Share of electricity generation from solar in United States
United States: Share of electricity generation from solar was 8.6% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Share of electricity generation from solar in United States, 1985–2025
Source: Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, share of electricity generation from solar in United States stood at 8.6%. That is the highest value across all 41 years on record.
That represents a change of up 24.4% on the previous year and up 800.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of electricity generation from solar in United States peaked at 8.6% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1988.
United States ranks 62nd of 213 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 5 |
| 1990s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.0% | 0.0% | 2.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.5% | 3.2% | 8.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near United States
- 59 Barbados 9.0% compare
- 60 Senegal 8.9% compare
- 61 Croatia 8.8% compare
- 63 Guam 8.6% compare
- 64 United Arab Emirates 8.6% compare
- 65 French Polynesia 8.3% compare
- 65 New Caledonia 8.3% compare
More energy & mining data for United States
- Fuel imports 7.5% (2024)
- Ores and metals imports 2.1% (2024)
- Ores and metals exports 2.9% (2024)
- Gas production 10,737 terawatt-hours (2025)
- Fossil fuel production per person, by fuel 30,919 kilowatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel 10,737 terawatt-hours (2025)
- Gas production per person 30,919 kilowatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fuel exports 18.3% (2024)
- Electric power transmission and distribution losses 5.3% (2024)
- Share of dietary energy supply from carbohydrates vs. GDP per capita 45.6% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of electricity generation from solar in United States?
- Share of electricity generation from solar in United States was 8.6% in 2025, according to Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of electricity generation from solar recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 8.6% in 2025.
- What is the lowest share of electricity generation from solar recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1988.
- How does United States rank for share of electricity generation from solar?
- United States ranks 62nd out of 213 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of electricity generation from solar rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 800.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of electricity generation from solar. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 41 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Measured as a percentage of total electricity produced in the country or region.