China's electrification rate reached about 29.5 percent last year, officially surpassing the levels of major developed economies in Europe and that of the United States, according to a newly released industry report.

China has firmly established itself as the primary driving force behind the global electrification process, contributing over 80 percent 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 modernization.

The report noted that in 2025, the industrial electrification rate reached about 28.0 percent, up 1.2 percentage points year-on-year. Specifically, the high-tech and equipment manufacturing sectors led the transformation at 68.0 percent, while consumer goods manufacturing stood at 45.8 percent. Even the four major high-energy-consuming industries saw their rate inch up to 18.2 percent.

Beyond industry, other sectors recorded dynamic growth. The construction sector's electrification rate surged to 58.0 percent, heavily bolstered by wholesale, retail, accommodation, and catering businesses, which hit 68.6 percent.

Transport electrification also accelerated to reach 6.9 percent. Meanwhile, as the promotion of rural equipment and clean power facilities strengthened, the electrification rate for agriculture and rural residents climbed to 49.6 percent.

Regionally, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area led the country with an impressive electrification rate of 41.1 percent. The Yangtze River Delta and the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle followed at 34.6 percent and 30.2 percent, respectively.

Notably, the Chengdu-Chongqing region surpassed the 30 percent threshold for the first time, achieving a level roughly equivalent to Japan's overall electrification in 2023. Every province nationwide achieved positive growth, with Guangdong exceeding 40 percent, while Qinghai, Zhejiang, Yunnan, and Jiangsu all topped 35 percent.

Globally, the electrification rate is projected to reach around 30 percent by 2035.

The report emphasized that to achieve even higher global targets, countries must intensify their clean energy transitions, amplify the core driving role of new energy, improve financing environments, and establish robust collaborative mechanisms to boost international confidence in shared sustainable development.

(Source: China Daily)