China vs Vietnam: Electricity Compared
China generated 10,506 TWh of electricity in 2025 and Vietnam 329 TWh, according to Ember. Coal was the largest source in both, at 54.8% in China and 47.8% in Vietnam. Each kWh generated emitted 528 gCO2/kWh in China and 459 gCO2/kWh in Vietnam. These are Ember annual statistics for 2025, compiled from national sources; they are not real time.
Why this comparison: neighbours by land border or interconnector and both among the 20 largest electricity users.
Key Facts
- Hydro supplied 31.0% of Vietnam's electricity in 2025, against 13.3% in China.
- The average person in China used 7.46 MWh of electricity in 2025, 2.4 times as much as in Vietnam (3.09 MWh).
- Low carbon sources supplied 41.1% of China's electricity in 2025 and 46.1% of Vietnam's.
- Electricity demand in 2025 was 10,486 TWh in China and 332 TWh in Vietnam.
Key Figures, 2025
Ember annual statistics| Measure | China | Vietnam |
|---|---|---|
| Total generation | 10,506 TWh | 329 TWh |
| Electricity demand | 10,486 TWh | 332 TWh |
| Demand per person | 7.46 MWh | 3.09 MWh |
| Carbon intensity | 528 gCO2/kWh | 459 gCO2/kWh |
| Power sector emissions | 5,550 MtCO2 | 151 MtCO2 |
| Low carbon share | 41.1% | 46.1% |
| Largest source | Coal 54.8% | Coal 47.8% |
Generation Mix, 2025
Share of generationCarbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025
Ember annual statisticsAnnual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh
| Year | China | Vietnam |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 709 gCO2/kWh | 579 gCO2/kWh |
| 1986 | 728 gCO2/kWh | 609 gCO2/kWh |
| 1987 | 739 gCO2/kWh | 632 gCO2/kWh |
| 1988 | 740 gCO2/kWh | 610 gCO2/kWh |
| 1989 | 740 gCO2/kWh | 428 gCO2/kWh |
| 1990 | 745 gCO2/kWh | 320 gCO2/kWh |
| 1991 | 766 gCO2/kWh | 258 gCO2/kWh |
| 1992 | 778 gCO2/kWh | 206 gCO2/kWh |
| 1993 | 759 gCO2/kWh | 198 gCO2/kWh |
| 1994 | 761 gCO2/kWh | 202 gCO2/kWh |
| 1995 | 753 gCO2/kWh | 227 gCO2/kWh |
| 1996 | 771 gCO2/kWh | 235 gCO2/kWh |
| 1997 | 772 gCO2/kWh | 302 gCO2/kWh |
| 1998 | 774 gCO2/kWh | 356 gCO2/kWh |
| 1999 | 787 gCO2/kWh | 301 gCO2/kWh |
| 2000 | 784 gCO2/kWh | 322 gCO2/kWh |
| 2001 | 763 gCO2/kWh | 291 gCO2/kWh |
| 2002 | 773 gCO2/kWh | 344 gCO2/kWh |
| 2003 | 791 gCO2/kWh | 376 gCO2/kWh |
| 2004 | 779 gCO2/kWh | 407 gCO2/kWh |
| 2005 | 782 gCO2/kWh | 462 gCO2/kWh |
| 2006 | 787 gCO2/kWh | 448 gCO2/kWh |
| 2007 | 785 gCO2/kWh | 439 gCO2/kWh |
| 2008 | 747 gCO2/kWh | 422 gCO2/kWh |
| 2009 | 753 gCO2/kWh | 413 gCO2/kWh |
| 2010 | 742 gCO2/kWh | 452 gCO2/kWh |
| 2011 | 754 gCO2/kWh | 408 gCO2/kWh |
| 2012 | 722 gCO2/kWh | 372 gCO2/kWh |
| 2013 | 719 gCO2/kWh | 374 gCO2/kWh |
| 2014 | 696 gCO2/kWh | 404 gCO2/kWh |
| 2015 | 670 gCO2/kWh | 487 gCO2/kWh |
| 2016 | 653 gCO2/kWh | 492 gCO2/kWh |
| 2017 | 646 gCO2/kWh | 433 gCO2/kWh |
| 2018 | 639 gCO2/kWh | 486 gCO2/kWh |
| 2019 | 622 gCO2/kWh | 557 gCO2/kWh |
| 2020 | 609 gCO2/kWh | 531 gCO2/kWh |
| 2021 | 602 gCO2/kWh | 475 gCO2/kWh |
| 2022 | 590 gCO2/kWh | 415 gCO2/kWh |
| 2023 | 586 gCO2/kWh | 467 gCO2/kWh |
| 2024 | 559 gCO2/kWh | 477 gCO2/kWh |
| 2025 | 528 gCO2/kWh | 459 gCO2/kWh |
Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025
Ember annual statisticsAnnual statistics through 2025, MWh
| Year | China | Vietnam |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 0.34 MWh |
| 2001 | 1.15 MWh | 0.39 MWh |
| 2002 | 1.28 MWh | 0.45 MWh |
| 2003 | 1.47 MWh | 0.51 MWh |
| 2004 | 1.69 MWh | 0.58 MWh |
| 2005 | 1.90 MWh | 0.65 MWh |
| 2006 | 2.17 MWh | 0.72 MWh |
| 2007 | 2.47 MWh | 0.80 MWh |
| 2008 | 2.61 MWh | 0.87 MWh |
| 2009 | 2.76 MWh | 0.98 MWh |
| 2010 | 3.10 MWh | 1.10 MWh |
| 2011 | 3.46 MWh | 1.19 MWh |
| 2012 | 3.63 MWh | 1.30 MWh |
| 2013 | 3.93 MWh | 1.40 MWh |
| 2014 | 4.17 MWh | 1.56 MWh |
| 2015 | 4.16 MWh | 1.76 MWh |
| 2016 | 4.36 MWh | 1.92 MWh |
| 2017 | 4.67 MWh | 2.05 MWh |
| 2018 | 5.04 MWh | 2.27 MWh |
| 2019 | 5.26 MWh | 2.45 MWh |
| 2020 | 5.44 MWh | 2.50 MWh |
| 2021 | 5.97 MWh | 2.57 MWh |
| 2022 | 6.20 MWh | 2.68 MWh |
| 2023 | 6.64 MWh | 2.79 MWh |
| 2024 | 7.10 MWh | 3.04 MWh |
| 2025 | 7.46 MWh | 3.09 MWh |
China history · Vietnam history
Source: Ember (ember-energy.org), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Data as of 2025.