Installed solar energy capacity in China
China: Installed solar energy capacity was 1,202 gigawatts in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Installed solar energy capacity in China, 2000–2025
Source: IRENA (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in gigawatts.
Analysis
China recorded 1,202 gigawatts for installed solar energy capacity in 2025. That is the highest value across all 26 years on record.
That represents a change of up 35.5% on the previous year and up 2,660.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, installed solar energy capacity in China peaked at 1,202 gigawatts in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.0335 gigawatts, in 2000.
China ranks 1st of 218 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Installed solar energy capacity in China, year by year
| Year | gigawatts | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 0.0335 gigawatts | — |
| 2001 | 0.038 gigawatts | +13.4% |
| 2002 | 0.0565 gigawatts | +48.7% |
| 2003 | 0.0666 gigawatts | +17.8% |
| 2004 | 0.0766 gigawatts | +15.0% |
| 2005 | 0.1412 gigawatts | +84.3% |
| 2006 | 0.1602 gigawatts | +13.5% |
| 2007 | 0.199 gigawatts | +24.2% |
| 2008 | 0.253 gigawatts | +27.1% |
| 2009 | 0.4148 gigawatts | +64.0% |
| 2010 | 1.02 gigawatts | +146.3% |
| 2011 | 3.11 gigawatts | +204.1% |
| 2012 | 6.72 gigawatts | +116.2% |
| 2013 | 17.76 gigawatts | +164.3% |
| 2014 | 28.4 gigawatts | +59.9% |
| 2015 | 43.55 gigawatts | +53.3% |
| 2016 | 77.82 gigawatts | +78.7% |
| 2017 | 130.83 gigawatts | +68.1% |
| 2018 | 175.26 gigawatts | +34.0% |
| 2019 | 204.97 gigawatts | +17.0% |
| 2020 | 253.86 gigawatts | +23.9% |
| 2021 | 306.97 gigawatts | +20.9% |
| 2022 | 393.03 gigawatts | +28.0% |
| 2023 | 609.92 gigawatts | +55.2% |
| 2024 | 887.1 gigawatts | +45.4% |
| 2025 | 1,202 gigawatts | +35.5% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 1,202 gigawatts is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.3169 gigawatts, 3793.4× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- China's 1,202 gigawatts is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.1563 gigawatts, 7692.1× the median. (35 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 0.1439 gigawatts | 0.0335 gigawatts | 0.4148 gigawatts | 10 |
| 2010s | 68.94 gigawatts | 1.02 gigawatts | 204.97 gigawatts | 10 |
| 2020s | 608.85 gigawatts | 253.86 gigawatts | 1,202 gigawatts | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
More energy & mining data for China
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate 2.15 % change on previous year (2025)
- Coal consumption, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal consumption, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fuel imports 20.4% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is installed solar energy capacity in China?
- Installed solar energy capacity in China was 1,202 gigawatts in 2025, according to IRENA (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest installed solar energy capacity recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 1,202 gigawatts in 2025.
- What is the lowest installed solar energy capacity recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0335 gigawatts in 2000.
- How does China rank for installed solar energy capacity?
- China ranks 1st out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is installed solar energy capacity rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2,660.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from IRENA (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Installed solar energy capacity. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 26 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Total solar (on- and off-grid) electricity installed capacity, measured in gigawatts. This includes solar photovoltaic and concentrated solar power.