Country energy profile · China · 2025
What percentage of China’s energy comes from fossil fuels?
In 2025, fossil fuels supplied 87.5% of China’s total energy. Coal is its largest single source. That compares with a world average of 86.2%.
Oil 20.9%, natural gas 9.8%, coal 56.9% · non-fossil 12.5%.
Source: Energy Institute Statistical Review of World Energy 2025 data. Site updated August 13, 2026.
China energy mix, 2025
Share of total primary energy by source
Key facts
| Fossil-fuel share | 87.5% |
| World average | 86.2% |
| Main fossil fuel | Coal |
| Change since 2010 | -8.7 pts |
| Fossil energy per person | 100.3 GJ |
| CO₂ per person | 7.9 t |
| Fossil share of electricity | 57.7% |
| World rank, fossil energy used | #1 of 80 |
Is China getting less dependent on fossil fuels?
Fossil-fuel share of total energy since 1965, with the absolute amount of fossil fuel used. Share and volume can move in opposite directions.
Fossil share vs. consumption
Left axis: % of primary energy · Right axis: exajoules (EJ)
Oil vs. gas vs. coal in China
Consumption by fuel, 1965–2025
Exajoules (EJ) per year
Total energy vs. electricity
China’s electricity has a lower fossil share than its overall energy use, because transport, heating and industry still lean heavily on oil, gas and coal.
Total energy
| Fossil share | 87.5% |
| Oil | 20.9% |
| Gas | 9.8% |
| Coal | 56.9% |
Electricity
| Fossil share | 57.7% |
| Low-carbon share | 40.8% |
| Nuclear + hydro | 17.8% |
| Wind + solar + other renewables | 23.1% |
Frequently asked questions
What percentage of China's energy comes from fossil fuels?
In 2025, fossil fuels supplied about 87.5% of China's total primary energy: oil 20.9%, natural gas 9.8% and coal 56.9%. The world average is 86.2%.
What is China's main energy source?
China's largest fossil fuel is coal. Non-fossil sources make up 12.5% of its energy.
Is China reducing its dependence on fossil fuels?
Since 2010, China's fossil-fuel share of energy has fallen by 8.7 percentage points, to 87.5%.
How much of China's electricity comes from fossil fuels?
About 57.7% of China's electricity came from fossil fuels in 2025, versus 87.5% of its total energy. Electricity is usually the lower-carbon of the two.
Compare with other countries
Source: Energy Institute Statistical Review of World Energy, 2025 data (annual series back to 1965). See methodology.