China generated the most hydroelectricity in 2023.
Its large output comes from extensive river systems, major dams, and decades of investment in electricity infrastructure. The country operates both enormous storage reservoirs and run-of-river stations, which use a river’s flow with less long-term water storage.
China’s hydroelectric fleet includes the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River, whose installed capacity is 22,500 megawatts. However, national hydroelectric generation depends on rainfall and river conditions, so annual output can vary even when installed capacity remains unchanged.
Hydropower is renewable because the water cycle continually replenishes rivers through evaporation and precipitation. It is not impact-free: dams can alter habitats, sediment movement, river temperatures, and communities. The answer refers to annual electricity generation, not necessarily the largest single dam.