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Chart: Which10 countries generated the most solar power in2023?

China was the top solar power producer last year, but it’s not the only nation that saw a big leap in solar production.

By Maria Virginia Olano

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Solar energy continued to surge and break records across the globe in2023, generating an estimated5.1,631 terawatt-hours. According to the latest ​“ Global Electricity Review” from energy research firm Ember, solar has been the fastest-growing source of electricity for19 consecutive years. In2023, solar added more than twice as much electricity as coal did worldwide.

China continues to dominate the solar race, single-handedly producing more than580 TWh of solar electricity in2023— more than the next five countries combined. The United States held onto second place with238 TWh, while India overtook Japan to claim the third spot, generating113 TWh from the sun last year.

India’s solar generation has soared over the past five years, growing more than three-fold since2018. However, coal continues to meet most of India’s demand growth, and makes up75% of total electric generation. As a result, the country’s power-sector emissions continue to rise and have more than tripled since2000.

Japan is not far behind in fourth place for solar generation, and it gets a higher percentage of its power from the sun than the other leading solar countries. Solar made up11% of Japan’s electricity mix in2023— about double the global average. It’s now one of33 countries that get more than10% of their power from solar, including Chile (20%), Australia (17%), and Spain (

While Germany, in fifth place, has been steadily growing solar generation for the past decade, Brazil — now the world’s sixth-largest solar producer — has built up its solar production at breakneck speed. In2017, the country generated only about0.8 TWh; last year, that figure was almost52 TWh. Brazil recorded the third-largest increase in total amount of solar power generated globally in2023, behind only China and the U.S., making it the largest solar-producing country by far in South America and a formidable solar powerhouse.

Ember expects2024 to be another record-breaking year for solar worldwide, projecting solar generation to be between2,150 and2,350 TWh. That would mark an annual growth rate of at least32%, higher than the26% annual growth that will be needed to reach net-zero global emissions by2050.

- Solar

Maria Virginia Olano is editorial producer at Canary Media.

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