Electricity generation from fossil fuels per person in South Africa
South Africa: Electricity generation from fossil fuels per person was 3,080 kilowatt-hours in 2025. β¬ Flat
Electricity generation from fossil fuels per person in South Africa, 1985β2025
Source: Ember (2026) and other sources β with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in kilowatt-hours.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 3,080 kilowatt-hours for electricity generation from fossil fuels per person in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 41 years on record.
That represents a change of down 5.5% on the previous year and down 24.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, electricity generation from fossil fuels per person in South Africa peaked at 4,925 kilowatt-hours in 2007 and was at its lowest, 3,080 kilowatt-hours, in 2025.
That places South Africa 51st out of 210 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 3,783 kilowatt-hours | 3,718 kilowatt-hours | 3,865 kilowatt-hours | 5 |
| 1990s | 3,919 kilowatt-hours | 3,692 kilowatt-hours | 4,223 kilowatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 4,555 kilowatt-hours | 4,146 kilowatt-hours | 4,925 kilowatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 4,231 kilowatt-hours | 3,803 kilowatt-hours | 4,670 kilowatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 3,296 kilowatt-hours | 3,080 kilowatt-hours | 3,559 kilowatt-hours | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
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 electricity generation from fossil fuels per person in South Africa?
- Electricity generation from fossil fuels per person in South Africa was 3,080 kilowatt-hours in 2025, according to Ember (2026) and other sources β with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest electricity generation from fossil fuels per person recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 4,925 kilowatt-hours in 2007.
- What is the lowest electricity generation from fossil fuels per person recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,080 kilowatt-hours in 2025.
- How does South Africa rank for electricity generation from fossil fuels per person?
- South Africa ranks 51st out of 210 countries with data for 2025.
- Is electricity generation from fossil fuels per person rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Ember (2026) and other sources β with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Electricity generation from fossil fuels per person. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Electricity generation from coal, oil, and gas, measured in kilowatt-hours per person.