Global share of primary energy consumption 2021, by country

In 2021, China consumed 26.5 percent of global primary energy, positioning itself as the largest primary energy consumer across the world. The United States followed, with more than double the consumption share of India and Russia, the third and fourth largest consumers worldwide.

China’s use of energy

Most primary energy in China comes from coal, while crude oil is the country’s second most-consumed resource. Primary energy consumption in China has more than tripled since 2000 and continues to rise each year. Rapid construction is a major reason for China's rising energy consumption.

Sources of primary energy

Primary energy comes directly from natural resources, both renewable and non-renewable, and has not yet been subject to transformation through human processes. Fossil fuels such as oil, coal, and gas are the most common types of primary energy sources worldwide. Use of oil alone is much greater than renewable sources. Consumption of renewables such as solar and wind currently remain at a much lower level than that of fossil fuels. However, global renewable energy consumption has been growing strongly since the early 2000s.