Coal production per person in South Africa
South Africa: Coal production per person was 23,973 kilowatt-hours per person in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
23,973 kilowatt-hours per person
Change on year
down 1.3%
World rank
4th
of 219 countries
All-time high
33,108 kilowatt-hours per person
in 1985
All-time low
1,294 kilowatt-hours per person
in 1900
Years of data
126
1900–2025
Coal production per person 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 kilowatt-hours per person.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 23,973 kilowatt-hours per person for coal production per person in 2025.
That represents a change of down 1.3% on the previous year and down 17.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, coal production per person in South Africa peaked at 33,108 kilowatt-hours per person in 1985 and was at its lowest, 1,294 kilowatt-hours per person, in 1900.
That places South Africa 4th out of 219 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Coal production per person in South Africa, year by year
| Year | kilowatt-hours per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1900 | 1,294 kilowatt-hours per person | — |
| 1901 | 2,140 kilowatt-hours per person | +65.4% |
| 1902 | 3,139 kilowatt-hours per person | +46.7% |
| 1903 | 4,124 kilowatt-hours per person | +31.4% |
| 1904 | 4,568 kilowatt-hours per person | +10.8% |
| 1905 | 5,135 kilowatt-hours per person | +12.4% |
| 1906 | 5,773 kilowatt-hours per person | +12.4% |
| 1907 | 6,263 kilowatt-hours per person | +8.5% |
| 1908 | 6,332 kilowatt-hours per person | +1.1% |
| 1909 | 7,168 kilowatt-hours per person | +13.2% |
| 1910 | 7,993 kilowatt-hours per person | +11.5% |
| 1911 | 7,568 kilowatt-hours per person | -5.3% |
| 1912 | 7,905 kilowatt-hours per person | +4.4% |
| 1913 | 8,511 kilowatt-hours per person | +7.7% |
| 1914 | 8,119 kilowatt-hours per person | -4.6% |
| 1915 | 8,037 kilowatt-hours per person | -1.0% |
| 1916 | 9,320 kilowatt-hours per person | +16.0% |
| 1917 | 9,815 kilowatt-hours per person | +5.3% |
| 1918 | 9,202 kilowatt-hours per person | -6.2% |
| 1919 | 9,424 kilowatt-hours per person | +2.4% |
| 1920 | 10,272 kilowatt-hours per person | +9.0% |
| 1921 | 9,982 kilowatt-hours per person | -2.8% |
| 1922 | 8,390 kilowatt-hours per person | -15.9% |
| 1923 | 9,973 kilowatt-hours per person | +18.9% |
| 1924 | 10,260 kilowatt-hours per person | +2.9% |
| 1925 | 10,475 kilowatt-hours per person | +2.1% |
| 1926 | 10,783 kilowatt-hours per person | +2.9% |
| 1927 | 10,259 kilowatt-hours per person | -4.9% |
| 1928 | 10,069 kilowatt-hours per person | -1.9% |
| 1929 | 10,186 kilowatt-hours per person | +1.2% |
| 1930 | 9,370 kilowatt-hours per person | -8.0% |
| 1931 | 8,174 kilowatt-hours per person | -12.8% |
| 1932 | 7,304 kilowatt-hours per person | -10.6% |
| 1933 | 7,732 kilowatt-hours per person | +5.9% |
| 1934 | 8,626 kilowatt-hours per person | +11.6% |
| 1935 | 9,412 kilowatt-hours per person | +9.1% |
| 1936 | 10,087 kilowatt-hours per person | +7.2% |
| 1937 | 10,320 kilowatt-hours per person | +2.3% |
| 1938 | 10,634 kilowatt-hours per person | +3.0% |
| 1939 | 10,814 kilowatt-hours per person | +1.7% |
| 1940 | 10,982 kilowatt-hours per person | +1.6% |
| 1941 | 11,502 kilowatt-hours per person | +4.7% |
| 1942 | 12,328 kilowatt-hours per person | +7.2% |
| 1943 | 12,186 kilowatt-hours per person | -1.2% |
| 1944 | 13,367 kilowatt-hours per person | +9.7% |
| 1945 | 13,439 kilowatt-hours per person | +0.5% |
| 1946 | 13,213 kilowatt-hours per person | -1.7% |
| 1947 | 12,907 kilowatt-hours per person | -2.3% |
| 1948 | 12,948 kilowatt-hours per person | +0.3% |
| 1949 | 13,464 kilowatt-hours per person | +4.0% |
| 1950 | 13,686 kilowatt-hours per person | +1.6% |
| 1951 | 13,489 kilowatt-hours per person | -1.4% |
| 1952 | 13,915 kilowatt-hours per person | +3.2% |
| 1953 | 13,808 kilowatt-hours per person | -0.8% |
| 1954 | 13,912 kilowatt-hours per person | +0.8% |
| 1955 | 14,894 kilowatt-hours per person | +7.1% |
| 1956 | 15,221 kilowatt-hours per person | +2.2% |
| 1957 | 15,374 kilowatt-hours per person | +1.0% |
| 1958 | 16,004 kilowatt-hours per person | +4.1% |
| 1959 | 15,343 kilowatt-hours per person | -4.1% |
| 1960 | 15,652 kilowatt-hours per person | +2.0% |
| 1961 | 15,773 kilowatt-hours per person | +0.8% |
| 1962 | 15,973 kilowatt-hours per person | +1.3% |
| 1963 | 15,939 kilowatt-hours per person | -0.2% |
| 1964 | 16,356 kilowatt-hours per person | +2.6% |
| 1965 | 17,112 kilowatt-hours per person | +4.6% |
| 1966 | 16,413 kilowatt-hours per person | -4.1% |
| 1967 | 16,359 kilowatt-hours per person | -0.3% |
| 1968 | 16,614 kilowatt-hours per person | +1.6% |
| 1969 | 16,451 kilowatt-hours per person | -1.0% |
| 1970 | 16,523 kilowatt-hours per person | +0.4% |
| 1971 | 17,237 kilowatt-hours per person | +4.3% |
| 1972 | 16,685 kilowatt-hours per person | -3.2% |
| 1973 | 17,300 kilowatt-hours per person | +3.7% |
| 1974 | 17,818 kilowatt-hours per person | +3.0% |
| 1975 | 18,220 kilowatt-hours per person | +2.3% |
| 1976 | 19,524 kilowatt-hours per person | +7.2% |
| 1977 | 21,230 kilowatt-hours per person | +8.7% |
| 1978 | 21,971 kilowatt-hours per person | +3.5% |
| 1979 | 24,529 kilowatt-hours per person | +11.6% |
| 1980 | 25,070 kilowatt-hours per person | +2.2% |
| 1981 | 28,507 kilowatt-hours per person | +13.7% |
| 1982 | 30,465 kilowatt-hours per person | +6.9% |
| 1983 | 29,732 kilowatt-hours per person | -2.4% |
| 1984 | 32,160 kilowatt-hours per person | +8.2% |
| 1985 | 33,108 kilowatt-hours per person | +2.9% |
| 1986 | 32,703 kilowatt-hours per person | -1.2% |
| 1987 | 31,597 kilowatt-hours per person | -3.4% |
| 1988 | 31,490 kilowatt-hours per person | -0.3% |
| 1989 | 29,664 kilowatt-hours per person | -5.8% |
| 1990 | 28,585 kilowatt-hours per person | -3.6% |
| 1991 | 28,502 kilowatt-hours per person | -0.3% |
| 1992 | 28,662 kilowatt-hours per person | +0.6% |
| 1993 | 28,720 kilowatt-hours per person | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 29,370 kilowatt-hours per person | +2.3% |
| 1995 | 30,528 kilowatt-hours per person | +3.9% |
| 1996 | 30,142 kilowatt-hours per person | -1.3% |
| 1997 | 31,756 kilowatt-hours per person | +5.4% |
| 1998 | 31,720 kilowatt-hours per person | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 31,425 kilowatt-hours per person | -0.9% |
| 2000 | 31,229 kilowatt-hours per person | -0.6% |
| 2001 | 28,777 kilowatt-hours per person | -7.9% |
| 2002 | 28,202 kilowatt-hours per person | -2.0% |
| 2003 | 30,143 kilowatt-hours per person | +6.9% |
| 2004 | 30,531 kilowatt-hours per person | +1.3% |
| 2005 | 32,520 kilowatt-hours per person | +6.5% |
| 2006 | 32,166 kilowatt-hours per person | -1.1% |
| 2007 | 32,228 kilowatt-hours per person | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 32,498 kilowatt-hours per person | +0.8% |
| 2009 | 31,762 kilowatt-hours per person | -2.3% |
| 2010 | 32,355 kilowatt-hours per person | +1.9% |
| 2011 | 31,169 kilowatt-hours per person | -3.7% |
| 2012 | 31,747 kilowatt-hours per person | +1.9% |
| 2013 | 30,927 kilowatt-hours per person | -2.6% |
| 2014 | 30,980 kilowatt-hours per person | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 29,196 kilowatt-hours per person | -5.8% |
| 2016 | 29,282 kilowatt-hours per person | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 28,777 kilowatt-hours per person | -1.7% |
| 2018 | 28,880 kilowatt-hours per person | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 28,510 kilowatt-hours per person | -1.3% |
| 2020 | 26,652 kilowatt-hours per person | -6.5% |
| 2021 | 25,026 kilowatt-hours per person | -6.1% |
| 2022 | 24,280 kilowatt-hours per person | -3.0% |
| 2023 | 24,348 kilowatt-hours per person | +0.3% |
| 2024 | 24,298 kilowatt-hours per person | -0.2% |
| 2025 | 23,973 kilowatt-hours per person | -1.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 4,594 kilowatt-hours per person | 1,294 kilowatt-hours per person | 7,168 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 1910s | 8,589 kilowatt-hours per person | 7,568 kilowatt-hours per person | 9,815 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 1920s | 10,065 kilowatt-hours per person | 8,390 kilowatt-hours per person | 10,783 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 1930s | 9,247 kilowatt-hours per person | 7,304 kilowatt-hours per person | 10,814 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 1940s | 12,634 kilowatt-hours per person | 10,982 kilowatt-hours per person | 13,464 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 1950s | 14,564 kilowatt-hours per person | 13,489 kilowatt-hours per person | 16,004 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 1960s | 16,264 kilowatt-hours per person | 15,652 kilowatt-hours per person | 17,112 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 1970s | 19,104 kilowatt-hours per person | 16,523 kilowatt-hours per person | 24,529 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 30,450 kilowatt-hours per person | 25,070 kilowatt-hours per person | 33,108 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 29,941 kilowatt-hours per person | 28,502 kilowatt-hours per person | 31,756 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 31,006 kilowatt-hours per person | 28,202 kilowatt-hours per person | 32,520 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 30,182 kilowatt-hours per person | 28,510 kilowatt-hours per person | 32,355 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 24,763 kilowatt-hours per person | 23,973 kilowatt-hours per person | 26,652 kilowatt-hours per person | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 1 Mongolia 158,792 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 2 Australia 112,126 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 3 Kazakhstan 27,273 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 5 China 18,569 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 6 Russian Federation 17,674 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 7 Bosnia and Herzegovina 17,392 kilowatt-hours per person compare
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 coal production per person in South Africa?
- Coal production per person in South Africa was 23,973 kilowatt-hours per person 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 per person recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 33,108 kilowatt-hours per person in 1985.
- What is the lowest coal production per person recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,294 kilowatt-hours per person in 1900.
- How does South Africa rank for coal production per person?
- South Africa ranks 4th out of 219 countries with data for 2025.
- Is coal production per person rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.9%. 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 per person. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Measured in kilowatt-hours per person.