China's rise as the world's largest electricity producer has been one of the biggest shifts in the global energy landscape over the past four decades. In 1985, the United States generated around 2,657 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity, more than six times China's 410.69 TWh. Fast forward to 2025, and the picture has completely reversed.
According to Our World in Data, China generated 10,583.36 TWh of electricity in 2025, exceeding the combined electricity output of the United States (4,519.79 TWh), the European Union (2,797.09 TWh) and India (2,081.6 TWh).
