China Has the Most Hydro Capacity, 377 GW in 2024
Ember's latest complete year of installed capacity data is 2024. Among the 83 countries with at least 1.00 GW of hydro capacity in 2024, China has the most, 377 GW, and it also added the most since 2019, +49.5 GW. Sudan ran its hydro plants at the highest capacity factor, 88.5%. Worldwide, hydro capacity was 1,277 GW in 2024, against 1,192 GW in 2019.
Key Facts
- The latest complete Ember year of installed capacity data is 2024; each country is compared with its own 2019 and 2014 figures.
- World hydro capacity was 1,277 GW in 2024, 1,192 GW in 2019 and 1,070 GW in 2014.
- World hydro generation was 4,444 TWh in 2024, a capacity factor of 39.6% on 1,277 GW.
- China has the most hydro capacity: 377 GW in 2024, generating 1,364 TWh.
- Over 2019 to 2024, China added the most hydro capacity: +49.5 GW, to 377 GW.
- Over 2014 to 2024, China added the most hydro capacity: +94.5 GW, to 377 GW.
- Nepal grew fastest in percentage terms since 2019 among countries that already had 1.00 GW or more: +184%.
- Capacity factor in 2024 ranged from 5.7% in Syria to 88.5% in Sudan, across 83 countries with a usable figure.
Countries With the Most Hydro Capacity, 2024
Ember, 2009 to 2024| Year | China | Brazil | United States | Canada | Russia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 183 GW | 79.0 GW | 82.2 GW | 74.5 GW | 46.1 GW |
| 2010 | 199 GW | 81.1 GW | 82.5 GW | 74.9 GW | 46.2 GW |
| 2011 | 215 GW | 83.0 GW | 82.4 GW | 75.4 GW | 46.3 GW |
| 2012 | 229 GW | 87.4 GW | 82.4 GW | 75.4 GW | 48.2 GW |
| 2013 | 259 GW | 92.0 GW | 82.9 GW | 75.3 GW | 48.9 GW |
| 2014 | 283 GW | 92.9 GW | 83.4 GW | 75.3 GW | 49.3 GW |
| 2015 | 297 GW | 94.8 GW | 83.4 GW | 79.2 GW | 49.4 GW |
| 2016 | 305 GW | 107 GW | 83.7 GW | 80.1 GW | 49.7 GW |
| 2017 | 314 GW | 108 GW | 83.6 GW | 80.7 GW | 50.0 GW |
| 2018 | 322 GW | 108 GW | 83.7 GW | 81.4 GW | 50.1 GW |
| 2019 | 328 GW | 109 GW | 83.6 GW | 81.4 GW | 51.0 GW |
| 2020 | 339 GW | 109 GW | 83.8 GW | 81.2 GW | 51.1 GW |
| 2021 | 355 GW | 109 GW | 84.3 GW | 82.9 GW | 51.2 GW |
| 2022 | 368 GW | 110 GW | 84.4 GW | 83.5 GW | 51.5 GW |
| 2023 | 371 GW | 110 GW | 84.3 GW | 83.5 GW | 54.2 GW |
| 2024 | 377 GW | 110 GW | 84.2 GW | 83.5 GW | 51.7 GW |
Hydro Capacity, Growth and Capacity Factor by Country, 2024
83 countries| Country | Capacity 2024 | Change since 2019 | Growth since 2019 | Change since 2014 | Growth since 2014 | Generation 2024 | Capacity factor 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | 377 GW | +49.5 GW | +15% | +94.5 GW | +33% | 1,364 TWh | 41.2% |
| Brazil | 110 GW | +890 MW | +1% | +17.1 GW | +18% | 413 TWh | 42.8% |
| United States | 84.2 GW | +530 MW | +1% | +760 MW | +1% | 237 TWh | 32.1% |
| Canada | 83.5 GW | +2.10 GW | +3% | +8.20 GW | +11% | 343 TWh | 46.8% |
| Russia | 51.7 GW | +770 MW | +2% | +2.45 GW | +5% | 211 TWh | 46.3% |
| India | 47.5 GW | +2.02 GW | +4% | +6.89 GW | +17% | 157 TWh | 37.5% |
| Norway | 34.6 GW | +1.75 GW | +5% | +3.31 GW | +11% | 140 TWh | 46.0% |
| Turkey | 32.2 GW | +3.70 GW | +13% | +8.56 GW | +36% | 74.6 TWh | 26.4% |
| Japan | 28.2 GW | +90 MW | +0% | +360 MW | +1% | 79.5 TWh | 32.0% |
| France | 24.3 GW | +160 MW | +1% | +450 MW | +2% | 71.1 TWh | 33.3% |
| Vietnam | 23.7 GW | +3.38 GW | +17% | +7.96 GW | +51% | 88.7 TWh | 42.6% |
| Italy | 19.3 GW | +720 MW | +4% | +1.20 GW | +7% | 53.1 TWh | 31.3% |
| Venezuela | 16.9 GW | +80 MW | +0% | +2.03 GW | +14% | 73.0 TWh | 49.1% |
| Spain | 16.8 GW | +30 MW | +0% | +920 MW | +6% | 34.4 TWh | 23.3% |
| Sweden | 16.3 GW | -190 MW | -1% | +370 MW | +2% | 64.6 TWh | 45.2% |
| Switzerland | 16.0 GW | +1.02 GW | +7% | +2.74 GW | +21% | 44.9 TWh | 31.9% |
| Austria | 15.2 GW | +590 MW | +4% | +1.66 GW | +12% | 45.7 TWh | 34.3% |
| Colombia | 13.2 GW | +1.29 GW | +11% | +2.30 GW | +21% | 48.9 TWh | 42.1% |
| Mexico | 12.8 GW | -240 MW | -2% | +380 MW | +3% | 23.5 TWh | 20.9% |
| Iran | 11.8 GW | +640 MW | +6% | +1.00 GW | +9% | 18.9 TWh | 18.2% |
| Pakistan | 11.5 GW | +1.60 GW | +16% | +4.30 GW | +60% | 38.4 TWh | 37.9% |
| Laos | 10.2 GW | +3.96 GW | +64% | +6.90 GW | +210% | 40.0 TWh | 44.7% |
| Argentina | 9.20 GW | -1.14 GW | -11% | -940 MW | -9% | 29.7 TWh | 36.7% |
| Paraguay | 8.82 GW | 0 GW | 0% | +20 MW | +0% | 42.2 TWh | 54.4% |
| Portugal | 8.36 GW | +1.10 GW | +15% | +2.64 GW | +46% | 14.9 TWh | 20.3% |
| Australia | 7.71 GW | 0 GW | 0% | +250 MW | +3% | 12.9 TWh | 19.0% |
| Chile | 7.46 GW | +1.12 GW | +18% | +1.01 GW | +16% | 26.0 TWh | 39.7% |
| Indonesia | 7.05 GW | +1.07 GW | +18% | +1.81 GW | +35% | 27.3 TWh | 44.1% |
| Romania | 6.57 GW | -20 MW | -0% | +50 MW | +1% | 14.2 TWh | 24.6% |
| Malaysia | 6.27 GW | +80 MW | +1% | +1.50 GW | +31% | 33.7 TWh | 61.2% |
| Tajikistan | 5.74 GW | +20 MW | +0% | +780 MW | +16% | 21.0 TWh | 41.7% |
| Peru | 5.54 GW | +150 MW | +3% | +1.89 GW | +52% | 32.0 TWh | 65.8% |
| Germany | 5.50 GW | +120 MW | +2% | -80 MW | -1% | 23.8 TWh | 49.3% |
| New Zealand | 5.50 GW | +60 MW | +1% | +70 MW | +1% | 23.5 TWh | 48.5% |
| Ecuador | 5.42 GW | +340 MW | +7% | +3.17 GW | +141% | 23.0 TWh | 48.3% |
| Ethiopia | 5.22 GW | +1.40 GW | +37% | +3.25 GW | +165% | 24.4 TWh | 53.3% |
| North Korea | 4.97 GW | +180 MW | +4% | +680 MW | +16% | 17.0 TWh | 38.9% |
| Angola | 3.73 GW | +330 MW | +10% | +2.76 GW | +285% | 11.0 TWh | 33.6% |
| Greece | 3.48 GW | +70 MW | +2% | +90 MW | +3% | 3.58 TWh | 11.7% |
| Georgia | 3.41 GW | +110 MW | +3% | +610 MW | +22% | 11.0 TWh | 36.7% |
| Kyrgyzstan | 3.31 GW | -360 MW | -10% | -360 MW | -10% | 14.0 TWh | 48.2% |
| Nepal | 3.29 GW | +2.13 GW | +184% | +2.55 GW | +345% | 11.0 TWh | 38.1% |
| Myanmar | 3.27 GW | 0 GW | 0% | +80 MW | +3% | 10.0 TWh | 34.8% |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | 3.25 GW | +640 MW | +25% | +830 MW | +34% | 13.4 TWh | 46.9% |
| Finland | 3.21 GW | +50 MW | +2% | +80 MW | +3% | 14.3 TWh | 50.7% |
| Zambia | 3.17 GW | +770 MW | +32% | +910 MW | +40% | 17.0 TWh | 61.1% |
| Philippines | 3.13 GW | +100 MW | +3% | +270 MW | +9% | 10.1 TWh | 36.7% |
| Thailand | 3.13 GW | +20 MW | +1% | +80 MW | +3% | 6.61 TWh | 24.0% |
| Nigeria | 2.90 GW | +790 MW | +37% | +790 MW | +37% | 9.20 TWh | 36.1% |
| Egypt | 2.83 GW | 0 GW | 0% | +30 MW | +1% | 15.5 TWh | 62.2% |
| Kazakhstan | 2.81 GW | +30 MW | +1% | +130 MW | +5% | 11.3 TWh | 45.7% |
| Bulgaria | 2.55 GW | +40 MW | +2% | +190 MW | +8% | 2.79 TWh | 12.5% |
| Serbia | 2.51 GW | +50 MW | +2% | +110 MW | +5% | 10.1 TWh | 45.8% |
| Bhutan | 2.45 GW | +120 MW | +5% | +960 MW | +64% | 11.0 TWh | 51.1% |
| Uzbekistan | 2.39 GW | +480 MW | +25% | +520 MW | +28% | 8.20 TWh | 39.1% |
| Costa Rica | 2.35 GW | +10 MW | +0% | +520 MW | +28% | 8.00 TWh | 38.8% |
| Croatia | 2.19 GW | -10 MW | -0% | +10 MW | +0% | 6.73 TWh | 35.0% |
| Mozambique | 2.19 GW | 0 GW | 0% | 0 GW | 0% | 16.3 TWh | 84.7% |
| United Kingdom | 2.19 GW | +10 MW | +0% | +160 MW | +8% | 5.76 TWh | 29.9% |
| Iceland | 2.13 GW | +30 MW | +1% | +150 MW | +8% | 13.5 TWh | 71.9% |
| Taiwan | 2.12 GW | +30 MW | +1% | +40 MW | +2% | 4.21 TWh | 22.6% |
| Sri Lanka | 1.97 GW | +160 MW | +9% | +300 MW | +18% | 6.98 TWh | 40.3% |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1.88 GW | +60 MW | +3% | +170 MW | +10% | 5.44 TWh | 32.9% |
| Panama | 1.85 GW | +60 MW | +3% | +280 MW | +18% | 7.13 TWh | 43.9% |
| South Korea | 1.82 GW | +10 MW | +1% | +50 MW | +3% | 4.30 TWh | 26.9% |
| Cambodia | 1.80 GW | +470 MW | +35% | +870 MW | +94% | 4.37 TWh | 27.6% |
| Uganda | 1.71 GW | +710 MW | +71% | +1.02 GW | +148% | 5.00 TWh | 33.3% |
| Slovakia | 1.61 GW | 0 GW | 0% | 0 GW | 0% | 4.83 TWh | 34.2% |
| Latvia | 1.59 GW | 0 GW | 0% | 0 GW | 0% | 3.21 TWh | 23.0% |
| Ghana | 1.58 GW | 0 GW | 0% | 0 GW | 0% | 8.60 TWh | 62.0% |
| Guatemala | 1.58 GW | 0 GW | 0% | +570 MW | +56% | 6.30 TWh | 45.4% |
| Iraq | 1.56 GW | 0 GW | 0% | -710 MW | -31% | 2.00 TWh | 14.6% |
| Uruguay | 1.54 GW | 0 GW | 0% | 0 GW | 0% | 4.50 TWh | 33.3% |
| Syria | 1.49 GW | 0 GW | 0% | 0 GW | 0% | 750 GWh | 5.7% |
| Sudan | 1.48 GW | 0 GW | 0% | +160 MW | +12% | 11.5 TWh | 88.5% |
| Azerbaijan | 1.41 GW | +270 MW | +24% | +330 MW | +31% | 3.00 TWh | 24.2% |
| Cameroon | 1.41 GW | +600 MW | +74% | +680 MW | +93% | 5.23 TWh | 42.2% |
| Tanzania | 1.39 GW | +790 MW | +132% | +820 MW | +144% | 2.80 TWh | 22.9% |
| Armenia | 1.35 GW | +10 MW | +1% | +50 MW | +4% | 2.00 TWh | 16.9% |
| Morocco | 1.31 GW | 0 GW | 0% | 0 GW | 0% | 810 GWh | 7.0% |
| Slovenia | 1.17 GW | 0 GW | 0% | +50 MW | +4% | 5.34 TWh | 52.0% |
| Czechia | 1.12 GW | +30 MW | +3% | +40 MW | +4% | 2.66 TWh | 27.0% |
| Zimbabwe | 1.08 GW | 0 GW | 0% | +320 MW | +42% | 5.70 TWh | 60.1% |
Countries with at least 1.00 GW of hydro capacity in 2024: 83 are listed, and 58 countries with less are left out. Each is compared with its own 2019 and 2014 values; a country that has not published 2024 is not listed, and a blank means Ember has no figure. Growth in percent is shown only when the earlier year had at least 100 MW; a tiny base gives meaningless percentages.
How Capacity Factor Is Calculated
2024, 8,784 hoursCapacity factor is a country's hydro generation in 2024 divided by its installed capacity times the 8,784 hours in 2024, using the same year for both. It is the share of the year the fleet would have needed to run at full output to produce what it did. Guards: the factor is left blank where capacity is missing or under 1.00 GW, where generation is missing, and where it comes out above 100% (none here), which is treated as a data error or under reported capacity. If capacity grew during 2024, the factor is understated, because a full year of output is set against the larger figure. Hydro capacity may include pumped storage, which lowers the factor.
Source: Ember (ember-energy.org), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Data as of 2024. Installed capacity and generation from Ember annual statistics, complete years to 2024.