The world’s total installed solar PV capacity reached 2.2 terawatts by the end of 2024, with China alone contributing a staggering 1 terawatt—nearly half of the global total.

This key insight comes from the newly released report by the International Energy Agency’s Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme (IEA-PVPS), which offers a comprehensive review of solar market growth and technology trends over the past year.

In 2024, the world added 602GW of new solar capacity—up from 456GW in 2023 and more than double the 242GW added in 2022. China led the way with 357.3GW of new installations, but the growth story doesn’t stop there.

Thirty-four countries added at least 1GW of new capacity last year. India stood out with 31.9GW of new capacity—almost double its 2023 additions—driven in part by a massive 73GW utility-scale renewable tender.

The EU retained its position as the second-largest regional market for new installations for the fifth consecutive year, while the US also maintained strong growth. Together with China and India, these four markets remain the global leaders for both annual additions and total installed capacity.

One surprising entry in the top five for new capacity: Pakistan. The country added a record 17GW in 2024, largely driven by rooftop solar adoption amid rising energy costs. According to the Pakistan Solar Association, more households and businesses are turning to solar to reduce dependence on the national grid. BloombergNEF reported that grid power demand in Pakistan dropped by 9.1% year-on-year in 2023.

The global PV landscape continues to evolve rapidly—driven by falling technology costs, supportive policies, and urgent energy transition goals. The IEA-PVPS report underscores how widespread and accelerating this momentum has become.