Brazil vs China: Electricity Compared
Brazil generated 752 TWh of electricity in 2025 and China 10,506 TWh, according to Ember. Brazil's largest source was hydro (51.7%); China's was coal (54.8%). Each kWh generated emitted 110 gCO2/kWh in Brazil and 528 gCO2/kWh in China. 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 2.3% in Brazil.
- China's electricity was 4.8 times as carbon intensive as Brazil's in 2025, at 528 gCO2/kWh against 110 gCO2/kWh.
- The average person in China used 7.46 MWh of electricity in 2025, 2.1 times as much as in Brazil (3.58 MWh).
- Low carbon sources supplied 88.7% of Brazil's electricity in 2025 and 41.1% of China's.
- Electricity demand in 2025 was 764 TWh in Brazil and 10,486 TWh in China.
Key Figures, 2025
Ember annual statistics| Measure | Brazil | China |
|---|---|---|
| Total generation | 752 TWh | 10,506 TWh |
| Electricity demand | 764 TWh | 10,486 TWh |
| Demand per person | 3.58 MWh | 7.46 MWh |
| Carbon intensity | 110 gCO2/kWh | 528 gCO2/kWh |
| Power sector emissions | 82.6 MtCO2 | 5,550 MtCO2 |
| Low carbon share | 88.7% | 41.1% |
| Largest source | Hydro 51.7% | Coal 54.8% |
Generation Mix, 2025
Share of generationCarbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025
Ember annual statisticsAnnual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh
| Year | Brazil | China |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 61 gCO2/kWh | 709 gCO2/kWh |
| 1986 | 85 gCO2/kWh | 728 gCO2/kWh |
| 1987 | 74 gCO2/kWh | 739 gCO2/kWh |
| 1988 | 66 gCO2/kWh | 740 gCO2/kWh |
| 1989 | 66 gCO2/kWh | 740 gCO2/kWh |
| 1990 | 60 gCO2/kWh | 745 gCO2/kWh |
| 1991 | 62 gCO2/kWh | 766 gCO2/kWh |
| 1992 | 63 gCO2/kWh | 778 gCO2/kWh |
| 1993 | 61 gCO2/kWh | 759 gCO2/kWh |
| 1994 | 61 gCO2/kWh | 761 gCO2/kWh |
| 1995 | 63 gCO2/kWh | 753 gCO2/kWh |
| 1996 | 68 gCO2/kWh | 771 gCO2/kWh |
| 1997 | 71 gCO2/kWh | 772 gCO2/kWh |
| 1998 | 71 gCO2/kWh | 774 gCO2/kWh |
| 1999 | 90 gCO2/kWh | 787 gCO2/kWh |
| 2000 | 89 gCO2/kWh | 784 gCO2/kWh |
| 2001 | 106 gCO2/kWh | 763 gCO2/kWh |
| 2002 | 97 gCO2/kWh | 773 gCO2/kWh |
| 2003 | 91 gCO2/kWh | 791 gCO2/kWh |
| 2004 | 102 gCO2/kWh | 779 gCO2/kWh |
| 2005 | 99 gCO2/kWh | 782 gCO2/kWh |
| 2006 | 96 gCO2/kWh | 787 gCO2/kWh |
| 2007 | 91 gCO2/kWh | 785 gCO2/kWh |
| 2008 | 114 gCO2/kWh | 747 gCO2/kWh |
| 2009 | 87 gCO2/kWh | 753 gCO2/kWh |
| 2010 | 114 gCO2/kWh | 742 gCO2/kWh |
| 2011 | 100 gCO2/kWh | 754 gCO2/kWh |
| 2012 | 128 gCO2/kWh | 722 gCO2/kWh |
| 2013 | 168 gCO2/kWh | 719 gCO2/kWh |
| 2014 | 193 gCO2/kWh | 696 gCO2/kWh |
| 2015 | 189 gCO2/kWh | 670 gCO2/kWh |
| 2016 | 150 gCO2/kWh | 653 gCO2/kWh |
| 2017 | 156 gCO2/kWh | 646 gCO2/kWh |
| 2018 | 137 gCO2/kWh | 639 gCO2/kWh |
| 2019 | 142 gCO2/kWh | 622 gCO2/kWh |
| 2020 | 133 gCO2/kWh | 609 gCO2/kWh |
| 2021 | 168 gCO2/kWh | 602 gCO2/kWh |
| 2022 | 103 gCO2/kWh | 590 gCO2/kWh |
| 2023 | 96 gCO2/kWh | 586 gCO2/kWh |
| 2024 | 106 gCO2/kWh | 559 gCO2/kWh |
| 2025 | 110 gCO2/kWh | 528 gCO2/kWh |
Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025
Ember annual statisticsAnnual statistics through 2025, MWh
| Year | Brazil | China |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 2.25 MWh | 1.06 MWh |
| 2001 | 2.08 MWh | 1.15 MWh |
| 2002 | 2.14 MWh | 1.28 MWh |
| 2003 | 2.23 MWh | 1.47 MWh |
| 2004 | 2.33 MWh | 1.69 MWh |
| 2005 | 2.39 MWh | 1.90 MWh |
| 2006 | 2.47 MWh | 2.17 MWh |
| 2007 | 2.57 MWh | 2.47 MWh |
| 2008 | 2.66 MWh | 2.61 MWh |
| 2009 | 2.64 MWh | 2.76 MWh |
| 2010 | 2.84 MWh | 3.10 MWh |
| 2011 | 2.91 MWh | 3.46 MWh |
| 2012 | 3.01 MWh | 3.63 MWh |
| 2013 | 3.08 MWh | 3.93 MWh |
| 2014 | 3.12 MWh | 4.17 MWh |
| 2015 | 3.05 MWh | 4.16 MWh |
| 2016 | 3.05 MWh | 4.36 MWh |
| 2017 | 3.06 MWh | 4.67 MWh |
| 2018 | 3.09 MWh | 5.04 MWh |
| 2019 | 3.17 MWh | 5.26 MWh |
| 2020 | 3.13 MWh | 5.44 MWh |
| 2021 | 3.24 MWh | 5.97 MWh |
| 2022 | 3.28 MWh | 6.20 MWh |
| 2023 | 3.43 MWh | 6.64 MWh |
| 2024 | 3.57 MWh | 7.10 MWh |
| 2025 | 3.58 MWh | 7.46 MWh |
Brazil history · China history
Source: Ember (ember-energy.org), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Data as of 2025.