South Africa vs United States of America: Fossil fuel production
South Africa
1,552 terawatt-hours
in 2025
United States of America
3,067 terawatt-hours
in 2025
South Africa rank
7th
United States of America rank
4th
Fossil fuel production over time
- South Africa
- United States of America
How they compare
United States of America currently reports 3,067 terawatt-hours against 1,552 terawatt-hours in South Africa, a difference of 1,515 terawatt-hours.
That makes United States of America's figure about 2.0 times South Africa's.
Across all 45 years both countries report, United States of America has been ahead every year.
South Africa ranks 7th and United States of America ranks 4th of 34 countries.
United States of America has averaged higher in every one of the 5 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | South Africa | United States of America | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1,090 terawatt-hours | 5,415 terawatt-hours | 4,326 terawatt-hours | United States of America |
| 1990s | 1,321 terawatt-hours | 6,234 terawatt-hours | 4,913 terawatt-hours | United States of America |
| 2000s | 1,530 terawatt-hours | 6,401 terawatt-hours | 4,871 terawatt-hours | United States of America |
| 2010s | 1,685 terawatt-hours | 5,097 terawatt-hours | 3,412 terawatt-hours | United States of America |
| 2020s | 1,552 terawatt-hours | 3,141 terawatt-hours | 1,589 terawatt-hours | United States of America |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher fossil fuel production, South Africa or United States of America?
- United States of America, at 3,067 terawatt-hours against 1,552 terawatt-hours in South Africa as of 2025.
- What is the difference in fossil fuel production between South Africa and United States of America?
- 1,515 terawatt-hours, with United States of America ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and United States of America?
- 45 years are reported by both, from 1981 to 2025.
- How do South Africa and United States of America rank globally for fossil fuel production?
- South Africa ranks 7th and United States of America ranks 4th of 34 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) β with major processing by Our World in Data, published as Fossil fuel production. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Measured in terawatt-hours.