Saudi Arabia vs South Africa: Solar energy generation vs. capacity
Saudi Arabia
18,179 terawatt-hours
in 2025
South Africa
18,560 terawatt-hours
in 2025
Saudi Arabia rank
22nd
South Africa rank
20th
Solar energy generation vs. capacity over time
- Saudi Arabia
- South Africa
How they compare
South Africa currently reports 18,560 terawatt-hours against 18,179 terawatt-hours in Saudi Arabia, a difference of 381 terawatt-hours.
Across all 55 years both countries report, South Africa has been ahead every year.
Saudi Arabia ranks 22nd and South Africa ranks 20th of 79 countries.
South Africa has averaged higher in every one of the 6 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Saudi Arabia | South Africa | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1980s | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1990s | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 2000s | 0.1218 terawatt-hours | 16.26 terawatt-hours | 16.14 terawatt-hours | South Africa |
| 2010s | 64.65 terawatt-hours | 2,097 terawatt-hours | 2,032 terawatt-hours | South Africa |
| 2020s | 5,650 terawatt-hours | 11,977 terawatt-hours | 6,327 terawatt-hours | South Africa |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher solar energy generation vs. capacity, Saudi Arabia or South Africa?
- South Africa, at 18,560 terawatt-hours against 18,179 terawatt-hours in Saudi Arabia as of 2025.
- What is the difference in solar energy generation vs. capacity between Saudi Arabia and South Africa?
- 381 terawatt-hours, with South Africa ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Saudi Arabia and South Africa?
- 55 years are reported by both, from 1971 to 2025.
- How do Saudi Arabia and South Africa rank globally for solar energy generation vs. capacity?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 22nd and South Africa ranks 20th of 79 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as Solar energy generation vs. capacity. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Figures are based on gross generation and do not account for cross-border electricity supply.