China vs United Kingdom: Electricity Compared

China generated 10,506 TWh of electricity in 2025 and the United Kingdom 295 TWh, according to Ember. China's largest source was coal (54.8%); the United Kingdom's was gas (31.2%). Each kWh generated emitted 528 gCO2/kWh in China and 222 gCO2/kWh in the United Kingdom. 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 0.6% in the United Kingdom.
China's electricity was 2.4 times as carbon intensive as the United Kingdom's in 2025, at 528 gCO2/kWh against 222 gCO2/kWh.
Electricity demand rose 36% in China between 2020 and 2025, while it fell 4% in the United Kingdom.
Low carbon sources supplied 41.1% of China's electricity in 2025 and 63.8% of the United Kingdom's.
Electricity demand in 2025 was 10,486 TWh in China and 313 TWh in the United Kingdom.

Key Figures, 2025

Ember annual statistics

Measure	China	United Kingdom
Total generation	10,506 TWh	295 TWh
Electricity demand	10,486 TWh	313 TWh
Demand per person	7.46 MWh	4.62 MWh
Carbon intensity	528 gCO2/kWh	222 gCO2/kWh
Power sector emissions	5,550 MtCO2	65.5 MtCO2
Low carbon share	41.1%	63.8%
Largest source	Coal 54.8%	Gas 31.2%

Generation Mix, 2025

Share of generation

Source	China	United Kingdom
Coal	54.8%	0.6%
Gas	3.2%	31.2%
Wind	10.7%	29.2%
Bioenergy	1.3%	13.9%
Hydro	13.3%	1.8%
Nuclear	4.6%	12.3%
Solar	11.2%	6.6%
Other fossil	0.9%	4.3%

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Carbon intensity of electricity generated in China and the United Kingdom each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2025 it was 528 gCO2/kWh in China and 222 gCO2/kWh in the United Kingdom.

Annual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh

Carbon intensity of electricity in China and United Kingdom, 1985 to 2025
Year	China	United Kingdom
1985	709 gCO2/kWh	694 gCO2/kWh
1986	728 gCO2/kWh	721 gCO2/kWh
1987	739 gCO2/kWh	737 gCO2/kWh
1988	740 gCO2/kWh	710 gCO2/kWh
1989	740 gCO2/kWh	689 gCO2/kWh
1990	745 gCO2/kWh	705 gCO2/kWh
1991	766 gCO2/kWh	700 gCO2/kWh
1992	778 gCO2/kWh	665 gCO2/kWh
1993	759 gCO2/kWh	608 gCO2/kWh
1994	761 gCO2/kWh	589 gCO2/kWh
1995	753 gCO2/kWh	579 gCO2/kWh
1996	771 gCO2/kWh	557 gCO2/kWh
1997	772 gCO2/kWh	512 gCO2/kWh
1998	774 gCO2/kWh	510 gCO2/kWh
1999	787 gCO2/kWh	492 gCO2/kWh
2000	784 gCO2/kWh	522 gCO2/kWh
2001	763 gCO2/kWh	529 gCO2/kWh
2002	773 gCO2/kWh	521 gCO2/kWh
2003	791 gCO2/kWh	537 gCO2/kWh
2004	779 gCO2/kWh	536 gCO2/kWh
2005	782 gCO2/kWh	535 gCO2/kWh
2006	787 gCO2/kWh	559 gCO2/kWh
2007	785 gCO2/kWh	556 gCO2/kWh
2008	747 gCO2/kWh	554 gCO2/kWh
2009	753 gCO2/kWh	505 gCO2/kWh
2010	742 gCO2/kWh	517 gCO2/kWh
2011	754 gCO2/kWh	500 gCO2/kWh
2012	722 gCO2/kWh	537 gCO2/kWh
2013	719 gCO2/kWh	507 gCO2/kWh
2014	696 gCO2/kWh	463 gCO2/kWh
2015	670 gCO2/kWh	398 gCO2/kWh
2016	653 gCO2/kWh	333 gCO2/kWh
2017	646 gCO2/kWh	302 gCO2/kWh
2018	639 gCO2/kWh	286 gCO2/kWh
2019	622 gCO2/kWh	268 gCO2/kWh
2020	609 gCO2/kWh	243 gCO2/kWh
2021	602 gCO2/kWh	267 gCO2/kWh
2022	590 gCO2/kWh	255 gCO2/kWh
2023	586 gCO2/kWh	236 gCO2/kWh
2024	559 gCO2/kWh	216 gCO2/kWh
2025	528 gCO2/kWh	222 gCO2/kWh

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Electricity demand per person in China and the United Kingdom each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2025 it was 7.46 MWh in China and 4.62 MWh in the United Kingdom.

Annual statistics through 2025, MWh

Electricity demand per person in China and United Kingdom, 1985 to 2025
Year	China	United Kingdom
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	6.63 MWh
2001	1.15 MWh	6.67 MWh
2002	1.28 MWh	6.65 MWh
2003	1.47 MWh	6.69 MWh
2004	1.69 MWh	6.67 MWh
2005	1.90 MWh	6.71 MWh
2006	2.17 MWh	6.63 MWh
2007	2.47 MWh	6.53 MWh
2008	2.61 MWh	6.45 MWh
2009	2.76 MWh	6.07 MWh
2010	3.10 MWh	6.11 MWh
2011	3.46 MWh	5.89 MWh
2012	3.63 MWh	5.87 MWh
2013	3.93 MWh	5.79 MWh
2014	4.17 MWh	5.53 MWh
2015	4.16 MWh	5.51 MWh
2016	4.36 MWh	5.42 MWh
2017	4.67 MWh	5.32 MWh
2018	5.04 MWh	5.29 MWh
2019	5.26 MWh	5.19 MWh
2020	5.44 MWh	4.88 MWh
2021	5.97 MWh	4.92 MWh
2022	6.20 MWh	4.70 MWh
2023	6.64 MWh	4.60 MWh
2024	7.10 MWh	4.59 MWh
2025	7.46 MWh	4.62 MWh

China history · United Kingdom history

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

China vs United Kingdom: Electricity Compared

Key Facts

Key Figures, 2025

Generation Mix, 2025

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

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