Access to electricity vs gdp per capita in South Africa
South Africa: Access to electricity vs gdp per capita was 90.2 in 2024. ▲ Rising
Access to electricity vs gdp per capita in South Africa, 1996–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for access to electricity vs gdp per capita in South Africa is 90.2, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 29 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.9% on the previous year and up 5.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, access to electricity vs gdp per capita in South Africa peaked at 90.2 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 57.6, in 1996.
That places South Africa 160th out of 214 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 29 years of available data.
Access to electricity vs gdp per capita in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 57.6 | — |
| 1997 | 69.48 | +20.6% |
| 1998 | 64.9 | -6.6% |
| 1999 | 71.33 | +9.9% |
| 2000 | 72.4 | +1.5% |
| 2001 | 70.2 | -3.0% |
| 2002 | 76.7 | +9.3% |
| 2003 | 78.8 | +2.7% |
| 2004 | 80.6 | +2.3% |
| 2005 | 80.8 | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 80.7 | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 82 | +1.6% |
| 2008 | 81.9 | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 82.6 | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 82.8 | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 83.6 | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 85.2 | +1.9% |
| 2013 | 85.2 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 85.9 | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 85.3 | -0.7% |
| 2016 | 83.9 | -1.6% |
| 2017 | 84.4 | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 84.7 | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 85 | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 90 | +5.9% |
| 2021 | 89.3 | -0.8% |
| 2022 | 86.5 | -3.1% |
| 2023 | 87.7 | +1.4% |
| 2024 | 90.2 | +2.9% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 90.2 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 100, 90% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 90.2 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 57.8, 1.6× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 65.83 | 57.6 | 71.33 | 4 |
| 2000s | 78.67 | 70.2 | 82.6 | 10 |
| 2010s | 84.6 | 82.8 | 85.9 | 10 |
| 2020s | 88.74 | 86.5 | 90.2 | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
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 vs gdp per capita in South Africa?
- Access to electricity vs gdp per capita in South Africa was 90.2 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest access to electricity vs gdp per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 90.2 in 2024.
- What is the lowest access to electricity vs gdp per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 57.6 in 1996.
- How does South Africa rank for access to electricity vs gdp per capita?
- South Africa ranks 160th out of 214 countries with data for 2024.
- Is access to electricity vs gdp per capita rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Access to electricity vs gdp per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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