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Built 2026-11-05 (5 November 2026)

China vs Russia: Electricity Compared

China generated 10,506 TWh of electricity in 2025 and Russia 1,194 TWh, according to Ember. China's largest source was coal (54.8%); Russia's was gas (45.6%). Each kWh generated emitted 528 gCO2/kWh in China and 447 gCO2/kWh in Russia. 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 8.8 times as much as Russia in 2025 (10,506 TWh against 1,194 TWh). Russia has the cleaner electricity by carbon intensity, at 447 gCO2/kWh against 528 gCO2/kWh in China in 2025.

Why this comparison: neighbours by land border or interconnector and both among the 20 largest electricity users.

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

Key Facts

  • Gas supplied 45.6% of Russia's electricity in 2025, against 3.2% in China.
  • Carbon intensity rose 7% in Russia between 2020 and 2025, while it fell 13% in China.
  • Low carbon sources supplied 41.1% of China's electricity in 2025 and 35.7% of Russia's.
  • Electricity demand in 2025 was 10,486 TWh in China and 1,178 TWh in Russia.

Key Figures, 2025

Ember annual statistics
Measure China Russia
Total generation10,506 TWh1,194 TWh
Electricity demand10,486 TWh1,178 TWh
Demand per person7.46 MWh8.17 MWh
Carbon intensity528 gCO2/kWh447 gCO2/kWh
Power sector emissions5,550 MtCO2534 MtCO2
Low carbon share41.1%35.7%
Largest sourceCoal 54.8%Gas 45.6%

Generation Mix, 2025

Share of generation
Source China Russia
Coal 54.8% 17.7%
Gas 3.2% 45.6%
Nuclear 4.6% 18.3%
Hydro 13.3% 16.7%
Solar 11.2% 0.2%
Wind 10.7% 0.3%
Bioenergy 1.3% 0.1%
Other fossil 0.9% 1.0%

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics
Carbon intensity of electricity in China and Russia, 1985 to 2025 Carbon intensity of electricity generated in China and Russia each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2025 it was 528 gCO2/kWh in China and 447 gCO2/kWh in Russia. 0 200 400 600 800 198519901995200020052010201520202025
Carbon intensity of electricity generated in China and Russia each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2025 it was 528 gCO2/kWh in China and 447 gCO2/kWh in Russia.
Annual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh
Carbon intensity of electricity in China and Russia, 1985 to 2025
YearChinaRussia
1985709 gCO2/kWh492 gCO2/kWh
1986728 gCO2/kWh492 gCO2/kWh
1987739 gCO2/kWh489 gCO2/kWh
1988740 gCO2/kWh486 gCO2/kWh
1989740 gCO2/kWh488 gCO2/kWh
1990745 gCO2/kWh496 gCO2/kWh
1991766 gCO2/kWh492 gCO2/kWh
1992778 gCO2/kWh483 gCO2/kWh
1993759 gCO2/kWh473 gCO2/kWh
1994761 gCO2/kWh481 gCO2/kWh
1995753 gCO2/kWh477 gCO2/kWh
1996771 gCO2/kWh482 gCO2/kWh
1997772 gCO2/kWh477 gCO2/kWh
1998774 gCO2/kWh482 gCO2/kWh
1999787 gCO2/kWh468 gCO2/kWh
2000784 gCO2/kWh470 gCO2/kWh
2001763 gCO2/kWh458 gCO2/kWh
2002773 gCO2/kWh463 gCO2/kWh
2003791 gCO2/kWh465 gCO2/kWh
2004779 gCO2/kWh454 gCO2/kWh
2005782 gCO2/kWh457 gCO2/kWh
2006787 gCO2/kWh463 gCO2/kWh
2007785 gCO2/kWh458 gCO2/kWh
2008747 gCO2/kWh475 gCO2/kWh
2009753 gCO2/kWh452 gCO2/kWh
2010742 gCO2/kWh458 gCO2/kWh
2011754 gCO2/kWh461 gCO2/kWh
2012722 gCO2/kWh462 gCO2/kWh
2013719 gCO2/kWh450 gCO2/kWh
2014696 gCO2/kWh449 gCO2/kWh
2015670 gCO2/kWh444 gCO2/kWh
2016653 gCO2/kWh443 gCO2/kWh
2017646 gCO2/kWh440 gCO2/kWh
2018639 gCO2/kWh439 gCO2/kWh
2019622 gCO2/kWh440 gCO2/kWh
2020609 gCO2/kWh418 gCO2/kWh
2021602 gCO2/kWh427 gCO2/kWh
2022590 gCO2/kWh443 gCO2/kWh
2023586 gCO2/kWh447 gCO2/kWh
2024559 gCO2/kWh444 gCO2/kWh
2025528 gCO2/kWh447 gCO2/kWh

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics
Electricity demand per person in China and Russia, 1985 to 2025 Electricity demand per person in China and Russia each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2025 it was 7.46 MWh in China and 8.17 MWh in Russia. 0.0 2.5 5.0 7.5 10.0 198519901995200020052010201520202025
Electricity demand per person in China and Russia each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2025 it was 7.46 MWh in China and 8.17 MWh in Russia.
Annual statistics through 2025, MWh
Electricity demand per person in China and Russia, 1985 to 2025
YearChinaRussia
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 MWh5.89 MWh
20011.15 MWh5.99 MWh
20021.28 MWh6.02 MWh
20031.47 MWh6.19 MWh
20041.69 MWh6.37 MWh
20051.90 MWh6.51 MWh
20062.17 MWh6.78 MWh
20072.47 MWh6.99 MWh
20082.61 MWh7.11 MWh
20092.76 MWh6.80 MWh
20103.10 MWh7.09 MWh
20113.46 MWh7.17 MWh
20123.63 MWh7.30 MWh
20133.93 MWh7.23 MWh
20144.17 MWh7.29 MWh
20154.16 MWh7.27 MWh
20164.36 MWh7.38 MWh
20174.67 MWh7.39 MWh
20185.04 MWh7.49 MWh
20195.26 MWh7.51 MWh
20205.44 MWh7.34 MWh
20215.97 MWh7.79 MWh
20226.20 MWh7.90 MWh
20236.64 MWh7.99 MWh
20247.10 MWh8.24 MWh
20257.46 MWh8.17 MWh

China history · Russia 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 Russia: Electricity Compared. https://worldpowermonitor.com/compare/china-vs-russia/

Plain text

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

BibTeX 
@misc{wpm_compare_china_vs_russia_2025,
  title = {{China vs Russia: Electricity Compared}},
  author = {{World Power Monitor}},
  year = {2025},
  note = {Data as of 2025. Data from Ember.},
  url = {https://worldpowermonitor.com/compare/china-vs-russia/}
}

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