In the U.S. alone, solar has expanded by an average of 28% per year over the past decade, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). Globally, solar made up 81% of new renewable energy capacity added in 2024, making it the world’s fastest-growing power source.
But what does “most used” really mean when it comes to solar? Depending on whether you measure by total installed capacity, per capita adoption, or projected growth, the picture shifts. In this article, we’ll break down which countries are leading the way in solar energy, the factors driving their adoption, and what these global trends mean for homeowners thinking about going solar.
In this article
- Global solar capacity at a glance
- Top 10 countries for solar energy use
- Deep dive into the top 3 leading countries in solar energy usage
- Total capacity vs. per capita capacity
- Factors influencing high solar adoption
- Why this matters for homeowners
- Implications for future global solar growth
- Frequently asked questions
Global solar capacity at a glance
Global solar capacity surpassed a whopping 2 terawatts (TW) in 2024, which was double the capacity of two years before. And that growth is widespread, with 34 countries having installed more than 1 gigawatt (GW) of solar in 2024, five more countries than in 2023, according to The International Renewable Energy Agency.
Total solar capacity is simply measured by adding the kilowatts (kW) of energy that all a nation’s solar panels can produce under optimal circumstances. When we get to per capita capacity below, it’s measured by dividing total capacity by population to determine the average kW of solar energy produced per person.
| Country | Solar Capacity in 2024 |
| China | 1,048.5 GW |
| US | 224.1 GW |
| India | 124.6 GW |
| Germany | 99.8 GW |
| Japan | 96.9 GW |
| Source: International Energy Agency |
Top 10 countries for solar energy use
Solar capacity varies for any number of reasons, from government incentives for adoption and land availability for solar equipment, to manufacturing capabilities in the country. As we said above, “solar capacity” just refers to how much solar-power generation a country could produce under ideal conditions — not necessarily what it does produce every hour.
We showed the top 5 countries by capacity above, below we take a look at the top ten countries for solar capacity by their percentage of total global capacity.
- China, 47.7%
- U.S., 10.2%
- India, 5.7%
- Germany, 4.5%
- Japan, 4.4%
- Brazil, 2.4%
- Spain, 2.1%
- Australia, 1.8%
- Italy, 1.7%
- South Korea, 1.4%
Deep dive into the top 3 leading countries in solar energy usage
Aside from total solar capacity, capacity per capita and growth rate in recent years can help illustrate a country’s commitment to solar. China leads the world by far in solar capacity, accounting for 47.7% of the world’s solar as seen in the list above. While the U.S. and India are smaller pieces of the pie, they still contribute to global solar capacity and show interesting trends in solar adoption that will likely lead to more growth in the future.
China
China has 1,048.5 GW of installed solar capacity, more than four times that of the U.S. China also leads the world in solar manufacturing, producing 80% of the world’s photovoltaic solar panels. Solar is a main export for China, and government policies have helped to increase production while lowering costs, according to the International Energy Agency. The country has invested more than $50 billion in photovoltaic (PV) supply capacity, and PV exports from China totalled more than $30 billion in 2021.
United States
The U.S. has a total solar capacity of 224.1 GW, accounting for a little over 10.2% of global solar capacity. Thanks to the soon-to-end Residential Clean Energy Credit and state-level incentives, solar power production has been on an exponential rise over the past decade. And more than half of the electricity capacity adopted on the grid in the U.S. in the first half of 2025 was solar.
India
India ranks third in the world for total solar capacity with 124.6 GW. Historically a big buyer of Chinese solar panels, India has introduced government incentives to boost its own solar manufacturing. The country achieved its clean energy target of 50% electricity capacity not powered by fossil fuels ahead of its 2030 deadline, thanks in part to its large-scale solar parks.
Total capacity vs. per capita capacity
While total capacity measures potential solar usage across the country, per capita capacity divides that number by population, giving an average solar capacity per person. Because populations vary greatly, the top five countries for solar capacity are different from the top five countries with the highest solar capacity per capita.
For example, Australia has the highest per capita solar capacity worldwide at 1,866 kWh, but its total solar capacity only accounts for 1.6% of global solar capacity. See the two tables below that compare total solar capacity to per capita solar capacity by country.
Top countries for total solar capacity
| Country | Total Solar Capacity | Per Capita Solar Capacity |
| China | 1,048.5 GW | 588 kWh |
| U.S. | 224.1 GW | 878 kWh |
| India | 124.6 GW | 92 kWh |
| Germany | 99.8 GW | 840 kWh |
| Japan | 96.9 GW | 824 kWh |
| Source: International Energy Agency | Source: Our World in Data |
Top countries for per capita solar capacity
| Country | Per Capita Solar Capacity | Total Solar Capacity |
| Australia | 1,866 kWh | 35.9 GW |
| United Arab Emirates | 1,379 kWh | 6.5 GW |
| Spain | 1,223 kWh | 38.6 GW |
| Greece | 1,221 kWh | 9.3 GW |
| Netherlands | 1,188 kWh | 24.1 GW |
| Source: Our World in Data | Source: Our World in Data |
Factors influencing high solar adoption
High solar adoption depends on more than just sunshine. Policy frameworks, financing options, grid infrastructure, and public engagement all play a critical role in whether countries turn solar potential into real capacity. Nations with clear incentives, like subsidies or tax credits, tend to see faster residential and utility-scale adoption because they reduce upfront costs and build consumer trust.
For example, the Netherlands ranks fifth in per capita global solar capacity despite limited land and sunshine. This is because strong subsidies for residential solar systems and innovative solar farms in urban spaces have fueled the rise in solar.
By contrast, regions like Africa and parts of Latin America have some of the highest solar irradiance in the world but still face low adoption. Weak grid infrastructure, financing barriers, and limited policy support have slowed growth. However, the lower cost of solar equipment may turn the tide in Africa, as the continent imports a record number of Chinese-manufactured solar panels.
Challenges and trends shaping global solar adoption
Despite recent growth, global solar adoption still faces challenges, including grid integration, policy changes, and land availability. Intermittency, which refers to the unpredictability of solar, also remains an issue, since solar production drops at night or during poor weather. Improving storage and backup technologies (like large-scale battery installations) are helping make this less of an issue. Policy and regulation are also both influential. Shifts in subsidies, tariffs, or net metering rules can dramatically change the economics of going solar for both individuals and businesses. On the supply side, the global market is heavily dependent on China’s solar manufacturing dominance, though rising production in the U.S., India, and the EU is starting to diversify the supply chain. Together, these factors highlight that while solar adoption is accelerating, growth depends as much on economics and infrastructure as on the technology itself.
Why this matters for homeowners
Rising solar adoption goes hand in hand with falling solar costs, meaning it’s only getting more affordable for homeowners to install solar panels. In fact, as global solar capacity has doubled, solar panel prices have decreased by 20%. Global innovation, lower-cost panels, and more financing options are making solar energy more accessible worldwide.
If you’re a homeowner thinking about going solar, there’s never been a better time, despite recent policy changes.
Implications for future global solar growth
Current adoption patterns suggest solar will remain the fastest-growing renewable source worldwide. The U.S., China, and India dominate in total installed capacity, while smaller nations like Australia lead on a per-capita basis — showing that “most used” depends on how you measure it. From the rising popularity of higher-efficiency bifacial solar panels to the potential for solar growth in Africa, the world is steadily climbing toward the International Renewable Energy Agency’s goal of renewable resources powering 90% of global electricity by 2050.
As technology advances, solar will only become more accessible for homeowners. That means solar is no longer just a trend in leading markets but a practical investment almost anywhere.
See how much you could save with solar in your area. Get your personalized quote today at Aurora’s free solar estimate tool.
Frequently asked questions
Which country has the highest solar energy capacity?
China has the highest solar energy capacity in the world at 1,048.5 GW. This is measured by summing the total capacity of all PV installations in the country.
How does total capacity differ from per capita solar capacity?
While total capacity is the sum of the electrical capacity from all of the solar plants and systems, per capita solar capacity is that total capacity divided by the country’s population. Both of these numbers are important indicators for analyzing solar adoption worldwide because they illustrate solar power on a large scale and at the individual level.
What role do government incentives play in solar adoption?
Government incentives, like tax credits or feed-in tariffs, can help to increase solar adoption and deployment, like they have in the U.S. Government policies can also affect solar manufacturing, as is the case in China, increasing equipment production while lowering costs.
Can solar energy usage be compared across regions with different climates?
Total solar capacity is a country’s maximum potential for solar production, but solar usage may vary in reality because of the climate. Organizations like the International Energy Agency account for this, comparing total capacity to actual production.
How will solar energy usage trends evolve over the next decade?
Solar adoption domestically and worldwide doesn’t show any signs of stopping. Globally, the International Energy Agency projects that solar PV will be the largest renewable energy source by 2029, accounting for 80% of the world’s global renewable energy capacity by 2030.
