Annual percentage change in primary energy from fossil fuels in South Africa
South Africa: Annual percentage change in primary energy from fossil fuels was -1.1% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Annual percentage change in primary energy from fossil fuels in South Africa, 1966–2025
Source: Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for annual percentage change in primary energy from fossil fuels in South Africa is -1.1%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 125.4% on the previous year and down 427.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual percentage change in primary energy from fossil fuels in South Africa peaked at 16.2% in 1981 and was at its lowest, -10.3%, in 2020.
That places South Africa 50th out of 76 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual percentage change in primary energy from fossil fuels in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1966 | 0.6% | — |
| 1967 | 4.1% | +565.5% |
| 1968 | 5.5% | +33.8% |
| 1969 | 3.0% | -46.5% |
| 1970 | 4.5% | +51.8% |
| 1971 | 7.7% | +70.2% |
| 1972 | 2.8% | -63.0% |
| 1973 | 7.5% | +165.5% |
| 1974 | 2.8% | -62.8% |
| 1975 | 6.7% | +137.7% |
| 1976 | 4.0% | -40.1% |
| 1977 | 2.4% | -38.9% |
| 1978 | -1.0% | -139.5% |
| 1979 | 3.7% | -481.9% |
| 1980 | 6.8% | +86.2% |
| 1981 | 16.2% | +136.4% |
| 1982 | 7.9% | -51.5% |
| 1983 | 1.5% | -81.1% |
| 1984 | 8.0% | +434.8% |
| 1985 | 1.7% | -78.8% |
| 1986 | 0.5% | -71.7% |
| 1987 | 2.5% | +415.7% |
| 1988 | 8.5% | +246.6% |
| 1989 | -4.7% | -154.9% |
| 1990 | 4.9% | -203.9% |
| 1991 | -1.2% | -125.1% |
| 1992 | 0.8% | -166.2% |
| 1993 | 0.6% | -28.4% |
| 1994 | 3.4% | +491.3% |
| 1995 | 4.4% | +27.3% |
| 1996 | 1.7% | -61.1% |
| 1997 | 1.9% | +11.0% |
| 1998 | -2.0% | -204.2% |
| 1999 | 4.0% | -301.7% |
| 2000 | -0.1% | -102.0% |
| 2001 | 1.0% | -1370.0% |
| 2002 | -3.1% | -412.6% |
| 2003 | 3.8% | -224.3% |
| 2004 | 6.4% | +69.0% |
| 2005 | 4.2% | -35.1% |
| 2006 | 5.6% | +34.7% |
| 2007 | 2.7% | -51.3% |
| 2008 | 1.9% | -30.7% |
| 2009 | -5.5% | -389.2% |
| 2010 | 3.4% | -161.3% |
| 2011 | -3.2% | -195.9% |
| 2012 | 4.3% | -232.1% |
| 2013 | -0.3% | -106.8% |
| 2014 | -2.8% | +873.1% |
| 2015 | 0.3% | -111.4% |
| 2016 | 0.5% | +69.5% |
| 2017 | -4.6% | -944.8% |
| 2018 | 4.2% | -191.2% |
| 2019 | 4.5% | +7.7% |
| 2020 | -10.3% | -325.9% |
| 2021 | 0.5% | -104.5% |
| 2022 | -3.9% | -957.5% |
| 2023 | 4.6% | -216.7% |
| 2024 | 4.1% | -9.2% |
| 2025 | -1.1% | -125.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 3.3% | 0.6% | 5.5% | 4 |
| 1970s | 4.1% | -1.0% | 7.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.9% | -4.7% | 16.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.8% | -2.0% | 4.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.7% | -5.5% | 6.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.6% | -4.6% | 4.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | -1.0% | -10.3% | 4.6% | 6 |
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 annual percentage change in primary energy from fossil fuels in South Africa?
- Annual percentage change in primary energy from fossil fuels in South Africa was -1.1% in 2025, according to Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual percentage change in primary energy from fossil fuels recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 16.2% in 1981.
- What is the lowest annual percentage change in primary energy from fossil fuels recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -10.3% in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for annual percentage change in primary energy from fossil fuels?
- South Africa ranks 50th out of 76 countries with data for 2025.
- Is annual percentage change in primary energy from fossil fuels rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 427.1%. 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) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual percentage change in primary energy from fossil fuels. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage change in total energy supply relative to the previous year.