China vs United States of America: Solar energy generation vs. capacity
China
1.17 million terawatt-hours
in 2025
United States of America
392,747 terawatt-hours
in 2025
China rank
1st
United States of America rank
2nd
Solar energy generation vs. capacity over time
- China
- United States of America
How they compare
China currently reports 1.17 million terawatt-hours against 392,747 terawatt-hours in United States of America, a difference of 780,493 terawatt-hours.
That makes China's figure about 3.0 times United States of America's.
The two have swapped places 1 time across 43 shared years of data; in 1983 it was United States of America ahead.
China ranks 1st and United States of America ranks 2nd of 79 countries.
Across the 5 decades both report, China averaged higher in 2 and United States of America in 3.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | China | United States of America | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0 terawatt-hours | 43.73 terawatt-hours | 43.73 terawatt-hours | United States of America |
| 1990s | 7.4 terawatt-hours | 486.64 terawatt-hours | 479.24 terawatt-hours | United States of America |
| 2000s | 96.5 terawatt-hours | 938.1 terawatt-hours | 841.6 terawatt-hours | United States of America |
| 2010s | 66,350 terawatt-hours | 43,723 terawatt-hours | 22,627 terawatt-hours | China |
| 2020s | 601,967 terawatt-hours | 241,031 terawatt-hours | 360,936 terawatt-hours | China |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher solar energy generation vs. capacity, China or United States of America?
- China, at 1.17 million terawatt-hours against 392,747 terawatt-hours in United States of America as of 2025.
- What is the difference in solar energy generation vs. capacity between China and United States of America?
- 780,493 terawatt-hours, with China ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for China and United States of America?
- 43 years are reported by both, from 1983 to 2025.
- How do China and United States of America rank globally for solar energy generation vs. capacity?
- China ranks 1st and United States of America ranks 2nd of 79 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) β 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.