The Netherlands is rapidly closing the gap with Australia in the global race for solar energy adoption, maintaining its position as the world’s second-largest market for solar panel capacity per capita. To secure a spot in the top 10 rankings, nations must now exceed a threshold of 1 kilowatt-peak of installed capacity per inhabitant. While Australia remains the global leader with 1.7 kilowatt-peak per person, the Netherlands has surpassed the 1.5-kilowatt-peak milestone, significantly narrowing the performance margin between the two countries compared to the previous year.
The global landscape is increasingly dominated by European nations, which occupy nine of the top ten spots. Germany holds the third position, followed by Austria and Estonia, both of which have experienced rapid deployment of solar modules. Switzerland is the only non-European Union country to feature in this elite group. The competitive distance between these leaders is shrinking, driven by impressive growth rates in countries like Austria and Estonia, the latter of which has led the world in new annual installations per capita for two consecutive years.
Outside of Europe, Saudi Arabia has emerged as a notable player, becoming the only Middle Eastern market to break into the top 10, reflecting a surge in large-scale solar project development. Meanwhile, China is making significant strides, climbing to 13th place with approximately 964 watt-peak per person. By surpassing Japan, Belgium, and Luxembourg, China highlights the shifting dynamics of the global market. Despite this growth, China remains just outside the top 10, illustrating that the current rankings are heavily influenced by smaller nations with high per-capita installation volumes.
Large, populous nations still face challenges in reaching these per-capita benchmarks. The United States currently ranks 19th with 769 watt-peak per inhabitant, while India sits at 71st with 114 watt-peak per person, underscoring the vast untapped potential in these regions. On a continental level, Europe continues to lead with an average of 581 watt-peak per inhabitant. Driven by China’s expansion, the Asia-Pacific region has overtaken the Americas for the first time, reaching 427 watt-peak per person. Globally, the average solar capacity per capita has risen from 276 to 355 watt-peak.