Access to electricity urban vs rural, annual growth rate in South Africa
South Africa: Access to electricity urban vs rural, annual growth rate was -3.75 % change on previous year in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Access to electricity urban vs rural, annual growth rate in South Africa, 1997–2024
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
South Africa recorded -3.75 % change on previous year for access to electricity urban vs rural, annual growth rate in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 28 years on record.
That represents a change of down 136.7% on the previous year and down 3,355.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, access to electricity urban vs rural, annual growth rate in South Africa peaked at 10.22 % change on previous year in 2023 and was at its lowest, -3.75 % change on previous year, in 2024.
That places South Africa 208th out of 211 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Access to electricity urban vs rural, annual growth rate in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 0.1369 % change on previous year | — |
| 1998 | -1.42 % change on previous year | -1138.9% |
| 1999 | 1.65 % change on previous year | -216.1% |
| 2000 | 0.0113 % change on previous year | -99.3% |
| 2001 | 0.1168 % change on previous year | +930.8% |
| 2002 | 0 % change on previous year | -100.0% |
| 2003 | 2.33 % change on previous year | — |
| 2004 | -2.28 % change on previous year | -197.7% |
| 2005 | 0.1167 % change on previous year | -105.1% |
| 2006 | 0.1166 % change on previous year | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 0.1164 % change on previous year | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 0.1163 % change on previous year | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 0.2323 % change on previous year | +99.8% |
| 2010 | 0.1159 % change on previous year | -50.1% |
| 2011 | 0.1157 % change on previous year | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 0.2312 % change on previous year | +99.8% |
| 2013 | 0.1153 % change on previous year | -50.1% |
| 2014 | 0.1152 % change on previous year | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 0.1151 % change on previous year | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 0.1149 % change on previous year | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 0.1148 % change on previous year | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 0 % change on previous year | -100.0% |
| 2019 | 0.1147 % change on previous year | — |
| 2020 | 0 % change on previous year | -100.0% |
| 2021 | 0.1145 % change on previous year | — |
| 2022 | -0.3432 % change on previous year | -399.7% |
| 2023 | 10.22 % change on previous year | -3076.9% |
| 2024 | -3.75 % change on previous year | -136.7% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's -3.75 % change on previous year is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.8916 % change on previous year. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Access to electricity urban vs rural, annual growth rate 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +3076.9% | -0.3432 % change on previous year | 10.22 % change on previous year |
| 1998 | -1138.9% | 0.1369 % change on previous year | -1.42 % change on previous year |
| 2001 | +930.8% | 0.0113 % change on previous year | 0.1168 % change on previous year |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.1218 % change on previous year | -1.42 % change on previous year | 1.65 % change on previous year | 3 |
| 2000s | 0.088 % change on previous year | -2.28 % change on previous year | 2.33 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.1153 % change on previous year | 0 % change on previous year | 0.2312 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.25 % change on previous year | -3.75 % change on previous year | 10.22 % change on previous year | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 205 Marshall Islands -2.6 % change on previous year compare
- 206 Mali -3.17 % change on previous year compare
- 207 Sao Tome and Principe -3.66 % change on previous year compare
- 209 Somalia -7.09 % change on previous year compare
- 210 Zambia -10.68 % change on previous year compare
- 211 Rwanda -11.91 % change on previous year compare
More energy & mining data for South Africa
- Ores and metals imports 2.5% (2025)
- Gas production 0.6284 terawatt-hours (2024)
- Fossil fuel production per person, by fuel 9.82 kilowatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel 0.6284 terawatt-hours (2024)
- Gas production per person 9.82 kilowatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Gas production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Gas production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary energy use, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is access to electricity urban vs rural, annual growth rate in South Africa?
- Access to electricity urban vs rural, annual growth rate in South Africa was -3.75 % change on previous year in 2024, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest access to electricity urban vs rural, annual growth rate recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 10.22 % change on previous year in 2023.
- What is the lowest access to electricity urban vs rural, annual growth rate recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -3.75 % change on previous year in 2024.
- How does South Africa rank for access to electricity urban vs rural, annual growth rate?
- South Africa ranks 208th out of 211 countries with data for 2024.
- Is access to electricity urban vs rural, annual growth rate rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3,355.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Access to electricity urban vs rural, annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 28 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
The year-on-year percentage change in Access to electricity urban vs rural. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- Access to electricity urban vs rural Our World in Data
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
The year-on-year percentage change in Access to electricity urban vs rural. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.