BEIJING: China’s electrification rate has reached about 29.5%, officially surpassing the levels of major developed economies in Europe and that of the United States, according to a industry report.
China has firmly established itself as the primary driving force behind the global electrification process, contributing over 80% to the growth of the world’s electrification rate since 2015.
The figures were released on Tuesday during the launch of a report called the Annual Development Report of China’s Electrification 2026, released by the China Electricity Council.
The electrification rate – which measures the proportion of electric energy in end-use energy consumption – serves as a crucial barometer of modernisation.
The report noted that in 2025, the industrial electrification rate reached about 28%, up 1.2 percentage points year-on-year.
Specifically, the high-tech and equipment manufacturing sectors led the transformation at 68%, while consumer goods manufacturing stood at 45.8%. Even the four major high-energy-consuming industries saw their rate inch up to 18.2%.
Beyond industry, other sectors recorded dynamic growth.
The construction sector’s electrification rate surged to 58%, heavily bolstered by wholesale, retail, accommodation, and catering businesses, which hit 68.6%.
Transport electrification also accelerated to reach 6.9%. As the promotion of rural equipment and clean power facilities strengthened, the electrification rate for agriculture and rural residents climbed to 49.6%.
Regionally, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area led the country with an impressive electrification rate of 41.1%. The Yangtze River Delta and the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle followed at 34.6% and 30.2%, respectively.
Notably, the Chengdu-Chongqing region surpassed the 30% threshold for the first time, achieving a level roughly equivalent to Japan’s overall electrification in 2023. — China Daily/ANN
