electricity demand | 10,486 TWh | 313 TWh |
| Demand per person | 7.46 MWh | 5.27 MWh |
| Carbon intensity | 528 gCO2/kWh | 284 gCO2/kWh |
| Power sector emissions | 5,550 MtCO2 | 75.6 MtCO2 |
| Low carbon share | 41.1% | 48.8% |
| Largest source | Coal 54.8% | Gas 47.3% |
Generation Mix, 2025
Share of generation| Source | China | Italy |
|---|---|---|
| Coal | 54.8% | 1.3% |
| Gas | 3.2% | 47.3% |
| Solar | 11.2% | 16.8% |
| Hydro | 13.3% | 15.8% |
| Wind | 10.7% | 8.1% |
| Bioenergy | 1.3% | 5.9% |
| Nuclear | 4.6% | 0.0% |
| Other fossil | 0.9% | 2.6% |
| Other renewables | 0.0% | 2.4% |
Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025
Ember annual statisticsAnnual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh
| Year | China | Italy |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 709 gCO2/kWh | n/a |
| 1986 | 728 gCO2/kWh | n/a |
| 1987 | 739 gCO2/kWh | n/a |
| 1988 | 740 gCO2/kWh | n/a |
| 1989 | 740 gCO2/kWh | n/a |
| 1990 | 745 gCO2/kWh | 564 gCO2/kWh |
| 1991 | 766 gCO2/kWh | 534 gCO2/kWh |
| 1992 | 778 gCO2/kWh | 527 gCO2/kWh |
| 1993 | 759 gCO2/kWh | 518 gCO2/kWh |
| 1994 | 761 gCO2/kWh | 518 gCO2/kWh |
| 1995 | 753 gCO2/kWh | 542 gCO2/kWh |
| 1996 | 771 gCO2/kWh | 525 gCO2/kWh |
| 1997 | 772 gCO2/kWh | 520 gCO2/kWh |
| 1998 | 774 gCO2/kWh | 520 gCO2/kWh |
| 1999 | 787 gCO2/kWh | 501 gCO2/kWh |
| 2000 | 784 gCO2/kWh | 502 gCO2/kWh |
| 2001 | 763 gCO2/kWh | 499 gCO2/kWh |
| 2002 | 773 gCO2/kWh | 523 gCO2/kWh |
| 2003 | 791 gCO2/kWh | 523 gCO2/kWh |
| 2004 | 779 gCO2/kWh | 511 gCO2/kWh |
| 2005 | 782 gCO2/kWh | 510 gCO2/kWh |
| 2006 | 787 gCO2/kWh | 507 gCO2/kWh |
| 2007 | 785 gCO2/kWh | 505 gCO2/kWh |
| 2008 | 747 gCO2/kWh | 485 gCO2/kWh |
| 2009 | 753 gCO2/kWh | 459 gCO2/kWh |
| 2010 | 742 gCO2/kWh | 446 gCO2/kWh |
| 2011 | 754 gCO2/kWh | 446 gCO2/kWh |
| 2012 | 722 gCO2/kWh | 438 gCO2/kWh |
| 2013 | 719 gCO2/kWh | 399 gCO2/kWh |
| 2014 | 696 gCO2/kWh | 379 gCO2/kWh |
| 2015 | 670 gCO2/kWh | 399 gCO2/kWh |
| 2016 | 653 gCO2/kWh | 390 gCO2/kWh |
| 2017 | 646 gCO2/kWh | 393 gCO2/kWh |
| 2018 | 639 gCO2/kWh | 367 gCO2/kWh |
| 2019 | 622 gCO2/kWh | 351 gCO2/kWh |
| 2020 | 609 gCO2/kWh | 334 gCO2/kWh |
| 2021 | 602 gCO2/kWh | 339 gCO2/kWh |
| 2022 | 590 gCO2/kWh | 378 gCO2/kWh |
| 2023 | 586 gCO2/kWh | 323 gCO2/kWh |
| 2024 | 559 gCO2/kWh | 281 gCO2/kWh |
| 2025 | 528 gCO2/kWh | 284 gCO2/kWh |
Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025
Ember annual statisticsAnnual statistics through 2025, MWh
| Year | China | Italy |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 5.49 MWh |
| 2001 | 1.15 MWh | 5.59 MWh |
| 2002 | 1.28 MWh | 5.71 MWh |
| 2003 | 1.47 MWh | 5.84 MWh |
| 2004 | 1.69 MWh | 5.83 MWh |
| 2005 | 1.90 MWh | 5.88 MWh |
| 2006 | 2.17 MWh | 5.97 MWh |
| 2007 | 2.47 MWh | 5.96 MWh |
| 2008 | 2.61 MWh | 5.90 MWh |
| 2009 | 2.76 MWh | 5.53 MWh |
| 2010 | 3.10 MWh | 5.66 MWh |
| 2011 | 3.46 MWh | 5.70 MWh |
| 2012 | 3.63 MWh | 5.59 MWh |
| 2013 | 3.93 MWh | 5.41 MWh |
| 2014 | 4.17 MWh | 5.28 MWh |
| 2015 | 4.16 MWh | 5.38 MWh |
| 2016 | 4.36 MWh | 5.34 MWh |
| 2017 | 4.67 MWh | 5.46 MWh |
| 2018 | 5.04 MWh | 5.47 MWh |
| 2019 | 5.26 MWh | 5.46 MWh |
| 2020 | 5.44 MWh | 5.16 MWh |
| 2021 | 5.97 MWh | 5.50 MWh |
| 2022 | 6.20 MWh | 5.42 MWh |
| 2023 | 6.64 MWh | 5.26 MWh |
| 2024 | 7.10 MWh | 5.37 MWh |
| 2025 | 7.46 MWh | 5.27 MWh |
Source: Ember (ember-energy.org), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Data as of 2025.