On September 22, the China Electricity Council officially released the China Electrification Annual Development Report 2026 at the 2026 New Power System Development Forum in Chongli. The report reveals that in 2025, China's electrification rate reached approximately 29.5%, an increase of 1.4 percentage points from the prior year, surpassing major developed economies in Europe and North America.

Electricity has solidified its position as the largest energy source in domestic end-use consumption, holding a share 3.1 percentage points higher than coal, the second-largest terminal energy source. China has emerged as the primary engine of global electrification, contributing over 80% of the world's electrification rate growth since 2015.

Regional disparities and progress

Breaking down by region, the electrification rates in eastern, central, western, and northeastern China reached approximately 30.9%, 27.2%, 30.4%, and 17.2%, respectively, marking year-on-year increases of 1.4, 1.0, 1.5, and 1.1 percentage points. The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, Yangtze River Delta, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Zone posted rates of about 23.0%, 34.6%, 41.1%, and 30.2%, up by 0.8, 1.5, 1.2, and 1.0 percentage points, respectively. Notably, the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Zone surpassed 30% for the first time, roughly matching Japan's 2023 levels. All provinces recorded positive growth, with Guangdong exceeding 40%, while Qinghai, Zhejiang, Yunnan, and Jiangsu each topped 35%.

Industrial and sectoral advancements

The report highlights accelerating industrial electrification, with the rate climbing to approximately 28.0% in 2025, up 1.2 percentage points year-on-year. Among this, the four major high-energy-consuming industries achieved a combined rate of about 18.2%, rising 0.4 percentage points, while high-tech and equipment manufacturing reached roughly 68.0%, up 1.2 percentage points, and consumer goods manufacturing hit about 45.8%, an increase of 0.7 percentage points. The building sector saw rapid gains, with electrification reaching approximately 58.0%, up 2.1 percentage points, including a 68.6% rate for wholesale, retail, accommodation, and food services, which surged 3.5 percentage points. Transportation electrification accelerated to about 6.9%, a 0.9 percentage point rise. In rural areas, enhanced equipment adoption and clean power facilities lifted the agricultural and rural household electrification rate to 49.6%, up 2.1 percentage points.

Outlook and global implications

Looking ahead, the report projects steady growth in industrial, agricultural, and rural residential electrification over the next three years, with building and transport sectors expected to accelerate. National electrification is forecast to exceed 34% by 2029, sustaining China's contribution of roughly 80% to global electrification growth. As China's modern industrial system shifts toward smarter, greener, and more integrated development, low-carbon electrification is projected to rise by about 13 percentage points cumulatively over the next decade, a pace 30% faster than overall electrification gains.

The report also underscores the significant effort required to achieve long-term global electrification growth amid climate change. Following sharp volatility in international energy markets since late February, strategic expectations for energy transition have strengthened. By 2035, the global electrification rate is expected to reach around 30%. To pursue more ambitious targets, countries must intensify clean, low-carbon transitions in industrial and residential energy use, strengthen new energy development and quality improvement as a core driver, improve financing conditions for global low-carbon electrification, and establish robust support and cooperation mechanisms to bolster collective confidence and commitment.