China generated more solar electricity in 2025 than the United States, India, Japan and Germany combined. That comparison captures the scale of China's lead in a year when solar power reached a new global record.
According to Ember's Global Electricity Review 2026, global solar electricity generation reached approximately 2,778 terawatt-hours (TWh) in 2025, an increase of 30% from the previous year. Solar alone accounted for about three-quarters of the growth in worldwide electricity demand.
But which countries generated the most solar electricity, and where did production grow fastest?
Leading countries by solar electricity generation in 2025. Data: Ember Global Electricity Review 2026. Visualization: The Data Visual.
Solar Electricity Generation by Country: 2025 Rankings
China ranked first with 1,174.93 TWh of solar electricity generation, followed by the United States at 388.82 TWh and India at 195.99 TWh.
Japan ranked fourth with 101.06 TWh, while Germany completed the top five with 89.62 TWh. Brazil followed closely at 88.64 TWh, less than 1 TWh behind Germany.
The table below presents the 50 highest-ranked countries with available 2025 data, including their 2024 output and year-over-year growth.
Values are expressed in terawatt-hours (TWh). Rankings are based on 2025 generation, not installed solar capacity.
Key Findings From the 2025 Rankings
- China's extraordinary lead: At nearly 1,175 TWh, China generated approximately three times as much solar electricity as the United States.
- India's rapid expansion: Solar generation increased by nearly 37%, from 143.07 TWh in 2024 to 195.99 TWh in 2025.
- Pakistan's standout growth: Output jumped by approximately 85%, reaching 36.61 TWh and placing the country 12th among those ranked.
- Europe's leading producer: Germany generated 89.62 TWh, ahead of Spain's 62.90 TWh and Italy's 44.63 TWh.
China's Solar Growth Is Reshaping the Global Picture
China's position is not simply the result of having a large electricity system. The country also accounted for an exceptional share of new solar production.
Its solar generation rose by approximately 336 TWh between 2024 and 2025, representing more than half of the worldwide increase of 636 TWh reported by Ember.
The United States added about 85 TWh, while India contributed another 53 TWh.
Together, the five largest solar electricity producers accounted for approximately 70% of global solar generation in 2025.
These figures show how developments in a handful of major electricity markets can influence the global energy transition.
Fast Growth Is Not Limited to the Biggest Producers
The largest solar generators are not necessarily the fastest-growing.
Among the countries in the ranking, Uzbekistan recorded a rise from 2.90 TWh to 6.50 TWh, representing growth of approximately 124%. Sri Lanka's generation more than doubled, while Pakistan increased output by nearly 85%.
These percentage increases are striking, but their starting points matter. A smaller electricity market can record triple-digit growth while generating considerably less power than a large, established producer.
Growth was also uneven. Viet Nam's reported solar generation declined by approximately 10.9%, while Russia recorded a smaller decrease of around 2.7%. The ranking alone does not establish what caused these changes.
Why Solar Generation Matters More Than Capacity Alone
Installed solar capacity and electricity generation measure different things.
Capacity, usually expressed in gigawatts (GW), describes the rated output of installed equipment. Generation, measured in TWh, records how much electricity was actually produced over a period.
Solar electricity output depends on factors including sunlight, weather conditions, system performance and grid constraints.
The share of electricity generated from solar is another useful measure. A country can produce a large amount of solar electricity in absolute terms while relying on other energy sources for most of its total power supply.
For that reason, total generation, annual growth and solar's share of the electricity mix should be considered separately.
About the Data and Methodology
This ranking is based on Ember's Global Electricity Review 2026 dataset.
The supplied dataset contains 2025 solar generation figures for 92 countries, from which the 50 highest available values were selected. Countries without reported 2025 figures were excluded rather than assigned zero generation.
The 2025 figures are estimates based primarily on monthly electricity-generation data and historical annual baselines. They may be revised as more complete statistics become available.
The comparison uses available 2024 figures where possible. Ukraine's 2024 value was unavailable in the supplied data, so its annual growth rate was left blank.
This is a ranking of countries with available data, not a claim that every country worldwide has complete 2025 reporting.
Sources: Ember — Global Electricity Review 2026 and official supporting dataset and methodology.
The Data Visual | Facts. Data. Visualized.
0 Comments