Electric power consumption (kWh per capita) in South Africa
South Africa: Electric power consumption (kWh per capita) was 3,308 kWh per capita in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
3,308 kWh per capita
Change on year
up 1.9%
World rank
65th
of 151 countries
All-time high
4,716 kWh per capita
in 2007
All-time low
3,247 kWh per capita
in 2023
Years of data
35
1990–2024
Electric power consumption in South Africa, 1990–2024
Source: IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, International Energy Agency (IEA). Measured in kWh per capita.
Analysis
In 2024, electric power consumption in South Africa stood at 3,308 kWh per capita.
That represents a change of up 1.9% on the previous year and down 19.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, electric power consumption in South Africa peaked at 4,716 kWh per capita in 2007 and was at its lowest, 3,247 kWh per capita, in 2023.
That places South Africa 65th out of 151 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Electric power consumption (kWh per capita) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | kWh per capita | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 3,828 kWh per capita | — |
| 1991 | 3,735 kWh per capita | -2.4% |
| 1992 | 3,642 kWh per capita | -2.5% |
| 1993 | 3,683 kWh per capita | +1.1% |
| 1994 | 3,750 kWh per capita | +1.8% |
| 1995 | 3,868 kWh per capita | +3.1% |
| 1996 | 4,405 kWh per capita | +13.9% |
| 1997 | 4,536 kWh per capita | +3.0% |
| 1998 | 4,354 kWh per capita | -4.0% |
| 1999 | 4,242 kWh per capita | -2.6% |
| 2000 | 4,367 kWh per capita | +2.9% |
| 2001 | 4,122 kWh per capita | -5.6% |
| 2002 | 4,353 kWh per capita | +5.6% |
| 2003 | 4,392 kWh per capita | +0.9% |
| 2004 | 4,431 kWh per capita | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 4,486 kWh per capita | +1.3% |
| 2006 | 4,579 kWh per capita | +2.1% |
| 2007 | 4,716 kWh per capita | +3.0% |
| 2008 | 4,543 kWh per capita | -3.7% |
| 2009 | 4,321 kWh per capita | -4.9% |
| 2010 | 4,445 kWh per capita | +2.9% |
| 2011 | 4,481 kWh per capita | +0.8% |
| 2012 | 4,289 kWh per capita | -4.3% |
| 2013 | 4,208 kWh per capita | -1.9% |
| 2014 | 4,119 kWh per capita | -2.1% |
| 2015 | 4,023 kWh per capita | -2.3% |
| 2016 | 3,936 kWh per capita | -2.2% |
| 2017 | 3,940 kWh per capita | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 3,906 kWh per capita | -0.9% |
| 2019 | 3,769 kWh per capita | -3.5% |
| 2020 | 3,478 kWh per capita | -7.7% |
| 2021 | 3,518 kWh per capita | +1.2% |
| 2022 | 3,405 kWh per capita | -3.2% |
| 2023 | 3,247 kWh per capita | -4.6% |
| 2024 | 3,308 kWh per capita | +1.9% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 3,308 kWh per capita is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 2,677 kWh per capita, 1.2× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 3,308 kWh per capita is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 222.31 kWh per capita, 14.9× the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4,004 kWh per capita | 3,642 kWh per capita | 4,536 kWh per capita | 10 |
| 2000s | 4,431 kWh per capita | 4,122 kWh per capita | 4,716 kWh per capita | 10 |
| 2010s | 4,111 kWh per capita | 3,769 kWh per capita | 4,481 kWh per capita | 10 |
| 2020s | 3,391 kWh per capita | 3,247 kWh per capita | 3,518 kWh per capita | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 62 Bosnia and Herzegovina 3,860 kWh per capita compare
- 63 Georgia 3,486 kWh per capita compare
- 64 Turkmenistan 3,397 kWh per capita compare
- 66 North Macedonia 3,301 kWh per capita compare
- 67 Brazil 3,138 kWh per capita compare
- 68 Thailand 3,080 kWh per capita compare
More energy & mining data for South Africa
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- 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)
- Fuel imports 17.7% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is electric power consumption in South Africa?
- Electric power consumption in South Africa was 3,308 kWh per capita in 2024, according to IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, International Energy Agency (IEA).
- What is the highest electric power consumption recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 4,716 kWh per capita in 2007.
- What is the lowest electric power consumption recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,247 kWh per capita in 2023.
- How does South Africa rank for electric power consumption?
- South Africa ranks 65th out of 151 countries with data for 2024.
- Is electric power consumption rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, International Energy Agency (IEA), published as part of Electric power consumption (kWh per capita). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Electric power consumption measures the production of power plants and combined heat and power plants less transmission, distribution, and transformation losses and own use by heat and power plants.