South Africa vs United Arab Emirates: Solar energy generation vs. capacity
South Africa
18,560 terawatt-hours
in 2025
United Arab Emirates
18,204 terawatt-hours
in 2025
South Africa rank
20th
United Arab Emirates rank
21st
Solar energy generation vs. capacity over time
- South Africa
- United Arab Emirates
How they compare
South Africa currently reports 18,560 terawatt-hours against 18,204 terawatt-hours in United Arab Emirates, a difference of 356 terawatt-hours.
The two have swapped places 3 times across 55 shared years of data; in 1971 it was United Arab Emirates ahead.
South Africa ranks 20th and United Arab Emirates ranks 21st 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 | United Arab Emirates | 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 | 0.6354 terawatt-hours | 15.62 terawatt-hours | South Africa |
| 2010s | 2,097 terawatt-hours | 667.13 terawatt-hours | 1,430 terawatt-hours | South Africa |
| 2020s | 11,977 terawatt-hours | 11,037 terawatt-hours | 940.04 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 United Arab Emirates?
- South Africa, at 18,560 terawatt-hours against 18,204 terawatt-hours in United Arab Emirates as of 2025.
- What is the difference in solar energy generation vs. capacity between South Africa and United Arab Emirates?
- 356 terawatt-hours, with South Africa ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and United Arab Emirates?
- 55 years are reported by both, from 1971 to 2025.
- How do South Africa and United Arab Emirates rank globally for solar energy generation vs. capacity?
- South Africa ranks 20th and United Arab Emirates ranks 21st 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.