China vs OECD (EI): Solar energy generation vs. capacity
China
1.17 million terawatt-hours
in 2025
OECD (EI)
1.11 million terawatt-hours
in 2025
China rank
1st
OECD (EI) rank
1st
Solar energy generation vs. capacity over time
- China
- OECD (EI)
How they compare
China currently reports 1.17 million terawatt-hours against 1.11 million terawatt-hours in OECD (EI), a difference of 66,740 terawatt-hours.
That makes China's figure about 1.1 times OECD (EI)'s.
The two have swapped places 1 time across 55 shared years of data; in 1971 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 6 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | China | OECD (EI) | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1980s | 0 terawatt-hours | 31.93 terawatt-hours | 31.93 terawatt-hours | OECD (EI) |
| 1990s | 7.4 terawatt-hours | 621.89 terawatt-hours | 614.49 terawatt-hours | OECD (EI) |
| 2000s | 96.5 terawatt-hours | 5,889 terawatt-hours | 5,792 terawatt-hours | OECD (EI) |
| 2010s | 66,350 terawatt-hours | 186,550 terawatt-hours | 120,200 terawatt-hours | OECD (EI) |
| 2020s | 601,967 terawatt-hours | 736,917 terawatt-hours | 134,951 terawatt-hours | OECD (EI) |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher solar energy generation vs. capacity, China or OECD (EI)?
- China, at 1.17 million terawatt-hours against 1.11 million terawatt-hours in OECD (EI) as of 2025.
- What is the difference in solar energy generation vs. capacity between China and OECD (EI)?
- 66,740 terawatt-hours, with China ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for China and OECD (EI)?
- 55 years are reported by both, from 1971 to 2025.
- How do China and OECD (EI) rank globally for solar energy generation vs. capacity?
- 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 Solar energy generation vs. capacity. 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 generation and do not account for cross-border electricity supply.