Top 10 countries for LEED in Europe

Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), the premier organisation independently recognising excellence in green business industry performance and practice globally, and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the global developer of the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating system, have announced the inaugural Top 10 European Countries for LEED ranking for 2025.

LEED certification continued to grow across Europe amid shifting market conditions and rising demand for sustainable assets. In 2025, more than 1,000 projects were certified across the region, totaling nearly 14 million gross square meters. Demand remained strong for high-performance, low-carbon buildings, with capital increasingly directed toward energy-efficient, ESG-aligned assets. Owners accelerated retrofit programs across existing portfolios, while LEED for Operations and Maintenance (LEED O+M) supported measurable improvements in building performance.

“As regulatory requirements tighten and investment in sustainable real estate grows, LEED helps organisations align with European initiatives, including the EU Taxonomy, and simplifies compliance with its criteria,” said Kay Killmann, Head of Europe, GBCI. “LEED v5 provides transparent and comparable metrics that help owners and investors validate asset sustainability and track operational performance more effectively.”

Sweden tops EU countries for LEED

In 2025, Sweden led Europe in LEED certification, with more than 180 projects and over 2.2 million gross square meters of certified space. Since 2021, certification activity in the country has grown at an estimated 74 per cent compound annual growth rate, highlighting rapid market expansion and strong investor demand for high-performance, low-carbon assets.

Sweden’s performance reflects strong operational standards and a continued shift toward circular, low-carbon buildings. LEED is increasingly used as a tool for long-term asset management and decarbonisation strategies.

Spain and Italy maintain strong positions

Spain and Italy represent mature markets where LEED certification is increasingly integrated into investment, development, and asset management strategies. In Spain, certification activity grew by approximately 15 per cent in 2025 and has increased at an estimated 13 per cent compound annual growth rate since 2021. This sustained growth is largely driven by the office sector, which accounts for approximately 61 per cent of LEED-certified projects in Spain, according to market analysis, with activity concentrated in major urban hubs such as Madrid and Barcelona.

Italy recorded 165 LEED-certified projects in 2025, with certification activity growing at roughly 12 per cent annually since 2021, demonstrating consistent long-term market commitment.

In both countries, growth is driven by a mix of new construction and modernisation of existing buildings. Owners are advancing renovation and decarbonisation programmes to improve energy performance, reduce emissions and meet evolving ESG, EU Taxonomy and broader regulatory expectations. Logistics, residential, and mixed-use projects continue to drive certification activity, reflecting a broader shift toward operational performance and long-term resilience.

A maturing certification landscape in Europe

The continued leadership of Sweden, Spain and Italy reflects structural change across the European real estate market. From 2021 to 2025, LEED activity across these markets more than doubled, with certification volumes growing at an estimated 22 per cent compound annual growth rate and certified floor area expanding at approximately 19 per cent annually. This momentum reflects continued market recovery in the years following the pandemic, alongside a sustained shift toward investment in high-performance, ESG-aligned real estate. LEED adoption is expanding beyond flagship new construction to support efficiency, transparency and long-term asset value.

LEED applies a consistent global standard, enabling projects in Europe to be evaluated under the same framework used worldwide, thereby supporting comparability and investor confidence. Across Europe, LEED certification activity is primarily concentrated in office assets, which account for more than half of all certified projects (54 per cent), followed by retail (16 per cent) and warehouse and distribution facilities (13 per cent). Additional activity is seen across hospitality, residential and healthcare sectors. This pattern reflects strong uptake of LEED for O+M and Building Design and Construction (BD+C), which together represent nearly 90 per cent of all certifications. This highlights a market-wide focus on both existing building performance and new development.

Across the region, key trends include the retrofits and a broader adoption of circularity principles.

Below is the full list of the top 10 countries in Europe for LEED in 2025, ranked by total LEED-certified space: