Electricity generation in South Africa
South Africa: Electricity generation was 242.76 terawatt-hours in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
242.76 terawatt-hours
Change on year
down 1.9%
World rank
23rd
of 214 countries
All-time high
263.49 terawatt-hours
in 2007
All-time low
143.49 terawatt-hours
in 1985
Years of data
41
1985–2025
Electricity generation in South Africa, 1985–2025
Source: Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in terawatt-hours.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 242.76 terawatt-hours for electricity generation in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.9% on the previous year and down 2.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, electricity generation in South Africa peaked at 263.49 terawatt-hours in 2007 and was at its lowest, 143.49 terawatt-hours, in 1985.
That places South Africa 23rd out of 214 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 41 years of available data.
Electricity generation in South Africa, year by year
| Year | terawatt-hours | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 143.49 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1986 | 148.24 terawatt-hours | +3.3% |
| 1987 | 152.37 terawatt-hours | +2.8% |
| 1988 | 158.14 terawatt-hours | +3.8% |
| 1989 | 163.36 terawatt-hours | +3.3% |
| 1990 | 167.23 terawatt-hours | +2.4% |
| 1991 | 168.32 terawatt-hours | +0.7% |
| 1992 | 168.09 terawatt-hours | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 174.71 terawatt-hours | +3.9% |
| 1994 | 181.69 terawatt-hours | +4.0% |
| 1995 | 186.66 terawatt-hours | +2.7% |
| 1996 | 200.09 terawatt-hours | +7.2% |
| 1997 | 210.36 terawatt-hours | +5.1% |
| 1998 | 205.37 terawatt-hours | -2.4% |
| 1999 | 203.01 terawatt-hours | -1.2% |
| 2000 | 210.66 terawatt-hours | +3.8% |
| 2001 | 210.09 terawatt-hours | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 220.58 terawatt-hours | +5.0% |
| 2003 | 234.24 terawatt-hours | +6.2% |
| 2004 | 244.61 terawatt-hours | +4.4% |
| 2005 | 244.93 terawatt-hours | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 253.81 terawatt-hours | +3.6% |
| 2007 | 263.49 terawatt-hours | +3.8% |
| 2008 | 258.29 terawatt-hours | -2.0% |
| 2009 | 249.56 terawatt-hours | -3.4% |
| 2010 | 259.59 terawatt-hours | +4.0% |
| 2011 | 262.48 terawatt-hours | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 257.87 terawatt-hours | -1.8% |
| 2013 | 255.95 terawatt-hours | -0.7% |
| 2014 | 254.77 terawatt-hours | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 250.05 terawatt-hours | -1.9% |
| 2016 | 252.81 terawatt-hours | +1.1% |
| 2017 | 255.14 terawatt-hours | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 256.3 terawatt-hours | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 253.07 terawatt-hours | -1.3% |
| 2020 | 240.74 terawatt-hours | -4.9% |
| 2021 | 245.46 terawatt-hours | +2.0% |
| 2022 | 239.17 terawatt-hours | -2.6% |
| 2023 | 232.95 terawatt-hours | -2.6% |
| 2024 | 247.52 terawatt-hours | +6.3% |
| 2025 | 242.76 terawatt-hours | -1.9% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 242.76 terawatt-hours is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 19.43 terawatt-hours, 12.5× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 242.76 terawatt-hours is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.95 terawatt-hours, 124.5× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 153.12 terawatt-hours | 143.49 terawatt-hours | 163.36 terawatt-hours | 5 |
| 1990s | 186.55 terawatt-hours | 167.23 terawatt-hours | 210.36 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 239.03 terawatt-hours | 210.09 terawatt-hours | 263.49 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 255.8 terawatt-hours | 250.05 terawatt-hours | 262.48 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 241.43 terawatt-hours | 232.95 terawatt-hours | 247.52 terawatt-hours | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
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 generation in South Africa?
- Electricity generation in South Africa was 242.76 terawatt-hours in 2025, according to Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest electricity generation recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 263.49 terawatt-hours in 2007.
- What is the lowest electricity generation recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 143.49 terawatt-hours in 1985.
- How does South Africa rank for electricity generation?
- South Africa ranks 23rd out of 214 countries with data for 2025.
- Is electricity generation rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.9%. 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 generation. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Total electricity generated in each country or region, measured in terawatt-hours.