Solar electricity generation — all countries

Solar electricity generation — China

Solar electricity generation in China in 2025 — 1,174.94 TWh. Ranked 1 in the world out of 91. Since 2000, the indicator has risen by 5,874,600%.

2025 1,174.94 TWh +40.03% vs 2024
World rank 1of 91
Period maximum 1,174.94 TWh2025
Period minimum 0.02 TWh2000

Trend over time

2000–2025 · terawatt-hours

Solar electricity generation — China, 2000–202505001,0001,5002000200320062009201220152018202120242000: 0.02 TWh2001: 0.03 TWh2002: 0.05 TWh2003: 0.06 TWh2004: 0.08 TWh2005: 0.08 TWh2006: 0.09 TWh2007: 0.11 TWh2008: 0.15 TWh2009: 0.28 TWh2010: 0.7 TWh2011: 2.61 TWh2012: 3.59 TWh2013: 8.37 TWh2014: 23.51 TWh2015: 39.48 TWh2016: 66.53 TWh2017: 117.8 TWh2018: 176.9 TWh2019: 224 TWh2020: 261.1 TWh2021: 327 TWh2022: 427.27 TWh2023: 584.15 TWh2024: 839.04 TWh2025: 1,174.94 TWh
Change over the period: +1,174.92 (+5,874,600%) Average annual rate: 55.15 %

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: China

China 1,174.94 TWh
Eastern Asia computed 1,330.15 TWh
Solar electricity generation — China, by year China All countries CSV XLSX
Year TWh Change Change, %
2025 1,174.94 +335.9 +40.03%
2024 839.04 +254.89 +43.63%
2023 584.15 +156.88 +36.72%
2022 427.27 +100.27 +30.66%
2021 327 +65.9 +25.24%
2020 261.1 +37.1 +16.56%
2019 224 +47.1 +26.63%
2018 176.9 +59.1 +50.17%
2017 117.8 +51.27 +77.06%
2016 66.53 +27.05 +68.52%
2015 39.48 +15.97 +67.93%
2014 23.51 +15.14 +180.88%
2013 8.37 +4.78 +133.15%
2012 3.59 +0.98 +37.55%
2011 2.61 +1.91 +272.86%
2010 0.7 +0.42 +150%
2009 0.28 +0.13 +86.67%
2008 0.15 +0.04 +36.36%
2007 0.11 +0.02 +22.22%
2006 0.09 +0.01 +12.5%
2005 0.08 +0 +0%
2004 0.08 +0.02 +33.33%
2003 0.06 +0.01 +20%
2002 0.05 +0.02 +66.67%
2001 0.03 +0.01 +50%
2000 0.02

Eastern Asia, 2025

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

About the indicator

Electricity generated by solar plants over the year, in terawatt-hours. The absolute figure answers a different question than the share: a country with a small solar share but a huge power system generates more of it than the leader by share. China produces more solar electricity than all of Europe, though dozens of countries beat it on share. The series is also convenient because it shows the real contribution to displacing fuel: the share rises even when total generation falls.

Important: Generation rather than installed capacity: solar runs at a capacity factor of about 15%, so gigawatts of capacity and terawatt-hours of output do not map onto each other directly. The series starts in 2000.

Source: Yearly Electricity Data (Ember), license CC BY 4.0.