Washington, D.C. (Feb. 13, 2019)—The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), creators of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating system, announced the annual Top 10 Countries and Regions for LEED, outside of the U.S.
Mainland China topped the list with more than 68 million gross square meters. The list recognizes markets that are using LEED to create healthier spaces for people, as well as using less energy and water, reducing carbon emissions and saving money for families and businesses. The top countries and regions account for nearly 7,800 certified buildings and more than 210 million gross square meters of space.
“The Top 10 Countries and Regions represent a global community of dedicated USGBC member companies and green building professionals who are committed to improving our quality of life. A better future requires a universal living standard that leaves no one behind—and that future would simply not be possible without the extraordinary work being done in these countries," said Mahesh Ramanujam, president and chief executive officer, USGBC and Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), the global certifying body for LEED projects.
The list ranks countries and regions in terms of cumulative LEED-certified gross square meters as of December 31, 2018. The full rankings are as follows:
| Ranking | Country/Region | Number of Projects | Gross Square Meters* |
| 1 | Mainland China | 1,494 | 68.83 |
| 2 | Canada | 3,254 | 46.81 |
| 3 | India | 899 | 24.81 |
| 4 | Brazil | 531 | 16.74 |
| 5 | Republic of Korea | 143 | 12.15 |
| 6 | Turkey | 337 | 10.90 |
| 7 | Germany | 327 | 8.47 |
| 8 | Mexico | 370 | 8.41 |
| 9 | China, Taiwan | 144 | 7.30 |
| 10 | Spain | 299 | 5.81 |
| ** | United States | 33,632 | 441.60 |
*Gross square meters are reported in millions. Data is reported as of December 2018.
**The United States, where LEED originated, is not included on the list, but remains the world’s largest market for LEED.
For more information, visit usgbc.org.
