What is the difference in solar (photovoltaic) panels cumulative capacity between France and South Korea?

2.97 gigawatts, with South Korea ahead.

How many years of comparable data are there for France and South Korea?

26 years are reported by both, from 2000 to 2025.

Where does this data come from?

IRENA (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Solar (photovoltaic) panels cumulative capacity. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

France vs South Korea: Solar (photovoltaic) panels cumulative capacity

France

31.07 gigawatts

in 2025

South Korea

34.04 gigawatts

in 2025

France rank

11th

South Korea rank

10th

Solar (photovoltaic) panels cumulative capacity over time

France
South Korea

How they compare

South Korea currently reports 34.04 gigawatts against 31.07 gigawatts in France, a difference of 2.97 gigawatts.

That makes South Korea's figure about 1.1 times France's.

The two have swapped places 3 times across 26 shared years of data; in 2000 it was France ahead.

France ranks 11th and South Korea ranks 10th of 199 countries.

Across the 3 decades both report, France averaged higher in 1 and South Korea in 2.

Head to head by decade

Decade	France	South Korea	Difference	Ahead
2000s	0.0453 gigawatts	0.1041 gigawatts	0.0588 gigawatts	South Korea
2010s	5.99 gigawatts	4.12 gigawatts	1.87 gigawatts	France
2020s	19.67 gigawatts	23.3 gigawatts	3.64 gigawatts	South Korea

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher solar (photovoltaic) panels cumulative capacity, France or South Korea?: South Korea, at 34.04 gigawatts against 31.07 gigawatts in France as of 2025.
What is the difference in solar (photovoltaic) panels cumulative capacity between France and South Korea?: 2.97 gigawatts, with South Korea ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for France and South Korea?: 26 years are reported by both, from 2000 to 2025.
How do France and South Korea rank globally for solar (photovoltaic) panels cumulative capacity?: France ranks 11th and South Korea ranks 10th of 199 countries.
Where does this data come from?: IRENA (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Solar (photovoltaic) panels cumulative capacity. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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France vs South Korea: Solar (photovoltaic) panels cumulative capacity. Statizoid, drawing on IRENA (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 27 September 2026, from https://energy.statizoid.com/compare/solar-pv-cumulative-capacity/france/korea-rep/

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About this data

Indicator: Solar (photovoltaic) panels cumulative capacity
Unit: gigawatts
Source: IRENA (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 199 places, 3,277 data points, 2000–2025
Last refreshed: 18 September 2026

Solar photovoltaic (on-grid) electricity installed capacity, measured in gigawatts.