Electricity as a share of primary energy in South Africa
South Africa: Electricity as a share of primary energy was 17.4% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Electricity as a share of primary energy in South Africa, 1985–2025
Source: Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for electricity as a share of primary energy in South Africa is 17.4%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 1.6% on the previous year and down 2.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, electricity as a share of primary energy in South Africa peaked at 19.5% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 15.2%, in 1988.
That places South Africa 40th out of 79 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 41 years of available data.
Electricity as a share of primary energy in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 15.7% | — |
| 1986 | 15.9% | +1.5% |
| 1987 | 16.1% | +1.2% |
| 1988 | 15.2% | -5.6% |
| 1989 | 16.5% | +8.1% |
| 1990 | 16.2% | -1.3% |
| 1991 | 16.5% | +1.6% |
| 1992 | 16.4% | -0.8% |
| 1993 | 17.0% | +4.0% |
| 1994 | 17.0% | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 16.7% | -1.8% |
| 1996 | 17.6% | +5.2% |
| 1997 | 18.1% | +2.9% |
| 1998 | 17.9% | -0.7% |
| 1999 | 17.1% | -4.5% |
| 2000 | 17.8% | +3.7% |
| 2001 | 17.6% | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 19.0% | +7.8% |
| 2003 | 19.5% | +2.4% |
| 2004 | 19.1% | -1.9% |
| 2005 | 18.5% | -3.3% |
| 2006 | 18.2% | -1.6% |
| 2007 | 18.3% | +0.8% |
| 2008 | 17.6% | -4.0% |
| 2009 | 18.0% | +2.1% |
| 2010 | 18.1% | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 18.9% | +4.3% |
| 2012 | 17.8% | -5.6% |
| 2013 | 17.7% | -0.7% |
| 2014 | 18.1% | +2.2% |
| 2015 | 17.7% | -2.0% |
| 2016 | 17.7% | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 18.7% | +5.5% |
| 2018 | 18.2% | -2.8% |
| 2019 | 17.1% | -6.1% |
| 2020 | 18.1% | +6.0% |
| 2021 | 18.3% | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 18.5% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | 17.3% | -6.6% |
| 2024 | 17.7% | +2.1% |
| 2025 | 17.4% | -1.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 15.9% | 15.2% | 16.5% | 5 |
| 1990s | 17.1% | 16.2% | 18.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 18.4% | 17.6% | 19.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 18.0% | 17.1% | 18.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.9% | 17.3% | 18.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 37 Kuwait 17.5% compare
- 38 Argentina 17.5% compare
- 39 Türkiye 17.4% compare
- 41 United States of America 17.3% compare
- 42 Republic of Korea 17.3% compare
- 43 Philippines 17.2% 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 electricity as a share of primary energy in South Africa?
- Electricity as a share of primary energy in South Africa was 17.4% in 2025, according to Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest electricity as a share of primary energy recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 19.5% in 2003.
- What is the lowest electricity as a share of primary energy recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.2% in 1988.
- How does South Africa rank for electricity as a share of primary energy?
- South Africa ranks 40th out of 79 countries with data for 2025.
- Is electricity as a share of primary energy rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Electricity as a share of primary energy. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Measured as a percentage of total energy supply.