Fossil fuel production by fuel in South Africa
South Africa: Fossil fuel production by fuel was 0.6284 terawatt-hours in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Fossil fuel production by fuel in South Africa, 1980–2024
Source: Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Etemad & Luciani (1991); U.S. Energy Information Administration (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in terawatt-hours.
Analysis
The most recent figure for fossil fuel production by fuel in South Africa is 0.6284 terawatt-hours, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.3% on the previous year and down 93.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fossil fuel production by fuel in South Africa peaked at 31.43 terawatt-hours in 2006 and was at its lowest, 0 terawatt-hours, in 1980.
South Africa ranks 80th of 220 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Fossil fuel production by fuel in South Africa, year by year
| Year | terawatt-hours | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1981 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1982 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1983 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1984 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1985 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1986 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1987 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1988 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1989 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1990 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1991 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1992 | 13.65 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1993 | 19.45 terawatt-hours | +42.5% |
| 1994 | 21.24 terawatt-hours | +9.2% |
| 1995 | 21.24 terawatt-hours | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 19.95 terawatt-hours | -6.1% |
| 1997 | 18.96 terawatt-hours | -4.9% |
| 1998 | 15.71 terawatt-hours | -17.1% |
| 1999 | 15.17 terawatt-hours | -3.4% |
| 2000 | 17.88 terawatt-hours | +17.9% |
| 2001 | 22.76 terawatt-hours | +27.3% |
| 2002 | 24.92 terawatt-hours | +9.5% |
| 2003 | 24.71 terawatt-hours | -0.9% |
| 2004 | 22 terawatt-hours | -11.0% |
| 2005 | 20.16 terawatt-hours | -8.4% |
| 2006 | 31.43 terawatt-hours | +55.9% |
| 2007 | 16.58 terawatt-hours | -47.2% |
| 2008 | 14.74 terawatt-hours | -11.1% |
| 2009 | 11.49 terawatt-hours | -22.1% |
| 2010 | 10.51 terawatt-hours | -8.5% |
| 2011 | 13.87 terawatt-hours | +32.0% |
| 2012 | 11.92 terawatt-hours | -14.1% |
| 2013 | 12.79 terawatt-hours | +7.3% |
| 2014 | 10.29 terawatt-hours | -19.5% |
| 2015 | 11.92 terawatt-hours | +15.8% |
| 2016 | 10.52 terawatt-hours | -11.7% |
| 2017 | 9.85 terawatt-hours | -6.4% |
| 2018 | 11.7 terawatt-hours | +18.8% |
| 2019 | 13.32 terawatt-hours | +13.8% |
| 2020 | 12.8 terawatt-hours | -3.9% |
| 2021 | 0.7856 terawatt-hours | -93.9% |
| 2022 | 0.6334 terawatt-hours | -19.4% |
| 2023 | 0.6304 terawatt-hours | -0.5% |
| 2024 | 0.6284 terawatt-hours | -0.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 0.6284 terawatt-hours is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.6284 terawatt-hours, 1.0× the median. (57 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1990s | 14.54 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 21.24 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 20.66 terawatt-hours | 11.49 terawatt-hours | 31.43 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.67 terawatt-hours | 9.85 terawatt-hours | 13.87 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.1 terawatt-hours | 0.6284 terawatt-hours | 12.8 terawatt-hours | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More energy & mining data for South Africa
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- 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)
- Fuel imports 17.7% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fossil fuel production by fuel in South Africa?
- Fossil fuel production by fuel in South Africa was 0.6284 terawatt-hours in 2024, according to Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Etemad & Luciani (1991); U.S. Energy Information Administration (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest fossil fuel production by fuel recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 31.43 terawatt-hours in 2006.
- What is the lowest fossil fuel production by fuel recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 terawatt-hours in 1980.
- How does South Africa rank for fossil fuel production by fuel?
- South Africa ranks 80th out of 220 countries with data for 2024.
- Is fossil fuel production by fuel rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 93.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Etemad & Luciani (1991); U.S. Energy Information Administration (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Fossil fuel production by fuel. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Measured in terawatt-hours. Excludes gas flared or recycled. Includes natural gas produced for Gas-to-Liquids transformation.