South Africa vs Taiwan, China: Solar energy generation vs. capacity
South Africa
18,560 terawatt-hours
in 2025
Taiwan, China
15,975 terawatt-hours
in 2025
South Africa rank
20th
Taiwan, China rank
23rd
Solar energy generation vs. capacity over time
- South Africa
- Taiwan, China
How they compare
South Africa currently reports 18,560 terawatt-hours against 15,975 terawatt-hours in Taiwan, China, a difference of 2,585 terawatt-hours.
That makes South Africa's figure about 1.2 times Taiwan, China's.
The two have swapped places 5 times across 55 shared years of data; in 1971 it was Taiwan, China ahead.
South Africa ranks 20th and Taiwan, China ranks 23rd of 79 countries.
South Africa has averaged higher in every one of the 6 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | South Africa | Taiwan, China | 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 | 16.26 terawatt-hours | 2 terawatt-hours | 14.26 terawatt-hours | South Africa |
| 2010s | 2,097 terawatt-hours | 1,135 terawatt-hours | 962.34 terawatt-hours | South Africa |
| 2020s | 11,977 terawatt-hours | 11,666 terawatt-hours | 310.96 terawatt-hours | South Africa |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher solar energy generation vs. capacity, South Africa or Taiwan, China?
- South Africa, at 18,560 terawatt-hours against 15,975 terawatt-hours in Taiwan, China as of 2025.
- What is the difference in solar energy generation vs. capacity between South Africa and Taiwan, China?
- 2,585 terawatt-hours, with South Africa 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 solar energy generation vs. capacity?
- South Africa ranks 20th and Taiwan, China ranks 23rd 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.