Germany vs United States: Solar energy generation vs. capacity
Germany
91,591 terawatt-hours
in 2025
United States
392,747 terawatt-hours
in 2025
Germany rank
5th
United States rank
2nd
Solar energy generation vs. capacity over time
- Germany
- United States
How they compare
United States currently reports 392,747 terawatt-hours against 91,591 terawatt-hours in Germany, a difference of 301,156 terawatt-hours.
That makes United States's figure about 4.3 times Germany's.
The two have swapped places 2 times across 36 shared years of data; in 1990 it was United States ahead.
Germany ranks 5th and United States ranks 2nd of 79 countries.
Across the 4 decades both report, Germany averaged higher in 1 and United States in 3.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Germany | United States | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6.7 terawatt-hours | 486.64 terawatt-hours | 479.94 terawatt-hours | United States |
| 2000s | 1,910 terawatt-hours | 938.1 terawatt-hours | 972.2 terawatt-hours | Germany |
| 2010s | 32,870 terawatt-hours | 43,723 terawatt-hours | 10,853 terawatt-hours | United States |
| 2020s | 65,416 terawatt-hours | 241,031 terawatt-hours | 175,615 terawatt-hours | United States |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher solar energy generation vs. capacity, Germany or United States?
- United States, at 392,747 terawatt-hours against 91,591 terawatt-hours in Germany as of 2025.
- What is the difference in solar energy generation vs. capacity between Germany and United States?
- 301,156 terawatt-hours, with United States ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Germany and United States?
- 36 years are reported by both, from 1990 to 2025.
- How do Germany and United States rank globally for solar energy generation vs. capacity?
- Germany ranks 5th and United States 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.