Coal production in South Africa
South Africa: Coal production was 1,552 terawatt-hours in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
1,552 terawatt-hours
Change on year
down 0.2%
World rank
8th
of 220 countries
All-time high
1,722 terawatt-hours
in 2014
All-time low
6.68 terawatt-hours
in 1900
Years of data
126
1900–2025
Coal production in South Africa, 1900–2025
Source: Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in terawatt-hours.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 1,552 terawatt-hours for coal production in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.2% on the previous year and down 6.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, coal production in South Africa peaked at 1,722 terawatt-hours in 2014 and was at its lowest, 6.68 terawatt-hours, in 1900.
South Africa ranks 8th of 220 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Coal production in South Africa, year by year
| Year | terawatt-hours | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1900 | 6.68 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1901 | 11.21 terawatt-hours | +67.8% |
| 1902 | 16.71 terawatt-hours | +49.1% |
| 1903 | 22.33 terawatt-hours | +33.6% |
| 1904 | 25.16 terawatt-hours | +12.7% |
| 1905 | 28.76 terawatt-hours | +14.3% |
| 1906 | 32.89 terawatt-hours | +14.3% |
| 1907 | 36.29 terawatt-hours | +10.4% |
| 1908 | 37.32 terawatt-hours | +2.8% |
| 1909 | 42.96 terawatt-hours | +15.1% |
| 1910 | 48.71 terawatt-hours | +13.4% |
| 1911 | 46.88 terawatt-hours | -3.8% |
| 1912 | 49.77 terawatt-hours | +6.2% |
| 1913 | 54.45 terawatt-hours | +9.4% |
| 1914 | 52.79 terawatt-hours | -3.1% |
| 1915 | 53.1 terawatt-hours | +0.6% |
| 1916 | 62.57 terawatt-hours | +17.8% |
| 1917 | 66.96 terawatt-hours | +7.0% |
| 1918 | 63.75 terawatt-hours | -4.8% |
| 1919 | 66.38 terawatt-hours | +4.1% |
| 1920 | 73.63 terawatt-hours | +10.9% |
| 1921 | 72.9 terawatt-hours | -1.0% |
| 1922 | 62.5 terawatt-hours | -14.3% |
| 1923 | 75.85 terawatt-hours | +21.4% |
| 1924 | 79.68 terawatt-hours | +5.0% |
| 1925 | 83.05 terawatt-hours | +4.2% |
| 1926 | 87.29 terawatt-hours | +5.1% |
| 1927 | 84.8 terawatt-hours | -2.9% |
| 1928 | 84.97 terawatt-hours | +0.2% |
| 1929 | 87.75 terawatt-hours | +3.3% |
| 1930 | 82.39 terawatt-hours | -6.1% |
| 1931 | 73.35 terawatt-hours | -11.0% |
| 1932 | 66.88 terawatt-hours | -8.8% |
| 1933 | 72.23 terawatt-hours | +8.0% |
| 1934 | 82.2 terawatt-hours | +13.8% |
| 1935 | 91.5 terawatt-hours | +11.3% |
| 1936 | 100.05 terawatt-hours | +9.3% |
| 1937 | 104.42 terawatt-hours | +4.4% |
| 1938 | 109.77 terawatt-hours | +5.1% |
| 1939 | 113.85 terawatt-hours | +3.7% |
| 1940 | 117.92 terawatt-hours | +3.6% |
| 1941 | 125.91 terawatt-hours | +6.8% |
| 1942 | 137.56 terawatt-hours | +9.3% |
| 1943 | 138.59 terawatt-hours | +0.7% |
| 1944 | 154.95 terawatt-hours | +11.8% |
| 1945 | 158.77 terawatt-hours | +2.5% |
| 1946 | 159.09 terawatt-hours | +0.2% |
| 1947 | 158.39 terawatt-hours | -0.4% |
| 1948 | 161.94 terawatt-hours | +2.2% |
| 1949 | 171.86 terawatt-hours | +6.1% |
| 1950 | 178.45 terawatt-hours | +3.8% |
| 1951 | 179.52 terawatt-hours | +0.6% |
| 1952 | 189.18 terawatt-hours | +5.4% |
| 1953 | 191.84 terawatt-hours | +1.4% |
| 1954 | 197.6 terawatt-hours | +3.0% |
| 1955 | 216.45 terawatt-hours | +9.5% |
| 1956 | 226.5 terawatt-hours | +4.6% |
| 1957 | 234.37 terawatt-hours | +3.5% |
| 1958 | 249.98 terawatt-hours | +6.7% |
| 1959 | 245.72 terawatt-hours | -1.7% |
| 1960 | 257.31 terawatt-hours | +4.7% |
| 1961 | 266.7 terawatt-hours | +3.6% |
| 1962 | 278.22 terawatt-hours | +4.3% |
| 1963 | 286.17 terawatt-hours | +2.9% |
| 1964 | 302.77 terawatt-hours | +5.8% |
| 1965 | 326.66 terawatt-hours | +7.9% |
| 1966 | 323.17 terawatt-hours | -1.1% |
| 1967 | 332.32 terawatt-hours | +2.8% |
| 1968 | 348.19 terawatt-hours | +4.8% |
| 1969 | 355.59 terawatt-hours | +2.1% |
| 1970 | 368.13 terawatt-hours | +3.5% |
| 1971 | 395.45 terawatt-hours | +7.4% |
| 1972 | 393.93 terawatt-hours | -0.4% |
| 1973 | 420.3 terawatt-hours | +6.7% |
| 1974 | 445.27 terawatt-hours | +5.9% |
| 1975 | 468.08 terawatt-hours | +5.1% |
| 1976 | 515.35 terawatt-hours | +10.1% |
| 1977 | 575.73 terawatt-hours | +11.7% |
| 1978 | 612.32 terawatt-hours | +6.4% |
| 1979 | 702.36 terawatt-hours | +14.7% |
| 1980 | 740.02 terawatt-hours | +5.4% |
| 1981 | 870.63 terawatt-hours | +17.6% |
| 1982 | 963.16 terawatt-hours | +10.6% |
| 1983 | 973.39 terawatt-hours | +1.1% |
| 1984 | 1,090 terawatt-hours | +12.0% |
| 1985 | 1,160 terawatt-hours | +6.4% |
| 1986 | 1,183 terawatt-hours | +2.0% |
| 1987 | 1,179 terawatt-hours | -0.3% |
| 1988 | 1,212 terawatt-hours | +2.7% |
| 1989 | 1,176 terawatt-hours | -3.0% |
| 1990 | 1,165 terawatt-hours | -0.9% |
| 1991 | 1,188 terawatt-hours | +2.0% |
| 1992 | 1,217 terawatt-hours | +2.4% |
| 1993 | 1,244 terawatt-hours | +2.2% |
| 1994 | 1,292 terawatt-hours | +3.9% |
| 1995 | 1,360 terawatt-hours | +5.2% |
| 1996 | 1,360 terawatt-hours | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 1,450 terawatt-hours | +6.6% |
| 1998 | 1,466 terawatt-hours | +1.1% |
| 1999 | 1,469 terawatt-hours | +0.2% |
| 2000 | 1,473 terawatt-hours | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 1,369 terawatt-hours | -7.1% |
| 2002 | 1,354 terawatt-hours | -1.1% |
| 2003 | 1,462 terawatt-hours | +8.0% |
| 2004 | 1,496 terawatt-hours | +2.3% |
| 2005 | 1,609 terawatt-hours | +7.6% |
| 2006 | 1,608 terawatt-hours | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 1,628 terawatt-hours | +1.3% |
| 2008 | 1,661 terawatt-hours | +2.0% |
| 2009 | 1,643 terawatt-hours | -1.1% |
| 2010 | 1,694 terawatt-hours | +3.1% |
| 2011 | 1,652 terawatt-hours | -2.5% |
| 2012 | 1,707 terawatt-hours | +3.4% |
| 2013 | 1,691 terawatt-hours | -1.0% |
| 2014 | 1,722 terawatt-hours | +1.8% |
| 2015 | 1,656 terawatt-hours | -3.8% |
| 2016 | 1,677 terawatt-hours | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 1,659 terawatt-hours | -1.1% |
| 2018 | 1,693 terawatt-hours | +2.1% |
| 2019 | 1,699 terawatt-hours | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 1,614 terawatt-hours | -5.0% |
| 2021 | 1,539 terawatt-hours | -4.6% |
| 2022 | 1,515 terawatt-hours | -1.6% |
| 2023 | 1,539 terawatt-hours | +1.6% |
| 2024 | 1,555 terawatt-hours | +1.1% |
| 2025 | 1,552 terawatt-hours | -0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 26.03 terawatt-hours | 6.68 terawatt-hours | 42.96 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1910s | 56.53 terawatt-hours | 46.88 terawatt-hours | 66.96 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1920s | 79.24 terawatt-hours | 62.5 terawatt-hours | 87.75 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1930s | 89.66 terawatt-hours | 66.88 terawatt-hours | 113.85 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1940s | 148.5 terawatt-hours | 117.92 terawatt-hours | 171.86 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1950s | 210.96 terawatt-hours | 178.45 terawatt-hours | 249.98 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1960s | 307.71 terawatt-hours | 257.31 terawatt-hours | 355.59 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1970s | 489.69 terawatt-hours | 368.13 terawatt-hours | 702.36 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1980s | 1,055 terawatt-hours | 740.02 terawatt-hours | 1,212 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1990s | 1,321 terawatt-hours | 1,165 terawatt-hours | 1,469 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,530 terawatt-hours | 1,354 terawatt-hours | 1,661 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,685 terawatt-hours | 1,652 terawatt-hours | 1,722 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,552 terawatt-hours | 1,515 terawatt-hours | 1,614 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 coal production in South Africa?
- Coal production in South Africa was 1,552 terawatt-hours in 2025, according to Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest coal production recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1,722 terawatt-hours in 2014.
- What is the lowest coal production recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.68 terawatt-hours in 1900.
- How does South Africa rank for coal production?
- South Africa ranks 8th out of 220 countries with data for 2025.
- Is coal production rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.3%. 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) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Coal production. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 126 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Measured in terawatt-hours.