Solar (photovoltaic) panels cumulative capacity in China
China: Solar (photovoltaic) panels cumulative capacity was 1,200 gigawatts in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Solar (photovoltaic) panels cumulative capacity in China, 2000–2025
Source: IRENA (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in gigawatts.
Analysis
China recorded 1,200 gigawatts for solar (photovoltaic) panels cumulative capacity in 2025. That is the highest value across all 26 years on record.
The figure is up 35.5% on the previous year and up 2,678.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, solar (photovoltaic) panels cumulative capacity in China peaked at 1,200 gigawatts in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.0105 gigawatts, in 2000.
That places China 1st out of 199 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Solar (photovoltaic) panels cumulative capacity in China, year by year
| Year | gigawatts | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 0.0105 gigawatts | — |
| 2001 | 0.0105 gigawatts | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 0.0105 gigawatts | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 0.0106 gigawatts | +0.7% |
| 2004 | 0.0118 gigawatts | +11.3% |
| 2005 | 0.07 gigawatts | +493.2% |
| 2006 | 0.08 gigawatts | +14.3% |
| 2007 | 0.101 gigawatts | +26.3% |
| 2008 | 0.14 gigawatts | +38.6% |
| 2009 | 0.284 gigawatts | +102.9% |
| 2010 | 0.864 gigawatts | +204.2% |
| 2011 | 2.93 gigawatts | +239.1% |
| 2012 | 6.5 gigawatts | +121.8% |
| 2013 | 17.45 gigawatts | +168.5% |
| 2014 | 28.05 gigawatts | +60.7% |
| 2015 | 43.18 gigawatts | +53.9% |
| 2016 | 77.42 gigawatts | +79.3% |
| 2017 | 130.42 gigawatts | +68.5% |
| 2018 | 174.63 gigawatts | +33.9% |
| 2019 | 204.18 gigawatts | +16.9% |
| 2020 | 253.01 gigawatts | +23.9% |
| 2021 | 305.99 gigawatts | +20.9% |
| 2022 | 392.04 gigawatts | +28.1% |
| 2023 | 608.92 gigawatts | +55.3% |
| 2024 | 885.68 gigawatts | +45.5% |
| 2025 | 1,200 gigawatts | +35.5% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 1,200 gigawatts is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.474 gigawatts, 2531.6× the median. (52 countries reporting)
- China's 1,200 gigawatts is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.1229 gigawatts, 9763.3× the median. (35 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Solar (photovoltaic) panels cumulative capacity in China 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | +493.2% | 0.0118 gigawatts | 0.07 gigawatts |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 0.0729 gigawatts | 0.0105 gigawatts | 0.284 gigawatts | 10 |
| 2010s | 68.56 gigawatts | 0.864 gigawatts | 204.18 gigawatts | 10 |
| 2020s | 607.59 gigawatts | 253.01 gigawatts | 1,200 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 solar (photovoltaic) panels cumulative capacity in China?
- Solar (photovoltaic) panels cumulative capacity in China was 1,200 gigawatts in 2025, according to IRENA (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest solar (photovoltaic) panels cumulative capacity recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 1,200 gigawatts in 2025.
- What is the lowest solar (photovoltaic) panels cumulative capacity recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0105 gigawatts in 2000.
- How does China rank for solar (photovoltaic) panels cumulative capacity?
- China ranks 1st out of 199 countries with data for 2025.
- Is solar (photovoltaic) panels cumulative capacity rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2,678.9%. 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 Solar (photovoltaic) panels cumulative 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
Solar photovoltaic (on-grid) electricity installed capacity, measured in gigawatts.