Energy use — Total final energy consumption in South Africa
South Africa: Energy use — Total final energy consumption was 60,672 Tonnes of oil equivalent in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
60,672 Tonnes of oil equivalent
Change on year
up 1.4%
World rank
15th
of 43 countries
All-time high
68,348 Tonnes of oil equivalent
in 2017
All-time low
46,313 Tonnes of oil equivalent
in 1986
Years of data
39
1985–2023
Energy use — Total final energy consumption in South Africa, 1985–2023
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Tonnes of oil equivalent.
Analysis
The most recent figure for energy use — total final energy consumption in South Africa is 60,672 Tonnes of oil equivalent, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 1.4% on the previous year and down 8.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, energy use — total final energy consumption in South Africa peaked at 68,348 Tonnes of oil equivalent in 2017 and was at its lowest, 46,313 Tonnes of oil equivalent, in 1986.
South Africa ranks 15th of 43 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 39 years of available data.
Energy use — Total final energy consumption in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Tonnes of oil equivalent | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 46,471 Tonnes of oil equivalent | — |
| 1986 | 46,313 Tonnes of oil equivalent | -0.3% |
| 1987 | 47,826 Tonnes of oil equivalent | +3.3% |
| 1988 | 50,373 Tonnes of oil equivalent | +5.3% |
| 1989 | 52,247 Tonnes of oil equivalent | +3.7% |
| 1990 | 52,546 Tonnes of oil equivalent | +0.6% |
| 1991 | 51,786 Tonnes of oil equivalent | -1.4% |
| 1992 | 49,319 Tonnes of oil equivalent | -4.8% |
| 1993 | 49,158 Tonnes of oil equivalent | -0.3% |
| 1994 | 50,159 Tonnes of oil equivalent | +2.0% |
| 1995 | 53,767 Tonnes of oil equivalent | +7.2% |
| 1996 | 56,850 Tonnes of oil equivalent | +5.7% |
| 1997 | 59,085 Tonnes of oil equivalent | +3.9% |
| 1998 | 58,999 Tonnes of oil equivalent | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 56,887 Tonnes of oil equivalent | -3.6% |
| 2000 | 52,580 Tonnes of oil equivalent | -7.6% |
| 2001 | 51,191 Tonnes of oil equivalent | -2.6% |
| 2002 | 54,147 Tonnes of oil equivalent | +5.8% |
| 2003 | 56,437 Tonnes of oil equivalent | +4.2% |
| 2004 | 58,565 Tonnes of oil equivalent | +3.8% |
| 2005 | 59,293 Tonnes of oil equivalent | +1.2% |
| 2006 | 59,909 Tonnes of oil equivalent | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 64,093 Tonnes of oil equivalent | +7.0% |
| 2008 | 64,351 Tonnes of oil equivalent | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 66,286 Tonnes of oil equivalent | +3.0% |
| 2010 | 60,146 Tonnes of oil equivalent | -9.3% |
| 2011 | 60,907 Tonnes of oil equivalent | +1.3% |
| 2012 | 62,656 Tonnes of oil equivalent | +2.9% |
| 2013 | 65,994 Tonnes of oil equivalent | +5.3% |
| 2014 | 65,595 Tonnes of oil equivalent | -0.6% |
| 2015 | 63,442 Tonnes of oil equivalent | -3.3% |
| 2016 | 63,327 Tonnes of oil equivalent | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 68,348 Tonnes of oil equivalent | +7.9% |
| 2018 | 66,932 Tonnes of oil equivalent | -2.1% |
| 2019 | 62,357 Tonnes of oil equivalent | -6.8% |
| 2020 | 58,204 Tonnes of oil equivalent | -6.7% |
| 2021 | 59,519 Tonnes of oil equivalent | +2.3% |
| 2022 | 59,818 Tonnes of oil equivalent | +0.5% |
| 2023 | 60,672 Tonnes of oil equivalent | +1.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 48,646 Tonnes of oil equivalent | 46,313 Tonnes of oil equivalent | 52,247 Tonnes of oil equivalent | 5 |
| 1990s | 53,856 Tonnes of oil equivalent | 49,158 Tonnes of oil equivalent | 59,085 Tonnes of oil equivalent | 10 |
| 2000s | 58,685 Tonnes of oil equivalent | 51,191 Tonnes of oil equivalent | 66,286 Tonnes of oil equivalent | 10 |
| 2010s | 63,970 Tonnes of oil equivalent | 60,146 Tonnes of oil equivalent | 68,348 Tonnes of oil equivalent | 10 |
| 2020s | 59,553 Tonnes of oil equivalent | 58,204 Tonnes of oil equivalent | 60,672 Tonnes of oil equivalent | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 12 Australia 81,588 Tonnes of oil equivalent compare
- 13 Spain 81,012 Tonnes of oil equivalent compare
- 14 Egypt 70,959 Tonnes of oil equivalent compare
- 16 Argentina 55,277 Tonnes of oil equivalent compare
- 17 Kazakhstan 43,382 Tonnes of oil equivalent compare
- 18 Philippines 36,972 Tonnes of oil equivalent 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 energy use — total final energy consumption in South Africa?
- Energy use — total final energy consumption in South Africa was 60,672 Tonnes of oil equivalent in 2023, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest energy use — total final energy consumption recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 68,348 Tonnes of oil equivalent in 2017.
- What is the lowest energy use — total final energy consumption recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 46,313 Tonnes of oil equivalent in 1986.
- How does South Africa rank for energy use — total final energy consumption?
- South Africa ranks 15th out of 43 countries with data for 2023.
- Is energy use — total final energy consumption rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Energy use — Total final energy consumption. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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