Energy imports and exports in South Africa
South Africa: Energy imports and exports was -12.5% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Energy imports and exports in South Africa, 1990–2023
Source: IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, IEA, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of energy use.
Analysis
South Africa recorded -12.5% for energy imports and exports in 2023.
That represents a change of up 11.6% on the previous year and up 33.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, energy imports and exports in South Africa peaked at -2.2% in 2009 and was at its lowest, -36.2%, in 2002.
That places South Africa 104th out of 142 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Energy imports and exports in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of energy use | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | -24.8% | — |
| 1991 | -23.8% | -3.8% |
| 1992 | -27.3% | +14.7% |
| 1993 | -27.8% | +1.6% |
| 1994 | -27.2% | -2.1% |
| 1995 | -26.3% | -3.2% |
| 1996 | -24.1% | -8.4% |
| 1997 | -27.3% | +13.3% |
| 1998 | -21.3% | -21.9% |
| 1999 | -27.8% | +30.2% |
| 2000 | -29.5% | +6.3% |
| 2001 | -32.8% | +11.1% |
| 2002 | -36.2% | +10.2% |
| 2003 | -28.7% | -20.6% |
| 2004 | -23.0% | -19.9% |
| 2005 | -26.2% | +14.0% |
| 2006 | -23.4% | -10.6% |
| 2007 | -14.3% | -38.8% |
| 2008 | -7.8% | -45.6% |
| 2009 | -2.2% | -71.6% |
| 2010 | -13.6% | +514.7% |
| 2011 | -11.6% | -15.2% |
| 2012 | -18.1% | +56.3% |
| 2013 | -18.7% | +3.5% |
| 2014 | -12.8% | -31.6% |
| 2015 | -17.7% | +38.2% |
| 2016 | -14.3% | -19.0% |
| 2017 | -15.4% | +7.8% |
| 2018 | -17.1% | +10.7% |
| 2019 | -13.3% | -22.3% |
| 2020 | -19.1% | +43.8% |
| 2021 | -9.9% | -48.3% |
| 2022 | -14.1% | +43.2% |
| 2023 | -12.5% | -11.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | -25.8% | -27.8% | -21.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | -22.4% | -36.2% | -2.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | -15.2% | -18.7% | -11.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | -13.9% | -19.1% | -9.9% | 4 |
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 energy imports and exports in South Africa?
- Energy imports and exports in South Africa was -12.5% in 2023, according to IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, IEA, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest energy imports and exports recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was -2.2% in 2009.
- What is the lowest energy imports and exports recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -36.2% in 2002.
- How does South Africa rank for energy imports and exports?
- South Africa ranks 104th out of 142 countries with data for 2023.
- Is energy imports and exports rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 33.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, IEA, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Energy imports and exports. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Energy trade, measured as the percentage of energy use. Positive values indicate a country or region is a net importer of energy. Negative numbers indicate a country or region is a net exporter.