Annual change in primary energy use in South Africa
South Africa: Annual change in primary energy use was -4.34 terawatt-hours in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-4.34 terawatt-hours
Change on year
down 107.9%
World rank
191st
of 219 countries
All-time high
104.77 terawatt-hours
in 1981
All-time low
-151.78 terawatt-hours
in 2020
Years of data
60
1966–2025
Annual change in primary energy use in South Africa, 1966–2025
Source: Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); U.S. Energy Information Administration (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in terawatt-hours.
Analysis
The most recent figure for annual change in primary energy use in South Africa is -4.34 terawatt-hours, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 107.9% on the previous year and down 293.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual change in primary energy use in South Africa peaked at 104.77 terawatt-hours in 1981 and was at its lowest, -151.78 terawatt-hours, in 2020.
South Africa ranks 191st of 219 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual change in primary energy use in South Africa, year by year
| Year | terawatt-hours | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1966 | 2.2 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1967 | 14.75 terawatt-hours | +569.5% |
| 1968 | 20.56 terawatt-hours | +39.4% |
| 1969 | 11.61 terawatt-hours | -43.5% |
| 1970 | 18.16 terawatt-hours | +56.3% |
| 1971 | 32.38 terawatt-hours | +78.3% |
| 1972 | 13.59 terawatt-hours | -58.0% |
| 1973 | 35.28 terawatt-hours | +159.6% |
| 1974 | 14.2 terawatt-hours | -59.7% |
| 1975 | 34.34 terawatt-hours | +141.8% |
| 1976 | 22.71 terawatt-hours | -33.8% |
| 1977 | 14.03 terawatt-hours | -38.3% |
| 1978 | -5.68 terawatt-hours | -140.5% |
| 1979 | 20.58 terawatt-hours | -462.4% |
| 1980 | 41.06 terawatt-hours | +99.5% |
| 1981 | 104.77 terawatt-hours | +155.1% |
| 1982 | 58.04 terawatt-hours | -44.6% |
| 1983 | 11.56 terawatt-hours | -80.1% |
| 1984 | 76.89 terawatt-hours | +565.1% |
| 1985 | 19.18 terawatt-hours | -75.1% |
| 1986 | 15.86 terawatt-hours | -17.3% |
| 1987 | 14.25 terawatt-hours | -10.1% |
| 1988 | 93.66 terawatt-hours | +557.1% |
| 1989 | -45.67 terawatt-hours | -148.8% |
| 1990 | 36.86 terawatt-hours | -180.7% |
| 1991 | -9.19 terawatt-hours | -124.9% |
| 1992 | 7.22 terawatt-hours | -178.6% |
| 1993 | -0.9862 terawatt-hours | -113.7% |
| 1994 | 42.71 terawatt-hours | -4430.3% |
| 1995 | 49.58 terawatt-hours | +16.1% |
| 1996 | 20.78 terawatt-hours | -58.1% |
| 1997 | 24.42 terawatt-hours | +17.5% |
| 1998 | -19.37 terawatt-hours | -179.3% |
| 1999 | 40.28 terawatt-hours | -307.9% |
| 2000 | 0.8743 terawatt-hours | -97.8% |
| 2001 | 4.73 terawatt-hours | +441.6% |
| 2002 | -30.6 terawatt-hours | -746.2% |
| 2003 | 43.37 terawatt-hours | -241.7% |
| 2004 | 77.15 terawatt-hours | +77.9% |
| 2005 | 45.3 terawatt-hours | -41.3% |
| 2006 | 70.31 terawatt-hours | +55.2% |
| 2007 | 41.97 terawatt-hours | -40.3% |
| 2008 | 29.94 terawatt-hours | -28.7% |
| 2009 | -78.94 terawatt-hours | -363.6% |
| 2010 | 46.94 terawatt-hours | -159.5% |
| 2011 | -44.5 terawatt-hours | -194.8% |
| 2012 | 56.03 terawatt-hours | -225.9% |
| 2013 | -0.3987 terawatt-hours | -100.7% |
| 2014 | -38.35 terawatt-hours | +9519.8% |
| 2015 | 2.24 terawatt-hours | -105.8% |
| 2016 | 17.35 terawatt-hours | +673.8% |
| 2017 | -61.81 terawatt-hours | -456.3% |
| 2018 | 45.05 terawatt-hours | -172.9% |
| 2019 | 72.22 terawatt-hours | +60.3% |
| 2020 | -151.78 terawatt-hours | -310.2% |
| 2021 | 11.52 terawatt-hours | -107.6% |
| 2022 | -51.07 terawatt-hours | -543.3% |
| 2023 | 55.27 terawatt-hours | -208.2% |
| 2024 | 54.8 terawatt-hours | -0.9% |
| 2025 | -4.34 terawatt-hours | -107.9% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's -4.34 terawatt-hours is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.5628 terawatt-hours. (57 countries reporting)
- South Africa's -4.34 terawatt-hours is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.2041 terawatt-hours. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual change in primary energy use in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | -9519.8% | -0.3987 terawatt-hours | -38.35 terawatt-hours |
| 1994 | +4430.3% | -0.9862 terawatt-hours | 42.71 terawatt-hours |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 12.28 terawatt-hours | 2.2 terawatt-hours | 20.56 terawatt-hours | 4 |
| 1970s | 19.96 terawatt-hours | -5.68 terawatt-hours | 35.28 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1980s | 38.96 terawatt-hours | -45.67 terawatt-hours | 104.77 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1990s | 19.23 terawatt-hours | -19.37 terawatt-hours | 49.58 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 20.41 terawatt-hours | -78.94 terawatt-hours | 77.15 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.48 terawatt-hours | -61.81 terawatt-hours | 72.22 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | -14.27 terawatt-hours | -151.78 terawatt-hours | 55.27 terawatt-hours | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 188 Malta -4.03 terawatt-hours compare
- 189 Iceland -4.24 terawatt-hours compare
- 190 New Caledonia -4.33 terawatt-hours compare
- 192 Azerbaijan -4.34 terawatt-hours compare
- 193 Belarus -4.63 terawatt-hours compare
- 194 Equatorial Guinea -4.98 terawatt-hours compare
More energy & mining data for South Africa
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate -0.3095 % change on previous year (2025)
- Coal consumption, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal consumption, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Coal production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fuel imports 17.7% (2025)
- Ores and metals imports 2.5% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual change in primary energy use in South Africa?
- Annual change in primary energy use in South Africa was -4.34 terawatt-hours in 2025, according to Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); U.S. Energy Information Administration (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual change in primary energy use recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 104.77 terawatt-hours in 1981.
- What is the lowest annual change in primary energy use recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -151.78 terawatt-hours in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for annual change in primary energy use?
- South Africa ranks 191st out of 219 countries with data for 2025.
- Is annual change in primary energy use rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 293.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); U.S. Energy Information Administration (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual change in primary energy use. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 60 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Change in total energy supply relative to the previous year, measured in terawatt-hours.