Energy intensity in South Africa
South Africa: Energy intensity was 6.57 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2021. ▼ Falling
Energy intensity in South Africa, 2000–2021
Source: International Energy Agency (IEA), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), UN Statistics Division, World Health Organization (WHO), and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices.
Analysis
The most recent figure for energy intensity in South Africa is 6.57 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices, measured in 2021. That is the lowest value across all 22 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.8% on the previous year and down 16.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, energy intensity in South Africa peaked at 9.22 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2000 and was at its lowest, 6.57 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices, in 2021.
South Africa ranks 37th of 201 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 22 years of available data.
Energy intensity in South Africa, year by year
| Year | megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 9.22 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | — |
| 2001 | 8.65 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -6.2% |
| 2002 | 7.94 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -8.2% |
| 2003 | 8.64 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +8.8% |
| 2004 | 9.01 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +4.3% |
| 2005 | 8.22 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -8.8% |
| 2006 | 7.93 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -3.5% |
| 2007 | 8.18 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.2% |
| 2008 | 8.59 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +5.0% |
| 2009 | 8.84 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +2.9% |
| 2010 | 7.98 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -9.7% |
| 2011 | 7.87 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.4% |
| 2012 | 7.35 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -6.6% |
| 2013 | 7.12 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -3.1% |
| 2014 | 7.43 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +4.4% |
| 2015 | 6.93 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -6.7% |
| 2016 | 7.14 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.0% |
| 2017 | 7.02 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.7% |
| 2018 | 6.72 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -4.3% |
| 2019 | 6.72 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 6.9 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +2.7% |
| 2021 | 6.57 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -4.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 8.52 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 7.93 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 9.22 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.23 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 6.72 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 7.98 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.74 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 6.57 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 6.9 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 35 Congo 6.72 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 36 Micronesia, Federated States of 6.62 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 37 Nigeria 6.57 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 39 Somalia 6.51 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 40 Korea, Democratic People's Republic of 6.48 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices 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 energy intensity in South Africa?
- Energy intensity in South Africa was 6.57 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2021, according to International Energy Agency (IEA), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), UN Statistics Division, World Health Organization (WHO), and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest energy intensity recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 9.22 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2000.
- What is the lowest energy intensity recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.57 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2021.
- How does South Africa rank for energy intensity?
- South Africa ranks 37th out of 201 countries with data for 2021.
- Is energy intensity rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from International Energy Agency (IEA), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), UN Statistics Division, World Health Organization (WHO), and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Energy intensity. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Amount of energy needed to produce one unit of economic output. A lower number means that economies produce economic value in a less energy-intensive way. This data is measured in megajoules per dollar, adjusted for inflation and differences in living costs between countries.