Water cycle: Across the Earth
Mountains plus rain: why China leads and Africa waits
What this tab covers How the resource varies with latitude, climate, terrain and geology: the richest and poorest regions and the leading countries.Hydropower needs both heavy rain or snow and steep terrain, so the resource is concentrated in mountain ranges and large wet river basins. China dominates current use; Africa has the most untapped potential relative to use.
Potential is highest where large runoff meets large height drops: high, wet mountain ranges and the great rivers draining them. Flat, dry regions have almost none, regardless of their size.
Rich and poor regions
| Region | Resource | Level |
|---|---|---|
| China | 1,356 TWh in 2024 (about 31% of world hydro output); 421 GW installed6 | high |
| Brazil | 110 GW installed, second largest fleet9 | high |
| Africa | Only about 11% of more than 600 GW of potential harnessed7 | high |
| United States and Canada | 102 GW and 84 GW installed; output down 13% over five years8 | medium |
| Türkiye | Output down 14% over five years despite 15% more capacity8 | medium |
Top countries by installed hydropower capacity (including pumped storage), end of 2024 2024 9
| Country | GW |
|---|---|
| China | 421 |
| Brazil | 110 |
| United States | 102 |
| Canada | 84 |
The four largest countries hold almost half of the world's roughly 1,450 GW of hydropower including pumped storage. REN21, which excludes pure pumped storage where possible, counts about 1,253 GW; the difference is mostly the 189 GW of pumped storage. REN21 ranks the top eight (excluding pumped storage) as China, Brazil, Canada, the United States, Russia, India, Türkiye and Norway; the United States ranks above Canada in the IHA figures, probably because those include pumped storage.
New building in 2024 was led by China (14.4 GW), Tanzania (1.9 GW), Ethiopia (1.2 GW) and Bhutan (1 GW), showing where the remaining large resources are being developed: the rainy, mountainous basins of Asia and Africa.
Sources
- Global Electricity Review 2025: Global electricity source trends Ember, 2025
- Flagship 2025 World Hydropower Outlook out now International Hydropower Association, 2025
- Renewables 2025 Global Status Report: Hydropower REN21, 2025
- Over 24 GW of hydropower capacity added worldwide in 2024 (reporting IHA World Hydropower Outlook 2025) Enerdata, 2025