BEIJING — China’s power consumption reached a historic milestone in 2025, surpassing 10 trillion kilowatt-hours for the first time, according to the National Energy Administration (NEA). The record underscores the scale of the country’s economic activity and rising demand for electricity across industries and households.
Total electricity use stood at 10.4 trillion kWh last year, marking a 5 percent increase from 2024. China is now the first nation to cross the 10-trillion-kWh threshold in annual consumption, more than double that of the United States and exceeding the combined usage of the European Union, Russia, India, and Japan.
Officials attributed the growth to stable macroeconomic fundamentals, prolonged high temperatures, and greater household electrification. Yang Kun, executive vice chairman of the China Electricity Council, said the figures reflect both resilience and long-term stability in the economy.
High-end manufacturing has emerged as a major driver of demand. In 2025, electricity use in the production of new energy vehicles rose by more than 20 percent, while consumption in wind power equipment manufacturing climbed over 30 percent. The expansion of the digital economy also contributed, with power use in internet and related services increasing by more than 30 percent, fueled by new infrastructure such as 5G base stations and charging facilities.
Battery charging and swapping services saw the sharpest rise, with electricity consumption soaring nearly 50 percent last year. By the end of November 2025, China had more than 19.32 million charging guns for electric vehicles, up 52 percent year on year, NEA data showed.
“Behind the 10-trillion-kWh annual power use is steady progress toward a high-tech, high-value-added industrial structure and a firm commitment to low-carbon development,” Yang said.
