What is the difference in oil consumption between Nigeria and South Africa?

8.88 terawatt-hours, with Nigeria ahead.

How many years of comparable data are there for Nigeria and South Africa?

45 years are reported by both, from 1980 to 2024.

Where does this data come from?

Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); U.S. Energy Information Administration (2026); Etemad & Luciani (1991) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as Oil consumption. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

Nigeria vs South Africa: Oil consumption

Nigeria

281.3 terawatt-hours

in 2024

South Africa

272.42 terawatt-hours

in 2025

Nigeria rank

33rd

South Africa rank

35th

Oil consumption over time

Nigeria
South Africa

How they compare

Nigeria currently reports 281.3 terawatt-hours against 272.42 terawatt-hours in South Africa, a difference of 8.88 terawatt-hours.

The two have swapped places 3 times across 45 shared years of data; in 1980 it was South Africa ahead.

Nigeria ranks 33rd and South Africa ranks 35th of 220 countries.

South Africa has averaged higher in every one of the 5 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade	Nigeria	South Africa	Difference	Ahead
1980s	126.98 terawatt-hours	168.96 terawatt-hours	41.99 terawatt-hours	South Africa
1990s	159.91 terawatt-hours	231.2 terawatt-hours	71.3 terawatt-hours	South Africa
2000s	156.12 terawatt-hours	289.11 terawatt-hours	132.99 terawatt-hours	South Africa
2010s	229.05 terawatt-hours	321.48 terawatt-hours	92.43 terawatt-hours	South Africa
2020s	276.38 terawatt-hours	279.94 terawatt-hours	3.55 terawatt-hours	South Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher oil consumption, Nigeria or South Africa?: Nigeria, at 281.3 terawatt-hours against 272.42 terawatt-hours in South Africa as of 2024.
What is the difference in oil consumption between Nigeria and South Africa?: 8.88 terawatt-hours, with Nigeria ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Nigeria and South Africa?: 45 years are reported by both, from 1980 to 2024.
How do Nigeria and South Africa rank globally for oil consumption?: Nigeria ranks 33rd and South Africa ranks 35th of 220 countries.
Where does this data come from?: Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); U.S. Energy Information Administration (2026); Etemad & Luciani (1991) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as Oil consumption. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Nigeria vs South Africa: Oil consumption. Statizoid, drawing on Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); U.S. Energy Information Administration (2026); Etemad & Luciani (1991) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 06 September 2026, from https://energy.statizoid.com/compare/oil-consumption-by-country/nigeria/south-africa/

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<a href="https://energy.statizoid.com/compare/oil-consumption-by-country/nigeria/south-africa/">Nigeria vs South Africa: Oil consumption</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator: Oil consumption
Unit: terawatt-hours
Source: Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); U.S. Energy Information Administration (2026); Etemad & Luciani (1991) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 222 places, 10,699 data points, 1965–2025
Last refreshed: 28 August 2026

Measured in terawatt-hours. Includes refined petroleum products and other liquid fuels.