Where is geothermal energy found around the world? Explore the global hotspots from Iceland to Indonesia. Learn why some places have more geothermal energy than others.
Geothermal energy is not found evenly across the planet. Some places have it close to the surface. Others would need to drill very deep to reach it.
The reason is plate tectonics. Where the Earth’s crust is thin or broken, heat escapes more easily. Those are the places where geothermal energy is easiest to use.
But every place on Earth has some geothermal energy. The heat is always there. It is just a question of depth.
The Earth’s crust is not the same thickness everywhere.
Under the oceans, the crust is about 3 to 5 miles thick. On continents, it is 15 to 35 miles thick. The thicker the crust, the deeper you must drill to reach high temperatures.
Near tectonic plate boundaries, the crust is thinner and more fractured. Magma may be close to the surface. These are the best places for geothermal energy.
The Pacific Ring of Fire is the most active geothermal area. It is a horseshoe shape around the Pacific Ocean. It includes the west coast of the Americas, Japan, Indonesia, New Zealand, and many island chains.
Here are the countries with the most geothermal electricity production.
United States. The US leads the world. Total installed capacity is about 3,700 megawatts. Most plants are in California and Nevada. The Geysers in California is the largest geothermal field on Earth.
Indonesia. Indonesia has huge geothermal potential. It is estimated at 29,000 megawatts. Currently about 2,300 megawatts are installed. The country sits on the Ring of Fire with many volcanoes.
Philippines. Geothermal provides about 17 percent of the country’s electricity. Total capacity is about 1,900 megawatts. The Philippines is the second largest producer after the US.
Turkey. Turkey has grown rapidly in geothermal. Capacity is about 1,600 megawatts. Most plants are in western Turkey.
New Zealand. Geothermal provides about 17 percent of electricity. Capacity is about 1,000 megawatts. The Wairakei plant was the first flash steam plant in the world.
Iceland. Iceland gets about 30 percent of its electricity from geothermal. The rest is hydropower. About 90 percent of homes are heated with geothermal water.
Kenya. Kenya gets about 45 percent of its electricity from geothermal. The country has huge potential in the Rift Valley. Capacity is growing quickly.
Imagine a map of the world. If you colored all the geothermal places, they would form a ring around the Pacific Ocean.
Think of it like a necklace of volcanoes and hot springs. This is the Ring of Fire. The ground is thin. The heat comes through easily.
Iceland is another special place. It sits on a crack in the Earth where two plates are pulling apart. Heat bubbles up everywhere. People there use it to heat their homes and make electricity.
In the United States, most geothermal places are in the West. California has the most. Some are in Nevada, Utah, and Hawaii.
Geothermal energy is found in many countries. But some have much more than others. It just depends on where you are.
The distribution of geothermal energy is not random. It follows the rules of plate tectonics.
At divergent boundaries, plates pull apart. The crust thins. Magma rises. Iceland is on the Mid Atlantic Ridge, a divergent boundary. This gives it exceptional geothermal resources.
At convergent boundaries, plates collide. One plate slides under another. This creates volcanoes and earthquakes. The Pacific Ring of Fire is a series of convergent boundaries.
At hotspots, magma rises through the crust in a fixed spot. The Yellowstone hotspot is one example. Hawaii is another. These areas also have good geothermal potential.
Outside of these areas, the geothermal gradient is lower. You need to drill deeper to reach usable temperatures. In some places, it is not economical with current technology.
Most US geothermal resources are in the West.
California. 80 percent of US geothermal electricity comes from California. The Geysers is the largest field. There are also plants in the Imperial Valley.
Nevada. Nevada has about 20 plants. It produces 16 percent of US geothermal electricity.
Utah. Utah has several plants near Milford.
Hawaii. Hawaii has one geothermal plant on the Big Island. It uses volcanic heat.
Oregon and Idaho. Both states have developing geothermal resources.
Alaska. The Chena Hot Springs plant is the lowest temperature geothermal plant in the world.
Enhanced Geothermal Systems could change where geothermal energy is found.
EGS creates artificial reservoirs by fracturing hot, dry rock. This technology could make geothermal possible in many more locations. The US Department of Energy estimates EGS could provide 100 gigawatts by 2050.
For now, the best locations are still along plate boundaries. But the map of geothermal energy is expanding.
The location of geothermal energy is a great way to teach plate tectonics. Students can see the real world impact of geological processes.
Use a world map. Mark the major geothermal countries. Notice how they align with the Ring of Fire and the Mid Atlantic Ridge. This makes the connection between geology and energy clear.
Last updated: June 15, 2026
Where is the most geothermal activity concentrated?
Which country produces the most geothermal electricity?
What is the Ring of Fire?
Which state has the most geothermal power plants?
What percentage of Iceland's electricity comes from geothermal?
Answers: B: The Pacific Ring of Fire, B: United States, B: A horseshoe shaped area around the Pacific Ocean, B: California, B: About 30 percent
Where is geothermal energy found in the world?
Geothermal energy is found along tectonic plate boundaries. These are areas where the Earth's crust is thinner and heat is closer to the surface. The Pacific Ring of Fire has the most geothermal activity.
Which countries have the most geothermal energy?
The United States, Indonesia, the Philippines, Turkey, and New Zealand have the most installed geothermal capacity. Iceland, Kenya, and El Salvador get the highest percentage of their electricity from geothermal.
Where in the United States is geothermal energy found?
Most US geothermal resources are in western states. California, Nevada, Utah, Oregon, Idaho, and Hawaii have the best resources. The Geysers in California is the largest geothermal field in the world.
Is geothermal energy found everywhere?
Shallow geothermal energy for heat pumps is found everywhere. Deep geothermal for electricity is only economical in certain areas. These are usually near tectonic plate boundaries or volcanic regions.
Why is Iceland so rich in geothermal energy?
Iceland sits on a volcanic hotspot at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The crust is thin. Magma is close to the surface. This makes geothermal heat very easy to access.
