The US Green Building Council ranks Italy among the world's top 10 countries for LEED-certified buildings, solidifying its position as a sustainability leader.
Italy secures its place in the top 10 for LEED-certified buildings
Each year, the US Green Building Council (USGBC) publishes a ranking of the top 10 certified buildings countries – excluding the United States – in achieving LEED certification milestones. Despite common perceptions, Italy continues to be a global leader in sustainable building, improving its performance year after year.
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China leads the global ranking
Italy’s real estate sector is in dire need of large-scale energy retrofitting to align with European requirements and reduce energy poverty and waste. However, the country is also home to numerous best practices that serve as a model for future projects.
For 2024, the USGBC once again ranked the leading countries and regions outside the United States for their progress in sustainable building design, construction, and management.
Topping the top 10 LEED-certified buildings list is China, with 1,860 certified projects covering over 25 million square meters. Notably, half of these projects come from McDonald’s locations across the country.
Rounding out the podium are Canada (2nd place), with 300 LEED-certified buildings totaling 10 million square meters, and India (3rd place), with 370 projects spanning 8.5 million square meters.
While the United States remains the dominant market for LEED-certified square footage—exceeding 56 million square meters—it is excluded from the ranking.
Italy ranks eighth globally in LEED certification
Once again, Italy secures its place among the world’s top 10 countries for LEED-certified buildings in 2024.
The country holds the eighth position thanks to its 2.1 million square meters of LEED-certified space, spread across 174 projects nationwide.
In 2023 alone, Italy’s LEED-certified building stock contributed to:
- Saving 330,000 tons of construction waste
- Reducing 170,000 tons of CO₂ emissions
- Conserving 1.3 billion liters of potable water
- Generating an economic value of €111 million
Compared to the previous year, the number of LEED-certified buildings in Italy increased from 135 to 174, marking a significant step forward in sustainability and resource efficiency.
Notably, Italy is the only European country featured in the global top 10 for LEED-certified buildings.
The 2024 LEED top 10 ranking
The top 10 list is based on the total LEED-certified square footage recorded between January 1 and December 31, 2024.
| Rank | Country/Region | Total Square Meters | Total Square Footage | Total Project Numbers |
| 1 | Chinese Mainland | 25,691,198 | 276,537,490 | 1,860 |
| 2 | Canada | 10,070,936 | 108,402,545 | 300 |
| 3 | India | 8,506,012 | 91,557,865 | 370 |
| 4 | South Korea | 3,248,350 | 34,964,910 | 70 |
| 5 | United Arab Emirates | 3,226,489 | 34,729,600 | 130 |
| 6 | Mexico | 2,269,920 | 24,433,189 | 104 |
| 7 | Hong Kong SAR of PRC | 2,182,073 | 23,487,615 | 66 |
| 8 | Italy | 2,135,799 | 22,989,531 | 174 |
| 9 | Brazil | 2,088,100 | 22,476,099 | 125 |
| 10 | Turkey | 2,066,096 | 22,239,248 | 71 |
