Installed solar energy capacity in France
France: Installed solar energy capacity was 31.44 gigawatts in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Installed solar energy capacity in France, 2000–2025
Source: IRENA (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in gigawatts.
Analysis
The most recent figure for installed solar energy capacity in France is 31.44 gigawatts, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 26 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 22.5% on the previous year and up 361.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, installed solar energy capacity in France peaked at 31.44 gigawatts in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.007 gigawatts, in 2000.
France ranks 11th 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 France, year by year
| Year | gigawatts | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 0.007 gigawatts | — |
| 2001 | 0.007 gigawatts | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 0.008 gigawatts | +14.3% |
| 2003 | 0.009 gigawatts | +12.5% |
| 2004 | 0.011 gigawatts | +22.2% |
| 2005 | 0.013 gigawatts | +18.2% |
| 2006 | 0.015 gigawatts | +15.4% |
| 2007 | 0.026 gigawatts | +73.3% |
| 2008 | 0.08 gigawatts | +207.7% |
| 2009 | 0.277 gigawatts | +246.2% |
| 2010 | 1.04 gigawatts | +276.9% |
| 2011 | 2.99 gigawatts | +186.3% |
| 2012 | 4.3 gigawatts | +43.9% |
| 2013 | 5.16 gigawatts | +20.0% |
| 2014 | 5.86 gigawatts | +13.6% |
| 2015 | 6.82 gigawatts | +16.3% |
| 2016 | 7.32 gigawatts | +7.3% |
| 2017 | 7.66 gigawatts | +4.6% |
| 2018 | 8.86 gigawatts | +15.8% |
| 2019 | 9.96 gigawatts | +12.4% |
| 2020 | 11.29 gigawatts | +13.3% |
| 2021 | 14.39 gigawatts | +27.5% |
| 2022 | 16.99 gigawatts | +18.1% |
| 2023 | 20.32 gigawatts | +19.6% |
| 2024 | 25.67 gigawatts | +26.3% |
| 2025 | 31.44 gigawatts | +22.5% |
France compared with similar countries
- France's 31.44 gigawatts is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.01 gigawatts, 31.3× the median. (76 countries reporting)
- France's 31.44 gigawatts is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1.57 gigawatts, 20.0× the median. (49 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Installed solar energy capacity in France changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | +276.9% | 0.277 gigawatts | 1.04 gigawatts |
| 2009 | +246.2% | 0.08 gigawatts | 0.277 gigawatts |
| 2008 | +207.7% | 0.026 gigawatts | 0.08 gigawatts |
| 2011 | +186.3% | 1.04 gigawatts | 2.99 gigawatts |
| 2007 | +73.3% | 0.015 gigawatts | 0.026 gigawatts |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 0.0453 gigawatts | 0.007 gigawatts | 0.277 gigawatts | 10 |
| 2010s | 6 gigawatts | 1.04 gigawatts | 9.96 gigawatts | 10 |
| 2020s | 20.02 gigawatts | 11.29 gigawatts | 31.44 gigawatts | 6 |
Countries ranked near France
More energy & mining data for France
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate 0.2519 % 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 (2024)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fuel imports 12.7% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is installed solar energy capacity in France?
- Installed solar energy capacity in France was 31.44 gigawatts in 2025, according to IRENA (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest installed solar energy capacity recorded in France?
- The highest recorded value was 31.44 gigawatts in 2025.
- What is the lowest installed solar energy capacity recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.007 gigawatts in 2000.
- How does France rank for installed solar energy capacity?
- France ranks 11th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is installed solar energy capacity rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is up 361.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this France 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.