China’s solar breakaway · 2001–2025

Name: China’s solar breakaway · 2001–2025
Uploaded: 2026-10-25T20:21:52Z
Description: China reaches 50.2% of global installed solar capacity in 2025. Follow its breakaway against nine other major solar markets from 2001–2025.

China reaches 50.2% of global installed solar capacity in 2025. Follow its breakaway against nine other major solar markets from 2001–2025.

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About this chart

Total installed solar capacity (GW) · PV and CSP, on/off-grid · 2001–2025 · 25 annual observations for each of ten countries

Sources, method and credits

IRENA, Renewable Energy Statistics 2026, July release. The ten largest national solar capacity totals in 2025 form a fixed cohort for 2001–2025; membership is not recalculated each year. Original workbook values are cross-checked with Our World in Data. Installed capacity, not electricity generated. Animated transitions are illustrative. Full sources: https://www.chartglow.app/examples/india-solar-leap-20261026/sources.html

© IRENA 2026; Our World in Data processing: CC BY 4.0. Photo: USDA/David Kosling, 9 August 2024, public domain (US federal work); illustrative US farm, resized, cropped and faded. Flags: Flagcdn. No generated imagery or endorsement.

Original data source