Which countries lead the world in solar power? We analyzed installed capacity, growth rates, and actual output across 50+ nations.

Solar energy capacity has grown faster than any other power source in history. Global installed capacity surpassed 1,800 GW in early 2026—enough to power every home in Europe twice over.

But raw capacity numbers don’t tell the whole story. Some countries build solar farms that sit idle. Others generate far more electricity per panel than their neighbors.

This guide ranks the world’s top solar nations by installed capacity, examines which countries are growing fastest, and explains why capacity alone doesn’t equal clean energy success.

Global Solar Capacity: Key Statistics (2026)

Before diving into country rankings, here’s the global picture:

Source: IRENA, IEA, national grid operators, Gridvara analysis

Top 20 Countries by Solar Capacity (2026)

Here’s the definitive ranking of solar power capacity by country:

Source: IRENA Global Renewable Capacity Statistics 2026, national energy agencies

China: The Undisputed Solar Superpower

China’s dominance in solar energy is staggering. With 752.4 GW of installed capacity, China has:

• More solar capacity than the next 5 countries combined
• 40.8% of all solar panels on Earth
• Added 137 GW in 2025 alone—more than the entire US installed base

How did China get here? Three factors:

1. Manufacturing Dominance

China produces 80% of the world’s solar panels. This gives Chinese developers access to panels at 20-30% below international prices.

2. Government Targets

China’s 14th Five-Year Plan set aggressive renewable targets. Provincial governments compete to exceed quotas, creating a race to build.

3. Desert Land Availability

The Gobi Desert and western provinces offer vast, cheap land with high solar irradiance—ideal conditions for utility-scale solar.

The challenge: China’s grid infrastructure hasn’t kept pace with solar buildout. Curtailment rates in some western provinces exceed 15%, meaning solar farms are routinely told to stop generating because the grid can’t absorb the power.

Fastest Growing Solar Markets (2025-2026)

Raw capacity rankings favor large economies. Growth rates reveal where solar is expanding fastest:

Key insight: Emerging markets are outpacing developed economies. South Africa, Brazil, and Chile all grew faster than any G7 nation.

Solar Capacity Per Capita: A Different Ranking

Large countries naturally have more solar. Capacity per capita reveals which nations have invested most relative to their population:

Australia and the Netherlands lead the world in solar per person—both exceeding 1,400 watts per capita. For context, the global average is just 230 watts per capita.

Installed Capacity vs Actual Generation

Here’s where rankings get complicated.

A solar panel in Arizona generates more electricity than an identical panel in Germany. Why? More sunlight hours and higher solar irradiance.

Capacity factor measures how much electricity a solar installation actually produces compared to its theoretical maximum:

Key insight: Chile’s solar farms produce electricity at nearly 27% capacity factor—more than double Germany’s 11.2%. A solar panel in the Atacama Desert generates 2.4x more electricity annually than the same panel in Bavaria.

Why Capacity Factor Matters for Investors

If you’re evaluating solar markets, capacity factor dramatically affects project economics:

• High capacity factor (>20%): Chile, Australia, Middle East, US Southwest
• Medium capacity factor (15-20%): Spain, Italy, Southern US, India
• Low capacity factor (<15%): Germany, UK, Japan, Northern Europe

A 100 MW solar farm in Chile generates ~235 GWh annually. The same 100 MW farm in Germany generates ~98 GWh.

Same investment. 2.4x more electricity.

Solar Energy as Share of Total Electricity

Which countries get the largest share of their electricity from solar?

Despite having 40% of global solar capacity, China only gets 5.8% of its electricity from solar. Why? China’s total electricity consumption is enormous—over 9,000 TWh annually—and coal still dominates.

Australia leads the world with 17.2% of electricity from solar, followed closely by Chile at 16.8%.

The Road to 2030: Projected Solar Growth

The IEA projects global solar capacity will reach 3,000+ GW by 2030. Here’s where growth is expected:

India is projected to more than double its capacity by 2030, driven by the government’s 500 GW renewable energy target.

Key Takeaways

1. China dominates with 40.8% of global solar capacity—more than the next 5 countries combined
2. Emerging markets are growing fastest—South Africa (+31%), Brazil (+29%), and Chile (+22%) outpace all G7 nations
3. Australia and Netherlands lead per capita—both exceed 1,400 watts of solar per person
4. Capacity ≠ generation—a solar panel in Chile produces 2.4x more electricity than the same panel in Germany
5. Australia gets 17% of electricity from solar—the highest share of any major economy
6. Global solar will reach 3,000+ GW by 2030—India projected to grow fastest (+124%)

Methodology

Capacity data sourced from IRENA, IEA, and national energy agencies. Generation data from grid operators and EMBER. Per capita calculations use UN population estimates for 2026. Capacity factors calculated from annual generation divided by theoretical maximum output. Projections based on IEA World Energy Outlook 2025 and national energy plans.

Updated January 2026. Data refreshed quarterly.