China Hydro Power: Generation, Share and Trend
China generated 1,392 TWh of electricity from hydro in 2025, 13.3% of its total, according to Ember. That made it the largest hydro power producer in 2025 of the 153 countries with Ember data, comparing each country's latest year. Hydro supplied 14.0% of the world's electricity in 2025. These are annual statistics for 2025, with monthly figures through July 2026; they are compiled from national sources and are not real time.
Key Facts
- China generated 1,392 TWh of electricity from hydro in 2025.
- Hydro supplied 13.3% of China's electricity in 2025.
- China was the largest hydro power producer in 2025 among the 153 countries with Ember data, comparing each country's latest year.
- China's hydro generation in 2025 was 5% higher than in 2020, when it was 1,322 TWh.
- China's hydro generation in 2025 was 25% higher than in 2015, when it was 1,115 TWh.
- 2025 was China's highest year for hydro generation in Ember's records, which start in 1985.
- China's hydro share in 2025 was below the world share of 14.0%.
- China had 382 GW of hydro generating capacity in 2025.
Key Figures, 2025
| Measure | Value | As of / source |
|---|---|---|
| Hydro generation | 1,392 TWh | 2025 · Ember |
| Share of China's electricity | 13.3% | 2025 · Ember |
| World share of hydro | 14.0% | 2025 · Ember |
| Rank by hydro generation (each country's latest year) | 1 of 153 | 2025 · Ember |
| Hydro capacity | 382 GW | 2025 · Ember |
Hydro Generation Year by Year
Ember annual statistics, 1985 to 2025Annual statistics through 2025, TWh
| Year | Hydro |
|---|---|
| 1985 | 92.4 TWh |
| 1986 | 94.6 TWh |
| 1987 | 100 TWh |
| 1988 | 109 TWh |
| 1989 | 118 TWh |
| 1990 | 127 TWh |
| 1991 | 125 TWh |
| 1992 | 131 TWh |
| 1993 | 152 TWh |
| 1994 | 167 TWh |
| 1995 | 191 TWh |
| 1996 | 188 TWh |
| 1997 | 196 TWh |
| 1998 | 199 TWh |
| 1999 | 197 TWh |
| 2000 | 222 TWh |
| 2001 | 277 TWh |
| 2002 | 288 TWh |
| 2003 | 284 TWh |
| 2004 | 354 TWh |
| 2005 | 397 TWh |
| 2006 | 436 TWh |
| 2007 | 485 TWh |
| 2008 | 637 TWh |
| 2009 | 616 TWh |
| 2010 | 711 TWh |
| 2011 | 688 TWh |
| 2012 | 863 TWh |
| 2013 | 910 TWh |
| 2014 | 1,060 TWh |
| 2015 | 1,115 TWh |
| 2016 | 1,153 TWh |
| 2017 | 1,165 TWh |
| 2018 | 1,199 TWh |
| 2019 | 1,273 TWh |
| 2020 | 1,322 TWh |
| 2021 | 1,301 TWh |
| 2022 | 1,304 TWh |
| 2023 | 1,232 TWh |
| 2024 | 1,364 TWh |
| 2025 | 1,392 TWh |
Annual statistics through 2025, % of generation
| Year | China | World |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 22.5% | n/a |
| 1986 | 21.0% | n/a |
| 1987 | 20.1% | n/a |
| 1988 | 20.0% | n/a |
| 1989 | 20.3% | n/a |
| 1990 | 20.4% | n/a |
| 1991 | 18.4% | n/a |
| 1992 | 17.3% | n/a |
| 1993 | 18.7% | n/a |
| 1994 | 18.1% | n/a |
| 1995 | 18.9% | n/a |
| 1996 | 17.4% | n/a |
| 1997 | 17.3% | n/a |
| 1998 | 17.0% | n/a |
| 1999 | 15.9% | n/a |
| 2000 | 16.4% | 17.2% |
| 2001 | 18.7% | 16.5% |
| 2002 | 17.4% | 16.3% |
| 2003 | 14.9% | 15.7% |
| 2004 | 16.1% | 16.1% |
| 2005 | 15.9% | 16.1% |
| 2006 | 15.2% | 16.0% |
| 2007 | 14.8% | 15.5% |
| 2008 | 18.2% | 16.1% |
| 2009 | 16.6% | 16.3% |
| 2010 | 17.0% | 16.1% |
| 2011 | 14.6% | 15.9% |
| 2012 | 17.3% | 16.3% |
| 2013 | 16.8% | 16.4% |
| 2014 | 18.3% | 16.3% |
| 2015 | 19.2% | 16.2% |
| 2016 | 18.9% | 16.3% |
| 2017 | 17.7% | 16.0% |
| 2018 | 16.8% | 15.8% |
| 2019 | 17.0% | 15.8% |
| 2020 | 17.1% | 16.3% |
| 2021 | 15.3% | 15.2% |
| 2022 | 14.8% | 15.0% |
| 2023 | 13.1% | 14.3% |
| 2024 | 13.6% | 14.4% |
| 2025 | 13.3% | 14.0% |
| Year | Generation | Share | World share | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,392 TWh | 13.3% | 14.0% | 382 GW |
| 2024 | 1,364 TWh | 13.6% | 14.4% | 377 GW |
| 2023 | 1,232 TWh | 13.1% | 14.3% | 371 GW |
| 2022 | 1,304 TWh | 14.8% | 15.0% | 368 GW |
| 2021 | 1,301 TWh | 15.3% | 15.2% | 355 GW |
| 2020 | 1,322 TWh | 17.1% | 16.3% | 339 GW |
| 2019 | 1,273 TWh | 17.0% | 15.8% | 328 GW |
| 2018 | 1,199 TWh | 16.8% | 15.8% | 322 GW |
| 2017 | 1,165 TWh | 17.7% | 16.0% | 314 GW |
| 2016 | 1,153 TWh | 18.9% | 16.3% | 305 GW |
Full year by year history for China
Source: Ember (ember-energy.org), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Data as of 2025. World shares are Ember's World totals; ranks compare each country's latest year, which can differ between countries.
Hydro Generation Month by Month
Ember monthly statistics through July 2026Monthly statistics through July 2026, TWh
| Month | Hydro |
|---|---|
| 2024-08 | 164 TWh |
| 2024-09 | 120 TWh |
| 2024-10 | 105 TWh |
| 2024-11 | 82.6 TWh |
| 2024-12 | 83.1 TWh |
| 2025-01 | 73.8 TWh |
| 2025-02 | 72.2 TWh |
| 2025-03 | 77.8 TWh |
| 2025-04 | 78.5 TWh |
| 2025-05 | 99.1 TWh |
| 2025-06 | 139 TWh |
| 2025-07 | 151 TWh |
| 2025-08 | 148 TWh |
| 2025-09 | 159 TWh |
| 2025-10 | 135 TWh |
| 2025-11 | 96.6 TWh |
| 2025-12 | 86.4 TWh |
| 2026-01 | 77.9 TWh |
| 2026-02 | 77.8 TWh |
| 2026-03 | 86.1 TWh |
| 2026-04 | 88.0 TWh |
| 2026-05 | 112 TWh |
| 2026-06 | 146 TWh |
| 2026-07 | 161 TWh |
Source: Ember (ember-energy.org), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Data as of July 2026. Monthly figures for China can differ slightly from the annual totals.