China's solar PV capacity grew from 0.9 GW in 2010 to 680 GW in 2025, outpacing the rest of the world and lifting its global share from 2.3% to 36.8%.

China Data Portal (2026). Retrieved from https://chinadata.live/data/solar-capacity-china-vs-world/. From China China’s solar PV capacity journey from 2010 to 2025 spans a dramatic range — from a barely measurable 0.

9 GW to a world-leading 680 GW , redefining global renewable energy dynamics. By the end of the period, China’s share of cumulative world capacity had climbed from just 2.3% to 36.

8%, according to data compiled by IRENA, IEA, and the National Energy Administration.

Top of the chart: 2025 In 2025, China installed an estimated 680 GW of solar photovoltaic capacity, making it the largest national fleet globally.

The world total that year reached 1,850 GW, with the rest of the world holding 1,170 GW. China’s share edged to 36.8%, slightly below the 2023 peak of 37.

4%, as other countries like India and the United States accelerated their own installations. The other end: 2010 Back in 2010, China had only 0.9 GW of solar PV capacity — a mere 2.3% of the global 40 GW.

The rest of the world, led by Germany and other early movers, accounted for 39.1 GW. The numbers reflect a Chinese solar industry still in its infancy, with policy support just beginning to take shape.

What separates the two The 15-year gap is a story of aggressive industrial policy, plummeting module costs, and massive grid investment.

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