Leading Countries by Renewable Electricity Share 2023

In 2023, the global transition to clean energy reached a historic milestone as renewable sources provided over 30 percent of the world's electricity for the first time. This growth was primarily driven by record-breaking installations of solar and wind power, with China alone accounting for more than half of the world's solar additions. While the global average sits at roughly 30.3 percent, performance varies dramatically across different regions and economic structures.

Several nations have already achieved near-total decarbonization of their power grids. Countries like Albania, Bhutan, Paraguay, and Iceland operate on 100 percent renewable electricity, largely due to abundant hydroelectric and geothermal resources. Among major economies, Brazil and Norway stand out for maintaining shares above 85 percent. In contrast, the European Union has seen rapid progress with an average of 44 percent in 2023, led by Germany and Spain, while large economies like the United States and India remain in the 20 to 22 percent range as they work to retire coal and gas infrastructure.

Sources: Ember Global Electricity Review 2024, International Energy Agency (IEA), IRENA, Our World in Data.