Alternative and nuclear energy in South Africa
South Africa: Alternative and nuclear energy was 3.6% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Alternative and nuclear energy in South Africa, 1990–2023
Source: IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, International Energy Agency (IEA). Measured in % of total energy use.
Analysis
In 2023, alternative and nuclear energy in South Africa stood at 3.6%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 10.7% on the previous year and up 18.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, alternative and nuclear energy in South Africa peaked at 4.0% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 2.0%, in 1993.
That places South Africa 94th out of 151 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Alternative and nuclear energy in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of total energy use | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 2.5% | — |
| 1991 | 2.7% | +8.4% |
| 1992 | 2.8% | +2.2% |
| 1993 | 2.0% | -28.1% |
| 1994 | 2.6% | +32.0% |
| 1995 | 2.9% | +8.0% |
| 1996 | 2.9% | +3.2% |
| 1997 | 3.1% | +7.1% |
| 1998 | 3.3% | +3.8% |
| 1999 | 3.1% | -5.8% |
| 2000 | 3.3% | +5.8% |
| 2001 | 2.9% | -12.0% |
| 2002 | 3.4% | +17.1% |
| 2003 | 3.0% | -9.8% |
| 2004 | 3.0% | -2.6% |
| 2005 | 2.6% | -11.2% |
| 2006 | 2.4% | -8.4% |
| 2007 | 2.3% | -2.5% |
| 2008 | 2.5% | +8.1% |
| 2009 | 2.5% | -1.6% |
| 2010 | 2.6% | +3.6% |
| 2011 | 2.8% | +8.5% |
| 2012 | 2.6% | -8.6% |
| 2013 | 3.0% | +18.0% |
| 2014 | 2.9% | -3.6% |
| 2015 | 3.0% | +2.1% |
| 2016 | 3.6% | +20.9% |
| 2017 | 3.6% | +1.1% |
| 2018 | 3.4% | -6.6% |
| 2019 | 3.7% | +8.6% |
| 2020 | 3.4% | -8.2% |
| 2021 | 4.0% | +18.6% |
| 2022 | 4.0% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 3.6% | -10.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.8% | 2.0% | 3.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.8% | 2.3% | 3.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.1% | 2.6% | 3.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.7% | 3.4% | 4.0% | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
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)
- Primary energy use, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (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)
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fuel imports 17.7% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is alternative and nuclear energy in South Africa?
- Alternative and nuclear energy in South Africa was 3.6% in 2023, according to IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, International Energy Agency (IEA).
- What is the highest alternative and nuclear energy recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 4.0% in 2021.
- What is the lowest alternative and nuclear energy recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.0% in 1993.
- How does South Africa rank for alternative and nuclear energy?
- South Africa ranks 94th out of 151 countries with data for 2023.
- Is alternative and nuclear energy rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, International Energy Agency (IEA), published as part of Alternative and nuclear energy (% of total energy use). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Clean energy is noncarbohydrate energy that does not produce carbon dioxide when generated. It includes hydropower and nuclear, geothermal, and solar power, among others. This is the share of total energy supply that is non-fossil.