Share of primary energy from fossil fuels in South Africa
South Africa: Share of primary energy from fossil fuels was 95.3% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Share of primary energy from fossil fuels in South Africa, 1965–2025
Source: Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017); U.S. Energy Information Administration (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 95.3% for share of primary energy from fossil fuels in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 61 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.7% on the previous year and down 1.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of primary energy from fossil fuels in South Africa peaked at 100.0% in 1969 and was at its lowest, 95.3%, in 2025.
South Africa ranks 19th of 76 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 5 |
| 1970s | 99.8% | 99.7% | 100.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 98.4% | 96.3% | 99.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 97.0% | 96.2% | 97.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 96.9% | 96.5% | 97.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 96.6% | 95.8% | 97.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 95.8% | 95.3% | 96.1% | 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 share of primary energy from fossil fuels in South Africa?
- Share of primary energy from fossil fuels in South Africa was 95.3% in 2025, according to Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017); U.S. Energy Information Administration (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of primary energy from fossil fuels recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 100.0% in 1969.
- What is the lowest share of primary energy from fossil fuels recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 95.3% in 2025.
- How does South Africa rank for share of primary energy from fossil fuels?
- South Africa ranks 19th out of 76 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of primary energy from fossil fuels rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017); U.S. Energy Information Administration (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of primary energy from fossil fuels. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 61 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Measured as a percentage of total energy supply.