Share of primary energy from coal in South Africa
South Africa: Share of primary energy from coal was 72.4% in 2025. βΌ Falling
Share of primary energy from coal in South Africa, 1965β2025
Source: Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017); U.S. Energy Information Administration (2026) β with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, share of primary energy from coal in South Africa stood at 72.4%.
That represents a change of down 1.6% on the previous year and up 4.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of primary energy from coal in South Africa peaked at 81.0% in 1965 and was at its lowest, 68.6%, in 2017.
South Africa ranks 1st of 79 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 61 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 78.6% | 76.4% | 81.0% | 5 |
| 1970s | 74.5% | 72.6% | 76.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 78.7% | 76.2% | 80.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 74.6% | 73.0% | 76.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 72.8% | 71.4% | 74.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 71.1% | 68.6% | 73.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 71.9% | 70.3% | 73.6% | 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 share of primary energy from coal in South Africa?
- Share of primary energy from coal in South Africa was 72.4% in 2025, according to Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017); U.S. Energy Information Administration (2026) β with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of primary energy from coal recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 81.0% in 1965.
- What is the lowest share of primary energy from coal recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 68.6% in 2017.
- How does South Africa rank for share of primary energy from coal?
- South Africa ranks 1st out of 79 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of primary energy from coal rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017); U.S. Energy Information Administration (2026) β with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of primary energy from coal. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Measured as a percentage of total energy supply.