South Africa vs Taiwan, China: Electricity generation from renewables
South Africa
33.1 terawatt-hours
in 2025
Taiwan, China
35.3 terawatt-hours
in 2025
South Africa rank
39th
Taiwan, China rank
37th
Electricity generation from renewables over time
- South Africa
- Taiwan, China
How they compare
Taiwan, China currently reports 35.3 terawatt-hours against 33.1 terawatt-hours in South Africa, a difference of 2.2 terawatt-hours.
That makes Taiwan, China's figure about 1.1 times South Africa's.
The two have swapped places 4 times across 55 shared years of data; in 1971 it was Taiwan, China ahead.
South Africa ranks 39th and Taiwan, China ranks 37th of 214 countries.
Across the 6 decades both report, South Africa averaged higher in 1 and Taiwan, China in 5.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | South Africa | Taiwan, China | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.23 terawatt-hours | 4.21 terawatt-hours | 2.99 terawatt-hours | Taiwan, China |
| 1980s | 1.46 terawatt-hours | 4.93 terawatt-hours | 3.47 terawatt-hours | Taiwan, China |
| 1990s | 1.19 terawatt-hours | 5.6 terawatt-hours | 4.41 terawatt-hours | Taiwan, China |
| 2000s | 2.11 terawatt-hours | 5.83 terawatt-hours | 3.73 terawatt-hours | Taiwan, China |
| 2010s | 6.51 terawatt-hours | 9.58 terawatt-hours | 3.07 terawatt-hours | Taiwan, China |
| 2020s | 25.13 terawatt-hours | 23.86 terawatt-hours | 1.27 terawatt-hours | South Africa |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher electricity generation from renewables, South Africa or Taiwan, China?
- Taiwan, China, at 35.3 terawatt-hours against 33.1 terawatt-hours in South Africa as of 2025.
- What is the difference in electricity generation from renewables between South Africa and Taiwan, China?
- 2.2 terawatt-hours, with Taiwan, China ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and Taiwan, China?
- 55 years are reported by both, from 1971 to 2025.
- How do South Africa and Taiwan, China rank globally for electricity generation from renewables?
- South Africa ranks 39th and Taiwan, China ranks 37th of 214 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as Electricity generation from renewables. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Measured in terawatt-hours.