Net electricity imports as a share of demand in South Africa
South Africa: Net electricity imports as a share of demand was -2.5% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Net electricity imports as a share of demand in South Africa, 2000–2025
Source: Ember (2026); Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy of the UK (2023) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for net electricity imports as a share of demand in South Africa is -2.5%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 373.4% on the previous year and down 300.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net electricity imports as a share of demand in South Africa peaked at 5.5% in 2000 and was at its lowest, -2.7%, in 2017.
South Africa ranks 182nd of 210 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | -0.0% | -1.4% | 5.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | -1.7% | -2.7% | -0.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | -1.2% | -2.5% | -0.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 179 Congo -1.5% compare
- 180 Belarus -2.0% compare
- 181 Syrian Arab Republic -2.5% compare
- 183 Algeria -2.7% compare
- 184 Costa Rica -2.9% compare
- 185 El Salvador -3.0% compare
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 net electricity imports as a share of demand in South Africa?
- Net electricity imports as a share of demand in South Africa was -2.5% in 2025, according to Ember (2026); Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy of the UK (2023) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest net electricity imports as a share of demand recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 5.5% in 2000.
- What is the lowest net electricity imports as a share of demand recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -2.7% in 2017.
- How does South Africa rank for net electricity imports as a share of demand?
- South Africa ranks 182nd out of 210 countries with data for 2025.
- Is net electricity imports as a share of demand rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 300.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Ember (2026); Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy of the UK (2023) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Net electricity imports as a share of demand. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 26 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Electricity imports minus exports, measured as a percentage of total electricity demand in the country or region.