Statistics
Page built 2026-11-05
Data as of 2025
Search
Built 2026-11-05 (5 November 2026)

China vs India: Electricity Compared

China generated 10,506 TWh of electricity in 2025 and India 2,080 TWh, according to Ember. Coal was the largest source in both, at 54.8% in China and 70.9% in India. Each kWh generated emitted 528 gCO2/kWh in China and 671 gCO2/kWh in India. 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 5.1 times as much as India in 2025 (10,506 TWh against 2,080 TWh). China has the cleaner electricity by carbon intensity, at 528 gCO2/kWh against 671 gCO2/kWh in India in 2025.

Why this comparison: neighbours by land border or interconnector, both among the 20 largest electricity users, similar electricity demand on the same continent and a well known regional or sporting rivalry.

Open this comparison in the interactive tool to add more countries or change the metric.

Key Facts

  • Coal supplied 70.9% of India's electricity in 2025, against 54.8% in China.
  • The average person in China used 7.46 MWh of electricity in 2025, 5.3 times as much as in India (1.42 MWh).
  • Low carbon sources supplied 41.1% of China's electricity in 2025 and 26.6% of India's.
  • Electricity demand in 2025 was 10,486 TWh in China and 2,081 TWh in India.

Key Figures, 2025

Ember annual statistics
Measure China India
Total generation10,506 TWh2,080 TWh
Electricity demand10,486 TWh2,081 TWh
Demand per person7.46 MWh1.42 MWh
Carbon intensity528 gCO2/kWh671 gCO2/kWh
Power sector emissions5,550 MtCO21,396 MtCO2
Low carbon share41.1%26.6%
Largest sourceCoal 54.8%Coal 70.9%

Generation Mix, 2025

Share of generation
Source China India
Coal 54.8% 70.9%
Hydro 13.3% 8.6%
Solar 11.2% 9.4%
Wind 10.7% 5.0%
Nuclear 4.6% 2.6%
Gas 3.2% 2.3%
Bioenergy 1.3% 1.1%
Other fossil 0.9% 0.2%

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics
Carbon intensity of electricity in China and India, 1985 to 2025 Carbon intensity of electricity generated in China and India each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2025 it was 528 gCO2/kWh in China and 671 gCO2/kWh in India. 0 200 400 600 800 198519901995200020052010201520202025
Carbon intensity of electricity generated in China and India each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2025 it was 528 gCO2/kWh in China and 671 gCO2/kWh in India.
Annual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh
Carbon intensity of electricity in China and India, 1985 to 2025
YearChinaIndia
1985709 gCO2/kWh635 gCO2/kWh
1986728 gCO2/kWh652 gCO2/kWh
1987739 gCO2/kWh690 gCO2/kWh
1988740 gCO2/kWh684 gCO2/kWh
1989740 gCO2/kWh686 gCO2/kWh
1990745 gCO2/kWh679 gCO2/kWh
1991766 gCO2/kWh683 gCO2/kWh
1992778 gCO2/kWh700 gCO2/kWh
1993759 gCO2/kWh713 gCO2/kWh
1994761 gCO2/kWh705 gCO2/kWh
1995753 gCO2/kWh723 gCO2/kWh
1996771 gCO2/kWh738 gCO2/kWh
1997772 gCO2/kWh738 gCO2/kWh
1998774 gCO2/kWh720 gCO2/kWh
1999787 gCO2/kWh729 gCO2/kWh
2000784 gCO2/kWh740 gCO2/kWh
2001763 gCO2/kWh747 gCO2/kWh
2002773 gCO2/kWh756 gCO2/kWh
2003791 gCO2/kWh758 gCO2/kWh
2004779 gCO2/kWh724 gCO2/kWh
2005782 gCO2/kWh734 gCO2/kWh
2006787 gCO2/kWh723 gCO2/kWh
2007785 gCO2/kWh718 gCO2/kWh
2008747 gCO2/kWh733 gCO2/kWh
2009753 gCO2/kWh745 gCO2/kWh
2010742 gCO2/kWh739 gCO2/kWh
2011754 gCO2/kWh722 gCO2/kWh
2012722 gCO2/kWh743 gCO2/kWh
2013719 gCO2/kWh739 gCO2/kWh
2014696 gCO2/kWh743 gCO2/kWh
2015670 gCO2/kWh751 gCO2/kWh
2016653 gCO2/kWh752 gCO2/kWh
2017646 gCO2/kWh743 gCO2/kWh
2018639 gCO2/kWh738 gCO2/kWh
2019622 gCO2/kWh723 gCO2/kWh
2020609 gCO2/kWh710 gCO2/kWh
2021602 gCO2/kWh716 gCO2/kWh
2022590 gCO2/kWh707 gCO2/kWh
2023586 gCO2/kWh714 gCO2/kWh
2024559 gCO2/kWh707 gCO2/kWh
2025528 gCO2/kWh671 gCO2/kWh

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics
Electricity demand per person in China and India, 1985 to 2025 Electricity demand per person in China and India each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2025 it was 7.46 MWh in China and 1.42 MWh in India. 0.0 2.0 4.0 6.0 8.0 198519901995200020052010201520202025
Electricity demand per person in China and India each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2025 it was 7.46 MWh in China and 1.42 MWh in India.
Annual statistics through 2025, MWh
Electricity demand per person in China and India, 1985 to 2025
YearChinaIndia
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 MWh0.54 MWh
20011.15 MWh0.55 MWh
20021.28 MWh0.56 MWh
20031.47 MWh0.57 MWh
20041.69 MWh0.62 MWh
20051.90 MWh0.61 MWh
20062.17 MWh0.64 MWh
20072.47 MWh0.67 MWh
20082.61 MWh0.69 MWh
20092.76 MWh0.72 MWh
20103.10 MWh0.76 MWh
20113.46 MWh0.82 MWh
20123.63 MWh0.86 MWh
20133.93 MWh0.88 MWh
20144.17 MWh0.96 MWh
20154.16 MWh0.99 MWh
20164.36 MWh1.04 MWh
20174.67 MWh1.07 MWh
20185.04 MWh1.14 MWh
20195.26 MWh1.15 MWh
20205.44 MWh1.12 MWh
20215.97 MWh1.19 MWh
20226.20 MWh1.27 MWh
20236.64 MWh1.33 MWh
20247.10 MWh1.40 MWh
20257.46 MWh1.42 MWh

China history · India 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 India: Electricity Compared. https://worldpowermonitor.com/compare/china-vs-india/

Plain text

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

BibTeX 
@misc{wpm_compare_china_vs_india_2025,
  title = {{China vs India: Electricity Compared}},
  author = {{World Power Monitor}},
  year = {2025},
  note = {Data as of 2025. Data from Ember.},
  url = {https://worldpowermonitor.com/compare/china-vs-india/}
}

Permalink: https://worldpowermonitor.com/compare/china-vs-india/

The Copy buttons add today's date as the access date.