Annual change in primary energy from fossil fuels in South Africa
South Africa: Annual change in primary energy from fossil fuels was -14.19 terawatt-hours in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-14.19 terawatt-hours
Change on year
down 126.5%
World rank
65th
of 76 countries
All-time high
104.11 terawatt-hours
in 1981
All-time low
-146.27 terawatt-hours
in 2020
Years of data
60
1966–2025
Annual change in primary energy from fossil fuels in South Africa, 1966–2025
Source: Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in terawatt-hours.
Analysis
The most recent figure for annual change in primary energy from fossil fuels in South Africa is -14.19 terawatt-hours, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 126.5% on the previous year and down 423.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual change in primary energy from fossil fuels in South Africa peaked at 104.11 terawatt-hours in 1981 and was at its lowest, -146.27 terawatt-hours, in 2020.
That places South Africa 65th out of 76 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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 from fossil fuels in South Africa, year by year
| Year | terawatt-hours | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1966 | 2.2 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1967 | 14.76 terawatt-hours | +569.7% |
| 1968 | 20.56 terawatt-hours | +39.3% |
| 1969 | 11.62 terawatt-hours | -43.5% |
| 1970 | 18.15 terawatt-hours | +56.3% |
| 1971 | 32.29 terawatt-hours | +77.9% |
| 1972 | 12.87 terawatt-hours | -60.2% |
| 1973 | 35.13 terawatt-hours | +173.0% |
| 1974 | 14.06 terawatt-hours | -60.0% |
| 1975 | 34.35 terawatt-hours | +144.4% |
| 1976 | 21.96 terawatt-hours | -36.1% |
| 1977 | 13.96 terawatt-hours | -36.4% |
| 1978 | -5.64 terawatt-hours | -140.4% |
| 1979 | 21.35 terawatt-hours | -478.2% |
| 1980 | 41.22 terawatt-hours | +93.1% |
| 1981 | 104.11 terawatt-hours | +152.6% |
| 1982 | 58.67 terawatt-hours | -43.6% |
| 1983 | 11.98 terawatt-hours | -79.6% |
| 1984 | 65.03 terawatt-hours | +442.7% |
| 1985 | 14.9 terawatt-hours | -77.1% |
| 1986 | 4.29 terawatt-hours | -71.2% |
| 1987 | 22.25 terawatt-hours | +418.1% |
| 1988 | 79.01 terawatt-hours | +255.1% |
| 1989 | -47.11 terawatt-hours | -159.6% |
| 1990 | 46.64 terawatt-hours | -199.0% |
| 1991 | -12.26 terawatt-hours | -126.3% |
| 1992 | 8.01 terawatt-hours | -165.4% |
| 1993 | 5.78 terawatt-hours | -27.9% |
| 1994 | 34.38 terawatt-hours | +494.7% |
| 1995 | 45.27 terawatt-hours | +31.7% |
| 1996 | 18.37 terawatt-hours | -59.4% |
| 1997 | 20.75 terawatt-hours | +12.9% |
| 1998 | -22.03 terawatt-hours | -206.2% |
| 1999 | 43.57 terawatt-hours | -297.8% |
| 2000 | -0.8842 terawatt-hours | -102.0% |
| 2001 | 11.22 terawatt-hours | -1369.0% |
| 2002 | -35.42 terawatt-hours | -415.7% |
| 2003 | 42.69 terawatt-hours | -220.5% |
| 2004 | 74.88 terawatt-hours | +75.4% |
| 2005 | 51.7 terawatt-hours | -30.9% |
| 2006 | 72.57 terawatt-hours | +40.4% |
| 2007 | 37.3 terawatt-hours | -48.6% |
| 2008 | 26.55 terawatt-hours | -28.8% |
| 2009 | -78.24 terawatt-hours | -394.7% |
| 2010 | 45.36 terawatt-hours | -158.0% |
| 2011 | -44.94 terawatt-hours | -199.1% |
| 2012 | 57.47 terawatt-hours | -227.9% |
| 2013 | -4.07 terawatt-hours | -107.1% |
| 2014 | -39.54 terawatt-hours | +870.2% |
| 2015 | 4.39 terawatt-hours | -111.1% |
| 2016 | 7.46 terawatt-hours | +70.1% |
| 2017 | -63.39 terawatt-hours | -949.5% |
| 2018 | 55.17 terawatt-hours | -187.0% |
| 2019 | 61.94 terawatt-hours | +12.3% |
| 2020 | -146.27 terawatt-hours | -336.2% |
| 2021 | 5.84 terawatt-hours | -104.0% |
| 2022 | -50.33 terawatt-hours | -961.4% |
| 2023 | 56.45 terawatt-hours | -212.2% |
| 2024 | 53.62 terawatt-hours | -5.0% |
| 2025 | -14.19 terawatt-hours | -126.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 12.28 terawatt-hours | 2.2 terawatt-hours | 20.56 terawatt-hours | 4 |
| 1970s | 19.85 terawatt-hours | -5.64 terawatt-hours | 35.13 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1980s | 35.44 terawatt-hours | -47.11 terawatt-hours | 104.11 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1990s | 18.85 terawatt-hours | -22.03 terawatt-hours | 46.64 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 20.24 terawatt-hours | -78.24 terawatt-hours | 74.88 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.98 terawatt-hours | -63.39 terawatt-hours | 61.94 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | -15.81 terawatt-hours | -146.27 terawatt-hours | 56.45 terawatt-hours | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More energy & mining data for South Africa
- Fuel imports 17.7% (2025)
- Ores and metals imports 2.5% (2025)
- Ores and metals exports 30.3% (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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual change in primary energy from fossil fuels in South Africa?
- Annual change in primary energy from fossil fuels in South Africa was -14.19 terawatt-hours in 2025, according to Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual change in primary energy from fossil fuels recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 104.11 terawatt-hours in 1981.
- What is the lowest annual change in primary energy from fossil fuels recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -146.27 terawatt-hours in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for annual change in primary energy from fossil fuels?
- South Africa ranks 65th out of 76 countries with data for 2025.
- Is annual change in primary energy from fossil fuels rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 423.5%. 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); Smil (2017) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual change in primary energy from fossil fuels. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Change in total energy supply relative to the previous year, measured in terawatt-hours.