Fossil fuel supply by source in South Africa
South Africa: Fossil fuel supply by source was 46.81 terawatt-hours in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
46.81 terawatt-hours
Change on year
down 1.9%
World rank
58th
of 77 countries
All-time high
47.71 terawatt-hours
in 2024
All-time low
0 terawatt-hours
in 1965
Years of data
61
1965–2025
Fossil fuel supply by source in South Africa, 1965–2025
Source: Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in terawatt-hours.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 46.81 terawatt-hours for fossil fuel supply by source in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.9% on the previous year and up 8.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fossil fuel supply by source in South Africa peaked at 47.71 terawatt-hours in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0 terawatt-hours, in 1965.
That places South Africa 58th out of 77 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Fossil fuel supply by source in South Africa, year by year
| Year | terawatt-hours | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1966 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1967 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1968 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1969 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1970 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1971 | 0.6148 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1972 | 0.9164 terawatt-hours | +49.1% |
| 1973 | 0.9927 terawatt-hours | +8.3% |
| 1974 | 1.16 terawatt-hours | +17.3% |
| 1975 | 1.53 terawatt-hours | +31.5% |
| 1976 | 1.55 terawatt-hours | +1.0% |
| 1977 | 1.48 terawatt-hours | -4.2% |
| 1978 | 1.52 terawatt-hours | +2.6% |
| 1979 | 1.88 terawatt-hours | +23.6% |
| 1980 | 2.13 terawatt-hours | +13.2% |
| 1981 | 2.06 terawatt-hours | -3.0% |
| 1982 | 1.88 terawatt-hours | -9.0% |
| 1983 | 2.13 terawatt-hours | +13.3% |
| 1984 | 2.14 terawatt-hours | +0.3% |
| 1985 | 2.02 terawatt-hours | -5.6% |
| 1986 | 2.12 terawatt-hours | +4.9% |
| 1987 | 1.96 terawatt-hours | -7.5% |
| 1988 | 1.97 terawatt-hours | +0.9% |
| 1989 | 2.01 terawatt-hours | +1.9% |
| 1990 | 19.71 terawatt-hours | +879.5% |
| 1991 | 19.94 terawatt-hours | +1.2% |
| 1992 | 18.41 terawatt-hours | -7.7% |
| 1993 | 12.74 terawatt-hours | -30.8% |
| 1994 | 12.75 terawatt-hours | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 12.91 terawatt-hours | +1.2% |
| 1996 | 11.24 terawatt-hours | -12.9% |
| 1997 | 9.32 terawatt-hours | -17.2% |
| 1998 | 9.3 terawatt-hours | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 11.86 terawatt-hours | +27.6% |
| 2000 | 11.4 terawatt-hours | -3.9% |
| 2001 | 13.83 terawatt-hours | +21.4% |
| 2002 | 13.92 terawatt-hours | +0.7% |
| 2003 | 10.53 terawatt-hours | -24.4% |
| 2004 | 24.34 terawatt-hours | +131.3% |
| 2005 | 34.55 terawatt-hours | +42.0% |
| 2006 | 37.45 terawatt-hours | +8.4% |
| 2007 | 37.91 terawatt-hours | +1.2% |
| 2008 | 39.22 terawatt-hours | +3.5% |
| 2009 | 33.24 terawatt-hours | -15.2% |
| 2010 | 41.22 terawatt-hours | +24.0% |
| 2011 | 42.81 terawatt-hours | +3.9% |
| 2012 | 43.57 terawatt-hours | +1.8% |
| 2013 | 40.54 terawatt-hours | -7.0% |
| 2014 | 42.98 terawatt-hours | +6.0% |
| 2015 | 43.19 terawatt-hours | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 36.55 terawatt-hours | -15.4% |
| 2017 | 40.11 terawatt-hours | +9.7% |
| 2018 | 44.11 terawatt-hours | +10.0% |
| 2019 | 42.61 terawatt-hours | -3.4% |
| 2020 | 39.71 terawatt-hours | -6.8% |
| 2021 | 41.99 terawatt-hours | +5.8% |
| 2022 | 42.69 terawatt-hours | +1.7% |
| 2023 | 47.45 terawatt-hours | +11.1% |
| 2024 | 47.71 terawatt-hours | +0.6% |
| 2025 | 46.81 terawatt-hours | -1.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 5 |
| 1970s | 1.16 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 1.88 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.04 terawatt-hours | 1.88 terawatt-hours | 2.14 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1990s | 13.82 terawatt-hours | 9.3 terawatt-hours | 19.94 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 25.64 terawatt-hours | 10.53 terawatt-hours | 39.22 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 41.77 terawatt-hours | 36.55 terawatt-hours | 44.11 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 44.39 terawatt-hours | 39.71 terawatt-hours | 47.71 terawatt-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 fossil fuel supply by source in South Africa?
- Fossil fuel supply by source in South Africa was 46.81 terawatt-hours in 2025, according to Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest fossil fuel supply by source recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 47.71 terawatt-hours in 2024.
- What is the lowest fossil fuel supply by source recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 terawatt-hours in 1965.
- How does South Africa rank for fossil fuel supply by source?
- South Africa ranks 58th out of 77 countries with data for 2025.
- Is fossil fuel supply by source rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.4%. 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); Smil (2017) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Fossil fuel supply by source. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Measured in terawatt-hours of total energy supply.