Geothermal energy maintains a minor but consistent presence in the global power mix, showing steady growth that has been significantly outpaced by solar and wind technologies. According to the authors of the newly released report, the world’s total geothermal capacity reached 15,674 megawatts by the end of 2025. While renewables as a whole are taking a larger share of the power market, geothermal remains a niche source utilized primarily in specific regions.
According to the report, “By the end of 2025, renewables accounted for 49% of global installed power capacity,” but the specific capacity for “Geothermal energy” was limited to “15 674” MW worldwide. The data shows this sector has expanded modestly over the last decade, rising from a base of “12 169” MW in 2016.
While nearly half of the world’s total electricity capacity now comes from renewable sources, geothermal power—which generates electricity from natural heat within the Earth—represents a tiny fraction of that total. To put this into perspective, for every thousand units of renewable capacity available globally, geothermal accounts for only about three units. The technology is most prominent in a small group of countries including Indonesia, the United States, and the Philippines, where geothermal resources are most accessible for large-scale production.
The report “Renewable Capacity Statistics 2026” was published by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in Abu Dhabi. Released in 2026, the comprehensive statistical review was prepared by a dedicated team of authors including Julian Prime, Iman Abdulkadir Ahmed, and Dennis Akande. It provides a detailed global accounting of green energy deployment and capacity trends through the end of 2025.
