Fossil fuels in South Africa
South Africa: Fossil fuels was 1,552 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
1,552
Change on year
down 0.2%
World rank
8th
of 220 countries
All-time high
1,722
in 2014
All-time low
6.68
in 1900
Years of data
126
1900–2025
Fossil fuels in South Africa, 1900–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, fossil fuels in South Africa stood at 1,552.
The figure is down 0.2% on the previous year and down 6.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fossil fuels in South Africa peaked at 1,722 in 2014 and was at its lowest, 6.68, in 1900.
South Africa ranks 8th of 220 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Fossil fuels in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1900 | 6.68 | — |
| 1901 | 11.21 | +67.8% |
| 1902 | 16.71 | +49.1% |
| 1903 | 22.33 | +33.6% |
| 1904 | 25.16 | +12.7% |
| 1905 | 28.76 | +14.3% |
| 1906 | 32.89 | +14.3% |
| 1907 | 36.29 | +10.4% |
| 1908 | 37.32 | +2.8% |
| 1909 | 42.96 | +15.1% |
| 1910 | 48.71 | +13.4% |
| 1911 | 46.88 | -3.8% |
| 1912 | 49.77 | +6.2% |
| 1913 | 54.45 | +9.4% |
| 1914 | 52.79 | -3.1% |
| 1915 | 53.1 | +0.6% |
| 1916 | 62.57 | +17.8% |
| 1917 | 66.96 | +7.0% |
| 1918 | 63.75 | -4.8% |
| 1919 | 66.38 | +4.1% |
| 1920 | 73.63 | +10.9% |
| 1921 | 72.9 | -1.0% |
| 1922 | 62.5 | -14.3% |
| 1923 | 75.85 | +21.4% |
| 1924 | 79.68 | +5.0% |
| 1925 | 83.05 | +4.2% |
| 1926 | 87.29 | +5.1% |
| 1927 | 84.8 | -2.9% |
| 1928 | 84.97 | +0.2% |
| 1929 | 87.75 | +3.3% |
| 1930 | 82.39 | -6.1% |
| 1931 | 73.35 | -11.0% |
| 1932 | 66.88 | -8.8% |
| 1933 | 72.23 | +8.0% |
| 1934 | 82.2 | +13.8% |
| 1935 | 91.5 | +11.3% |
| 1936 | 100.05 | +9.3% |
| 1937 | 104.42 | +4.4% |
| 1938 | 109.77 | +5.1% |
| 1939 | 113.85 | +3.7% |
| 1940 | 117.92 | +3.6% |
| 1941 | 125.91 | +6.8% |
| 1942 | 137.56 | +9.3% |
| 1943 | 138.59 | +0.7% |
| 1944 | 154.95 | +11.8% |
| 1945 | 158.77 | +2.5% |
| 1946 | 159.09 | +0.2% |
| 1947 | 158.39 | -0.4% |
| 1948 | 161.94 | +2.2% |
| 1949 | 171.86 | +6.1% |
| 1950 | 178.45 | +3.8% |
| 1951 | 179.52 | +0.6% |
| 1952 | 189.18 | +5.4% |
| 1953 | 191.84 | +1.4% |
| 1954 | 197.6 | +3.0% |
| 1955 | 216.45 | +9.5% |
| 1956 | 226.5 | +4.6% |
| 1957 | 234.37 | +3.5% |
| 1958 | 249.98 | +6.7% |
| 1959 | 245.72 | -1.7% |
| 1960 | 257.31 | +4.7% |
| 1961 | 266.7 | +3.6% |
| 1962 | 278.22 | +4.3% |
| 1963 | 286.17 | +2.9% |
| 1964 | 302.77 | +5.8% |
| 1965 | 326.66 | +7.9% |
| 1966 | 323.17 | -1.1% |
| 1967 | 332.32 | +2.8% |
| 1968 | 348.19 | +4.8% |
| 1969 | 355.59 | +2.1% |
| 1970 | 368.13 | +3.5% |
| 1971 | 395.45 | +7.4% |
| 1972 | 393.93 | -0.4% |
| 1973 | 420.3 | +6.7% |
| 1974 | 445.27 | +5.9% |
| 1975 | 468.08 | +5.1% |
| 1976 | 515.35 | +10.1% |
| 1977 | 575.73 | +11.7% |
| 1978 | 612.32 | +6.4% |
| 1979 | 702.36 | +14.7% |
| 1980 | 740.02 | +5.4% |
| 1981 | 870.63 | +17.6% |
| 1982 | 963.16 | +10.6% |
| 1983 | 973.39 | +1.1% |
| 1984 | 1,090 | +12.0% |
| 1985 | 1,160 | +6.4% |
| 1986 | 1,183 | +2.0% |
| 1987 | 1,179 | -0.3% |
| 1988 | 1,212 | +2.7% |
| 1989 | 1,176 | -3.0% |
| 1990 | 1,165 | -0.9% |
| 1991 | 1,188 | +2.0% |
| 1992 | 1,217 | +2.4% |
| 1993 | 1,244 | +2.2% |
| 1994 | 1,292 | +3.9% |
| 1995 | 1,360 | +5.2% |
| 1996 | 1,360 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 1,450 | +6.6% |
| 1998 | 1,466 | +1.1% |
| 1999 | 1,469 | +0.2% |
| 2000 | 1,473 | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 1,369 | -7.1% |
| 2002 | 1,354 | -1.1% |
| 2003 | 1,462 | +8.0% |
| 2004 | 1,496 | +2.3% |
| 2005 | 1,609 | +7.6% |
| 2006 | 1,608 | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 1,628 | +1.3% |
| 2008 | 1,661 | +2.0% |
| 2009 | 1,643 | -1.1% |
| 2010 | 1,694 | +3.1% |
| 2011 | 1,652 | -2.5% |
| 2012 | 1,707 | +3.4% |
| 2013 | 1,691 | -1.0% |
| 2014 | 1,722 | +1.8% |
| 2015 | 1,656 | -3.8% |
| 2016 | 1,677 | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 1,659 | -1.1% |
| 2018 | 1,693 | +2.1% |
| 2019 | 1,699 | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 1,614 | -5.0% |
| 2021 | 1,539 | -4.6% |
| 2022 | 1,515 | -1.6% |
| 2023 | 1,539 | +1.6% |
| 2024 | 1,555 | +1.1% |
| 2025 | 1,552 | -0.2% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Fossil fuels in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1901 | +67.8% | 6.68 | 11.21 |
| 1902 | +49.1% | 11.21 | 16.71 |
| 1903 | +33.6% | 16.71 | 22.33 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 26.03 | 6.68 | 42.96 | 10 |
| 1910s | 56.53 | 46.88 | 66.96 | 10 |
| 1920s | 79.24 | 62.5 | 87.75 | 10 |
| 1930s | 89.66 | 66.88 | 113.85 | 10 |
| 1940s | 148.5 | 117.92 | 171.86 | 10 |
| 1950s | 210.96 | 178.45 | 249.98 | 10 |
| 1960s | 307.71 | 257.31 | 355.59 | 10 |
| 1970s | 489.69 | 368.13 | 702.36 | 10 |
| 1980s | 1,055 | 740.02 | 1,212 | 10 |
| 1990s | 1,321 | 1,165 | 1,469 | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,530 | 1,354 | 1,661 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,685 | 1,652 | 1,722 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,552 | 1,515 | 1,614 | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More energy & mining data for South Africa
- Primary energy from fossil nuclear renewables, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
- Primary energy from fossil nuclear renewables, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fuel imports 17.7% (2025)
- Ores and metals imports 2.5% (2025)
- Fuel exports 8.2% (2025)
- Ores and metals exports 30.4% (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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fossil fuels in South Africa?
- Fossil fuels in South Africa was 1,552 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest fossil fuels recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1,722 in 2014.
- What is the lowest fossil fuels recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.68 in 1900.
- How does South Africa rank for fossil fuels?
- South Africa ranks 8th out of 220 countries with data for 2025.
- Is fossil fuels rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Fossil fuels. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 126 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).