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Built 2026-11-05 (5 November 2026)

China vs Germany: Electricity Compared

China generated 10,506 TWh of electricity in 2025 and Germany 497 TWh, according to Ember. China's largest source was coal (54.8%); Germany's was wind (26.6%). Each kWh generated emitted 528 gCO2/kWh in China and 334 gCO2/kWh in Germany. 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 21.1 times as much as Germany in 2025 (10,506 TWh against 497 TWh). Germany has the cleaner electricity by carbon intensity, at 334 gCO2/kWh against 528 gCO2/kWh in China 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

  • Coal supplied 54.8% of China's electricity in 2025, against 21.0% in Germany.
  • China's electricity was 1.6 times as carbon intensive as Germany's in 2025, at 528 gCO2/kWh against 334 gCO2/kWh.
  • Electricity demand rose 36% in China between 2020 and 2025, while it fell 6% in Germany.
  • Low carbon sources supplied 41.1% of China's electricity in 2025 and 58.5% of Germany's.
  • Electricity demand in 2025 was 10,486 TWh in China and 517 TWh in Germany.

Key Figures, 2025

Ember annual statistics
Measure China Germany
Total generation10,506 TWh497 TWh
Electricity demand10,486 TWh517 TWh
Demand per person7.46 MWh6.19 MWh
Carbon intensity528 gCO2/kWh334 gCO2/kWh
Power sector emissions5,550 MtCO2166 MtCO2
Low carbon share41.1%58.5%
Largest sourceCoal 54.8%Wind 26.6%

Generation Mix, 2025

Share of generation
Source China Germany
Coal 54.8% 21.0%
Wind 10.7% 26.6%
Solar 11.2% 18.1%
Gas 3.2% 16.8%
Hydro 13.3% 3.7%
Bioenergy 1.3% 10.1%
Nuclear 4.6% 0.0%
Other fossil 0.9% 3.8%
Other renewables 0.0% 0.1%

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics
Carbon intensity of electricity in China and Germany, 1985 to 2025 Carbon intensity of electricity generated in China and Germany each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2025 it was 528 gCO2/kWh in China and 334 gCO2/kWh in Germany. 0 200 400 600 800 198519901995200020052010201520202025
Carbon intensity of electricity generated in China and Germany each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2025 it was 528 gCO2/kWh in China and 334 gCO2/kWh in Germany.
Annual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh
Carbon intensity of electricity in China and Germany, 1985 to 2025
YearChinaGermany
1985709 gCO2/kWh431 gCO2/kWh
1986728 gCO2/kWh431 gCO2/kWh
1987739 gCO2/kWh431 gCO2/kWh
1988740 gCO2/kWh431 gCO2/kWh
1989740 gCO2/kWh431 gCO2/kWh
1990745 gCO2/kWh622 gCO2/kWh
1991766 gCO2/kWh628 gCO2/kWh
1992778 gCO2/kWh605 gCO2/kWh
1993759 gCO2/kWh608 gCO2/kWh
1994761 gCO2/kWh604 gCO2/kWh
1995753 gCO2/kWh596 gCO2/kWh
1996771 gCO2/kWh591 gCO2/kWh
1997772 gCO2/kWh575 gCO2/kWh
1998774 gCO2/kWh587 gCO2/kWh
1999787 gCO2/kWh566 gCO2/kWh
2000784 gCO2/kWh573 gCO2/kWh
2001763 gCO2/kWh565 gCO2/kWh
2002773 gCO2/kWh570 gCO2/kWh
2003791 gCO2/kWh570 gCO2/kWh
2004779 gCO2/kWh555 gCO2/kWh
2005782 gCO2/kWh546 gCO2/kWh
2006787 gCO2/kWh536 gCO2/kWh
2007785 gCO2/kWh552 gCO2/kWh
2008747 gCO2/kWh525 gCO2/kWh
2009753 gCO2/kWh522 gCO2/kWh
2010742 gCO2/kWh517 gCO2/kWh
2011754 gCO2/kWh530 gCO2/kWh
2012722 gCO2/kWh534 gCO2/kWh
2013719 gCO2/kWh538 gCO2/kWh
2014696 gCO2/kWh522 gCO2/kWh
2015670 gCO2/kWh504 gCO2/kWh
2016653 gCO2/kWh498 gCO2/kWh
2017646 gCO2/kWh470 gCO2/kWh
2018639 gCO2/kWh455 gCO2/kWh
2019622 gCO2/kWh392 gCO2/kWh
2020609 gCO2/kWh356 gCO2/kWh
2021602 gCO2/kWh395 gCO2/kWh
2022590 gCO2/kWh420 gCO2/kWh
2023586 gCO2/kWh364 gCO2/kWh
2024559 gCO2/kWh340 gCO2/kWh
2025528 gCO2/kWh334 gCO2/kWh

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics
Electricity demand per person in China and Germany, 1985 to 2025 Electricity demand per person in China and Germany each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2025 it was 7.46 MWh in China and 6.19 MWh in Germany. 0.0 2.0 4.0 6.0 8.0 198519901995200020052010201520202025
Electricity demand per person in China and Germany each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2025 it was 7.46 MWh in China and 6.19 MWh in Germany.
Annual statistics through 2025, MWh
Electricity demand per person in China and Germany, 1985 to 2025
YearChinaGermany
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 MWh6.99 MWh
20011.15 MWh7.11 MWh
20021.28 MWh7.24 MWh
20031.47 MWh7.29 MWh
20041.69 MWh7.39 MWh
20051.90 MWh7.42 MWh
20062.17 MWh7.51 MWh
20072.47 MWh7.56 MWh
20082.61 MWh7.55 MWh
20092.76 MWh7.11 MWh
20103.10 MWh7.54 MWh
20113.46 MWh7.44 MWh
20123.63 MWh7.41 MWh
20133.93 MWh7.37 MWh
20144.17 MWh7.19 MWh
20154.16 MWh7.20 MWh
20164.36 MWh7.14 MWh
20174.67 MWh7.12 MWh
20185.04 MWh7.00 MWh
20195.26 MWh6.79 MWh
20205.44 MWh6.55 MWh
20215.97 MWh6.69 MWh
20226.20 MWh6.42 MWh
20236.64 MWh6.10 MWh
20247.10 MWh6.18 MWh
20257.46 MWh6.19 MWh

China history · Germany 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 Germany: Electricity Compared. https://worldpowermonitor.com/compare/china-vs-germany/

Plain text

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

BibTeX 
@misc{wpm_compare_china_vs_germany_2025,
  title = {{China vs Germany: Electricity Compared}},
  author = {{World Power Monitor}},
  year = {2025},
  note = {Data as of 2025. Data from Ember.},
  url = {https://worldpowermonitor.com/compare/china-vs-germany/}
}

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