Energy use in South Africa
South Africa: Energy use was 1,939 kg of oil equivalent per capita in 2023. ▬ Flat
Latest (2023)
1,939 kg of oil equivalent per capita
Change on year
up 0.0%
World rank
60th
of 176 countries
All-time high
2,738 kg of oil equivalent per capita
in 2008
All-time low
1,938 kg of oil equivalent per capita
in 2022
Years of data
34
1990–2023
Energy use in South Africa, 1990–2023
Source: IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, International Energy Agency (IEA). Measured in kg of oil equivalent per capita.
Analysis
The most recent figure for energy use in South Africa is 1,939 kg of oil equivalent per capita, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 17.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, energy use in South Africa peaked at 2,738 kg of oil equivalent per capita in 2008 and was at its lowest, 1,938 kg of oil equivalent per capita, in 2022.
That places South Africa 60th out of 176 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
Energy use in South Africa, year by year
| Year | kg of oil equivalent per capita | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 2,239 kg of oil equivalent per capita | — |
| 1991 | 2,247 kg of oil equivalent per capita | +0.4% |
| 1992 | 2,105 kg of oil equivalent per capita | -6.3% |
| 1993 | 2,197 kg of oil equivalent per capita | +4.4% |
| 1994 | 2,256 kg of oil equivalent per capita | +2.7% |
| 1995 | 2,358 kg of oil equivalent per capita | +4.5% |
| 1996 | 2,395 kg of oil equivalent per capita | +1.6% |
| 1997 | 2,418 kg of oil equivalent per capita | +1.0% |
| 1998 | 2,435 kg of oil equivalent per capita | +0.7% |
| 1999 | 2,366 kg of oil equivalent per capita | -2.8% |
| 2000 | 2,269 kg of oil equivalent per capita | -4.1% |
| 2001 | 2,180 kg of oil equivalent per capita | -3.9% |
| 2002 | 2,072 kg of oil equivalent per capita | -5.0% |
| 2003 | 2,301 kg of oil equivalent per capita | +11.0% |
| 2004 | 2,478 kg of oil equivalent per capita | +7.7% |
| 2005 | 2,374 kg of oil equivalent per capita | -4.2% |
| 2006 | 2,398 kg of oil equivalent per capita | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 2,577 kg of oil equivalent per capita | +7.5% |
| 2008 | 2,738 kg of oil equivalent per capita | +6.3% |
| 2009 | 2,735 kg of oil equivalent per capita | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 2,518 kg of oil equivalent per capita | -7.9% |
| 2011 | 2,536 kg of oil equivalent per capita | +0.7% |
| 2012 | 2,394 kg of oil equivalent per capita | -5.6% |
| 2013 | 2,341 kg of oil equivalent per capita | -2.2% |
| 2014 | 2,439 kg of oil equivalent per capita | +4.2% |
| 2015 | 2,257 kg of oil equivalent per capita | -7.4% |
| 2016 | 2,312 kg of oil equivalent per capita | +2.4% |
| 2017 | 2,283 kg of oil equivalent per capita | -1.2% |
| 2018 | 2,185 kg of oil equivalent per capita | -4.3% |
| 2019 | 2,232 kg of oil equivalent per capita | +2.2% |
| 2020 | 2,037 kg of oil equivalent per capita | -8.7% |
| 2021 | 2,125 kg of oil equivalent per capita | +4.3% |
| 2022 | 1,938 kg of oil equivalent per capita | -8.8% |
| 2023 | 1,939 kg of oil equivalent per capita | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2,302 kg of oil equivalent per capita | 2,105 kg of oil equivalent per capita | 2,435 kg of oil equivalent per capita | 10 |
| 2000s | 2,412 kg of oil equivalent per capita | 2,072 kg of oil equivalent per capita | 2,738 kg of oil equivalent per capita | 10 |
| 2010s | 2,350 kg of oil equivalent per capita | 2,185 kg of oil equivalent per capita | 2,536 kg of oil equivalent per capita | 10 |
| 2020s | 2,010 kg of oil equivalent per capita | 1,938 kg of oil equivalent per capita | 2,125 kg of oil equivalent per capita | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 57 Gabon 2,042 kg of oil equivalent per capita compare
- 58 Chile 2,029 kg of oil equivalent per capita compare
- 59 Bahamas 2,007 kg of oil equivalent per capita compare
- 61 Türkiye 1,925 kg of oil equivalent per capita compare
- 62 Greece 1,921 kg of oil equivalent per capita compare
- 63 Thailand 1,851 kg of oil equivalent per capita 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 use in South Africa?
- Energy use in South Africa was 1,939 kg of oil equivalent per capita in 2023, according to IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, International Energy Agency (IEA).
- What is the highest energy use recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 2,738 kg of oil equivalent per capita in 2008.
- What is the lowest energy use recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,938 kg of oil equivalent per capita in 2022.
- How does South Africa rank for energy use?
- South Africa ranks 60th out of 176 countries with data for 2023.
- Is energy use rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, International Energy Agency (IEA), published as part of Energy use (kg of oil equivalent per capita). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Energy use refers to use of primary energy before transformation to other end-use fuels, which is equal to indigenous production plus imports and stock changes, minus exports and fuels supplied to ships and aircraft engaged in international transport.