China vs Indonesia: Electricity Compared

China generated 10,025 TWh of electricity in 2024 and Indonesia 372 TWh, according to Ember. Coal was the largest source in both, at 58.2% in China and 61.5% in Indonesia. Each kWh generated emitted 559 gCO2/kWh in China and 681 gCO2/kWh in Indonesia. These are Ember annual statistics for 2024, compiled from national sources; they are not real time.

Ember's latest annual figures for Indonesia are for 2024, while China has figures to 2025, so this comparison uses 2024 for both.

Why this comparison: both among the 20 largest electricity users.

Key Facts

Gas supplied 18.5% of Indonesia's electricity in 2024, against 3.2% in China.
The average person in China used 7.10 MWh of electricity in 2024, 5.4 times as much as in Indonesia (1.31 MWh).
Low carbon sources supplied 37.7% of China's electricity in 2024 and 18.1% of Indonesia's.
Electricity demand in 2024 was 10,008 TWh in China and 373 TWh in Indonesia.

Key Figures, 2024

Ember annual statistics

Measure	China	Indonesia
Total generation	10,025 TWh	372 TWh
Electricity demand	10,008 TWh	373 TWh
Demand per person	7.10 MWh	1.31 MWh
Carbon intensity	559 gCO2/kWh	681 gCO2/kWh
Power sector emissions	5,604 MtCO2	253 MtCO2
Low carbon share	37.7%	18.1%
Largest source	Coal 58.2%	Coal 61.5%

Generation Mix, 2024

Share of generation

Source	China	Indonesia
Coal	58.2%	61.5%
Gas	3.2%	18.5%
Hydro	13.6%	7.3%
Wind	10.0%	0.1%
Solar	8.4%	0.4%
Bioenergy	1.2%	5.7%
Other renewables	0.0%	4.5%
Nuclear	4.5%	0.0%
Other fossil	0.9%	1.9%

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Carbon intensity of electricity generated in China and Indonesia each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2024 it was 559 gCO2/kWh in China and 681 gCO2/kWh in Indonesia.

Annual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh

Carbon intensity of electricity in China and Indonesia, 1985 to 2025
Year	China	Indonesia
1985	709 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1986	728 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1987	739 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1988	740 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1989	740 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1990	745 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1991	766 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1992	778 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1993	759 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1994	761 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1995	753 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1996	771 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1997	772 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1998	774 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1999	787 gCO2/kWh	n/a
2000	784 gCO2/kWh	631 gCO2/kWh
2001	763 gCO2/kWh	626 gCO2/kWh
2002	773 gCO2/kWh	643 gCO2/kWh
2003	791 gCO2/kWh	656 gCO2/kWh
2004	779 gCO2/kWh	654 gCO2/kWh
2005	782 gCO2/kWh	651 gCO2/kWh
2006	787 gCO2/kWh	668 gCO2/kWh
2007	785 gCO2/kWh	663 gCO2/kWh
2008	747 gCO2/kWh	653 gCO2/kWh
2009	753 gCO2/kWh	661 gCO2/kWh
2010	742 gCO2/kWh	637 gCO2/kWh
2011	754 gCO2/kWh	667 gCO2/kWh
2012	722 gCO2/kWh	687 gCO2/kWh
2013	719 gCO2/kWh	682 gCO2/kWh
2014	696 gCO2/kWh	692 gCO2/kWh
2015	670 gCO2/kWh	697 gCO2/kWh
2016	653 gCO2/kWh	689 gCO2/kWh
2017	646 gCO2/kWh	689 gCO2/kWh
2018	639 gCO2/kWh	684 gCO2/kWh
2019	622 gCO2/kWh	694 gCO2/kWh
2020	609 gCO2/kWh	685 gCO2/kWh
2021	602 gCO2/kWh	685 gCO2/kWh
2022	590 gCO2/kWh	676 gCO2/kWh
2023	586 gCO2/kWh	681 gCO2/kWh
2024	559 gCO2/kWh	681 gCO2/kWh
2025	528 gCO2/kWh	n/a

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Electricity demand per person in China and Indonesia each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2024 it was 7.10 MWh in China and 1.31 MWh in Indonesia.

Annual statistics through 2025, MWh

Electricity demand per person in China and Indonesia, 1985 to 2025
Year	China	Indonesia
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	0.45 MWh
2001	1.15 MWh	0.49 MWh
2002	1.28 MWh	0.51 MWh
2003	1.47 MWh	0.52 MWh
2004	1.69 MWh	0.55 MWh
2005	1.90 MWh	0.58 MWh
2006	2.17 MWh	0.59 MWh
2007	2.47 MWh	0.63 MWh
2008	2.61 MWh	0.65 MWh
2009	2.76 MWh	0.67 MWh
2010	3.10 MWh	0.72 MWh
2011	3.46 MWh	0.77 MWh
2012	3.63 MWh	0.83 MWh
2013	3.93 MWh	0.88 MWh
2014	4.17 MWh	0.92 MWh
2015	4.16 MWh	0.93 MWh
2016	4.36 MWh	0.98 MWh
2017	4.67 MWh	1.00 MWh
2018	5.04 MWh	1.06 MWh
2019	5.26 MWh	1.09 MWh
2020	5.44 MWh	1.07 MWh
2021	5.97 MWh	1.12 MWh
2022	6.20 MWh	1.20 MWh
2023	6.64 MWh	1.25 MWh
2024	7.10 MWh	1.31 MWh
2025	7.46 MWh	n/a

China history · Indonesia history

Source: Ember (ember-energy.org), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Data as of 2024.

China vs Indonesia: Electricity Compared

Key Facts

Key Figures, 2024

Generation Mix, 2024

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

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