Fossil fuel cons per capita in South Africa
South Africa: Fossil fuel cons per capita was 15,640 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
15,640
Change on year
down 3.1%
World rank
4th
of 79 countries
All-time high
21,358
in 2008
All-time low
14,246
in 1969
Years of data
61
1965–2025
Fossil fuel cons per capita in South Africa, 1965–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for fossil fuel cons per capita in South Africa is 15,640, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 3.1% on the previous year and down 9.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fossil fuel cons per capita in South Africa peaked at 21,358 in 2008 and was at its lowest, 14,246, in 1969.
That places South Africa 4th out of 79 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 61 years of available data.
Fossil fuel cons per capita in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 15,022 | — |
| 1966 | 14,379 | -4.3% |
| 1967 | 14,340 | -0.3% |
| 1968 | 14,550 | +1.5% |
| 1969 | 14,246 | -2.1% |
| 1970 | 14,278 | +0.2% |
| 1971 | 14,828 | +3.9% |
| 1972 | 14,510 | -2.1% |
| 1973 | 15,021 | +3.5% |
| 1974 | 15,298 | +1.8% |
| 1975 | 15,882 | +3.8% |
| 1976 | 16,230 | +2.2% |
| 1977 | 16,365 | +0.8% |
| 1978 | 15,466 | -5.5% |
| 1979 | 16,056 | +3.8% |
| 1980 | 16,828 | +4.8% |
| 1981 | 19,281 | +14.6% |
| 1982 | 20,420 | +5.9% |
| 1983 | 20,028 | -1.9% |
| 1984 | 20,846 | +4.1% |
| 1985 | 20,706 | -0.7% |
| 1986 | 20,333 | -1.8% |
| 1987 | 20,055 | -1.4% |
| 1988 | 21,048 | +5.0% |
| 1989 | 19,074 | -9.4% |
| 1990 | 19,214 | +0.7% |
| 1991 | 18,441 | -4.0% |
| 1992 | 18,181 | -1.4% |
| 1993 | 17,893 | -1.6% |
| 1994 | 18,172 | +1.6% |
| 1995 | 18,628 | +2.5% |
| 1996 | 18,671 | +0.2% |
| 1997 | 18,856 | +1.0% |
| 1998 | 18,069 | -4.2% |
| 1999 | 18,675 | +3.4% |
| 2000 | 18,405 | -1.4% |
| 2001 | 18,312 | -0.5% |
| 2002 | 17,256 | -5.8% |
| 2003 | 17,829 | +3.3% |
| 2004 | 18,676 | +4.8% |
| 2005 | 19,316 | +3.4% |
| 2006 | 20,398 | +5.6% |
| 2007 | 20,789 | +1.9% |
| 2008 | 21,358 | +2.7% |
| 2009 | 19,817 | -7.2% |
| 2010 | 20,033 | +1.1% |
| 2011 | 18,841 | -6.0% |
| 2012 | 19,477 | +3.4% |
| 2013 | 19,031 | -2.3% |
| 2014 | 18,025 | -5.3% |
| 2015 | 17,234 | -4.4% |
| 2016 | 17,550 | +1.8% |
| 2017 | 16,266 | -7.3% |
| 2018 | 16,975 | +4.4% |
| 2019 | 17,813 | +4.9% |
| 2020 | 15,965 | -10.4% |
| 2021 | 15,574 | -2.4% |
| 2022 | 14,557 | -6.5% |
| 2023 | 15,133 | +4.0% |
| 2024 | 16,133 | +6.6% |
| 2025 | 15,640 | -3.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 14,508 | 14,246 | 15,022 | 5 |
| 1970s | 15,393 | 14,278 | 16,365 | 10 |
| 1980s | 19,862 | 16,828 | 21,048 | 10 |
| 1990s | 18,480 | 17,893 | 19,214 | 10 |
| 2000s | 19,216 | 17,256 | 21,358 | 10 |
| 2010s | 18,124 | 16,266 | 20,033 | 10 |
| 2020s | 15,501 | 14,557 | 16,133 | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 1 Kazakhstan 20,954 compare
- 2 Estonia 18,970 compare
- 3 China 18,093 compare
- 5 Taiwan, China 15,405 compare
- 6 Republic of Korea 15,352 compare
- 7 Australia 15,029 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 fossil fuel cons per capita in South Africa?
- Fossil fuel cons per capita in South Africa was 15,640 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest fossil fuel cons per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 21,358 in 2008.
- What is the lowest fossil fuel cons per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 14,246 in 1969.
- How does South Africa rank for fossil fuel cons per capita?
- South Africa ranks 4th out of 79 countries with data for 2025.
- Is fossil fuel cons per capita rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Fossil fuel cons per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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