According to preliminary figures from the World Wind Energy Association, global wind capacity additions reached 169,014 MW in 2025, marking a 35% increase compared with 2024. Total installed capacity rose to 1,346,866 MW, representing the strongest annual growth since 2020. Wind power generation approached 3,000 terawatt-hours and supplied more than 11% of global electricity demand. This expansion was largely driven by China, which accounted for 77% of new installations with 130 GW added in a single year. The country now represents more than half of total global wind capacity.
Outside China, growth remained uneven. New installations reached 38.7 GW, slightly above 2024 levels but below the 44 GW recorded in 2023. Activity was concentrated in a limited number of markets, with China, India, Vietnam, Chile and Turkey leading, alongside more moderate contributions from established markets such as Germany and the United States.
The overall global growth rate reached 14.3%, compared with 11.9% in 2024. Since 2016, only 2020 recorded a similar level of expansion.
Among the top 30 markets, only a few exceeded the global average growth rate. China led with 23.2%, followed by Turkey at 15.5% and Vietnam at 50.8%, making it the fastest growing market. Chile also showed strong growth at 23.9%, while India recorded 13.1%.
Several previously strong markets experienced more limited expansion. The United States grew by 4.1%, Germany by 6.3%, the United Kingdom by 3.1% and Spain by 3.3%. Brazil and France also slowed, with growth rates of 6.7% and 5.2% respectively.
Countries adding more than 2 GW of new capacity in 2025 included China (130 GW), India (6,300 MW), the United States (6,272 MW), Germany (4,602 MW), Vietnam (2,493 MW), Brazil (2,244 MW) and Turkey (2,142 MW).
By the end of 2025, 46 countries had installed more than 1 GW of wind capacity, two more than in 2024. Serbia and Peru entered this group.
Wind power generation exceeded 11% of global electricity demand, surpassing nuclear energy and approaching the contribution of some fossil sources. More than 30 countries now meet or exceed the global average share, with China reaching 10.8% and expected to move above the global average.
Twelve countries generate over 20% of their electricity from wind, including Denmark, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Ireland and Uruguay. Denmark remains a leading market, producing more than half of its electricity from wind.
Regional outlook
Asia
China exceeded 600,000 MW and reached 691,750 MW of installed capacity in 2025. Annual additions of 130,258 MW followed 86,892 MW in 2024 and 79,370 MW in 2023, reinforcing its central role in global development. The country is expected to maintain similar installation levels in the coming years, potentially reaching 1,000,000 MW by 2027 or 2028.
India added 6.3 GW in 2025, becoming the second largest market for new installations and surpassing 50,000 MW total capacity. Further growth is expected, supported by repowering and the anticipated start of offshore wind development.
Vietnam continued to expand rapidly, reaching 7.4 GW and ranking 19th globally, ahead of Japan.
Europe
Performance across Europe was mixed. Markets such as Germany, France, Sweden, Turkey and Italy improved, while the United Kingdom, Spain, Poland and Finland recorded weaker results.
Seven European countries installed more than 1 GW in 2025, compared with five in 2024. These included Germany, France, Spain, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Turkey and Lithuania.
Several smaller markets showed notable progress, including Belgium, Poland, Greece and Austria. Eastern European countries recorded particularly strong growth, with Lithuania nearly doubling its capacity, while Ukraine, Serbia and Estonia also expanded significantly.
North America
The United States added just under 6.3 GW in 2025, bringing total capacity close to 161 GW. Despite increased installations compared with 2024, policy uncertainty is affecting market outlook. A short-term increase in installations is expected in 2026 and 2027 under existing frameworks.
Canada installed just over 1 GW, reaching 19.5 GW total capacity, while Mexico remained at 8.7 GW.
South America
Brazil added 2.2 GW in 2025, a decline from the previous year, bringing total capacity to 35.9 GW. Chile expanded to 6.0 GW, while Argentina and Uruguay showed limited growth. Peru exceeded 1 GW of installed capacity.
Oceania
Australia added 94 MW, reaching 15.4 GW. Policy adjustments, including a revised renewable electricity target of 82% by 2030, are expected to support future development. New Zealand remained at 1.3 GW.
Africa
Wind capacity across Africa remains limited despite strong potential. South Africa leads with 3.7 GW, followed by Egypt and Morocco. Growth opportunities are increasingly linked to hybrid systems and mini-grids, combining wind with solar and storage.
