Installed solar pv capacity in China
China: Installed solar pv capacity was 1,202 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
1,202
Change on year
up 35.5%
World rank
1st
of 218 countries
All-time high
1,202
in 2025
All-time low
0.0335
in 2000
Years of data
26
2000–2025
Installed solar pv capacity in China, 2000–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
China recorded 1,202 for installed solar pv 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 pv capacity in China peaked at 1,202 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.0335, 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 pv capacity in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 0.0335 | — |
| 2001 | 0.038 | +13.4% |
| 2002 | 0.0565 | +48.7% |
| 2003 | 0.0666 | +17.8% |
| 2004 | 0.0766 | +15.0% |
| 2005 | 0.1412 | +84.3% |
| 2006 | 0.1602 | +13.5% |
| 2007 | 0.199 | +24.2% |
| 2008 | 0.253 | +27.1% |
| 2009 | 0.4148 | +64.0% |
| 2010 | 1.02 | +146.3% |
| 2011 | 3.11 | +204.1% |
| 2012 | 6.72 | +116.2% |
| 2013 | 17.76 | +164.3% |
| 2014 | 28.4 | +59.9% |
| 2015 | 43.55 | +53.3% |
| 2016 | 77.82 | +78.7% |
| 2017 | 130.83 | +68.1% |
| 2018 | 175.26 | +34.0% |
| 2019 | 204.97 | +17.0% |
| 2020 | 253.86 | +23.9% |
| 2021 | 306.97 | +20.9% |
| 2022 | 393.03 | +28.0% |
| 2023 | 609.92 | +55.2% |
| 2024 | 887.1 | +45.4% |
| 2025 | 1,202 | +35.5% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 1,202 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.3169, 3793.4× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- China's 1,202 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.1563, 7692.1× the median. (35 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 0.1439 | 0.0335 | 0.4148 | 10 |
| 2010s | 68.94 | 1.02 | 204.97 | 10 |
| 2020s | 608.85 | 253.86 | 1,202 | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
More energy & mining data for China
- Fuel imports 18.1% (2025)
- Ores and metals imports 16.1% (2025)
- Fuel exports 1.4% (2025)
- Ores and metals exports 1.6% (2025)
- Gas production 2,641 terawatt-hours (2025)
- Fossil fuel production per person, by fuel 1,865 kilowatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel 2,641 terawatt-hours (2025)
- Gas production per person 1,865 kilowatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is installed solar pv capacity in China?
- Installed solar pv capacity in China was 1,202 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest installed solar pv capacity recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 1,202 in 2025.
- What is the lowest installed solar pv capacity recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0335 in 2000.
- How does China rank for installed solar pv capacity?
- China ranks 1st out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is installed solar pv 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Installed solar pv 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).