China vs USSR: Hydropower generation by region
China
1,392 terawatt-hours
in 2025
USSR
202.99 terawatt-hours
in 1984
China rank
1st
USSR rank
3rd
Hydropower generation by region over time
- China
- USSR
How they compare
China currently reports 1,392 terawatt-hours against 202.99 terawatt-hours in USSR, a difference of 1,189 terawatt-hours.
That makes China's figure about 6.9 times USSR's.
Across all 20 years both countries report, USSR has been ahead every year.
China ranks 1st and USSR ranks 3rd of 79 countries.
USSR has averaged higher in every one of the 3 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | China | USSR | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 22.02 terawatt-hours | 96.21 terawatt-hours | 74.19 terawatt-hours | USSR |
| 1970s | 39.03 terawatt-hours | 137.82 terawatt-hours | 98.79 terawatt-hours | USSR |
| 1980s | 74.28 terawatt-hours | 185.74 terawatt-hours | 111.47 terawatt-hours | USSR |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher hydropower generation by region, China or USSR?
- China, at 1,392 terawatt-hours against 202.99 terawatt-hours in USSR as of 2025.
- What is the difference in hydropower generation by region between China and USSR?
- 1,189 terawatt-hours, with China ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for China and USSR?
- 20 years are reported by both, from 1965 to 1984.
- How do China and USSR rank globally for hydropower generation by region?
- China ranks 1st and USSR ranks 3rd 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.