China vs OECD (EI): Hydropower generation by region
China
1,392 terawatt-hours
in 2025
OECD (EI)
1,389 terawatt-hours
in 2025
China rank
1st
OECD (EI) rank
1st
Hydropower generation by region over time
- China
- OECD (EI)
How they compare
China currently reports 1,392 terawatt-hours against 1,389 terawatt-hours in OECD (EI), a difference of 3 terawatt-hours.
The two have swapped places 1 time across 61 shared years of data; in 1965 it was OECD (EI) ahead.
China ranks 1st and OECD (EI) ranks 1st of 79 countries.
OECD (EI) has averaged higher in every one of the 7 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | China | OECD (EI) | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 22.02 terawatt-hours | 779.52 terawatt-hours | 757.5 terawatt-hours | OECD (EI) |
| 1970s | 39.03 terawatt-hours | 990.11 terawatt-hours | 951.08 terawatt-hours | OECD (EI) |
| 1980s | 88.59 terawatt-hours | 1,189 terawatt-hours | 1,101 terawatt-hours | OECD (EI) |
| 1990s | 167.14 terawatt-hours | 1,324 terawatt-hours | 1,157 terawatt-hours | OECD (EI) |
| 2000s | 399.57 terawatt-hours | 1,344 terawatt-hours | 944.76 terawatt-hours | OECD (EI) |
| 2010s | 1,014 terawatt-hours | 1,451 terawatt-hours | 437.56 terawatt-hours | OECD (EI) |
| 2020s | 1,319 terawatt-hours | 1,426 terawatt-hours | 107.39 terawatt-hours | OECD (EI) |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher hydropower generation by region, China or OECD (EI)?
- China, at 1,392 terawatt-hours against 1,389 terawatt-hours in OECD (EI) as of 2025.
- What is the difference in hydropower generation by region between China and OECD (EI)?
- 3 terawatt-hours, with China ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for China and OECD (EI)?
- 61 years are reported by both, from 1965 to 2025.
- How do China and OECD (EI) rank globally for hydropower generation by region?
- China ranks 1st and OECD (EI) ranks 1st of 79 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as Hydropower generation by region. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Figures are based on gross primary hydroelectric generation and do not account for cross-border electricity supply.