South Africa vs United States: Fossil fuels
South Africa
1,552
in 2025
United States
3,067
in 2025
South Africa rank
8th
United States rank
5th
Fossil fuels over time
- South Africa
- United States
How they compare
United States currently reports 3,067 against 1,552 in South Africa, a difference of 1,515.
That makes United States's figure about 2.0 times South Africa's.
Across all 126 years both countries report, United States has been ahead every year.
South Africa ranks 8th and United States ranks 5th of 220 countries.
United States has averaged higher in every one of the 13 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | South Africa | United States | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 26.03 | 2,538 | 2,512 | United States |
| 1910s | 56.53 | 3,813 | 3,756 | United States |
| 1920s | 79.24 | 3,998 | 3,919 | United States |
| 1930s | 89.66 | 2,982 | 2,893 | United States |
| 1940s | 148.5 | 4,157 | 4,008 | United States |
| 1950s | 210.96 | 3,385 | 3,174 | United States |
| 1960s | 307.71 | 3,447 | 3,140 | United States |
| 1970s | 489.69 | 4,407 | 3,917 | United States |
| 1980s | 1,055 | 5,419 | 4,364 | United States |
| 1990s | 1,321 | 6,234 | 4,913 | United States |
| 2000s | 1,530 | 6,401 | 4,871 | United States |
| 2010s | 1,685 | 5,097 | 3,412 | United States |
| 2020s | 1,552 | 3,141 | 1,589 | United States |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher fossil fuels, South Africa or United States?
- United States, at 3,067 against 1,552 in South Africa as of 2025.
- What is the difference in fossil fuels between South Africa and United States?
- 1,515, with United States ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and United States?
- 126 years are reported by both, from 1900 to 2025.
- How do South Africa and United States rank globally for fossil fuels?
- South Africa ranks 8th and United States ranks 5th of 220 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Our World in Data, published as Fossil fuels. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.