Electricity generation from hydropower in South Africa
South Africa: Electricity generation from hydropower was 1.83 terawatt-hours in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Electricity generation from hydropower in South Africa, 1965–2025
Source: Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in terawatt-hours.
Analysis
The most recent figure for electricity generation from hydropower in South Africa is 1.83 terawatt-hours, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 66.4% on the previous year and up 150.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, electricity generation from hydropower in South Africa peaked at 3.16 terawatt-hours in 1988 and was at its lowest, 0.021 terawatt-hours, in 1969.
South Africa ranks 89th of 214 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.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.0288 terawatt-hours | 0.021 terawatt-hours | 0.037 terawatt-hours | 5 |
| 1970s | 1.11 terawatt-hours | 0.025 terawatt-hours | 1.94 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.46 terawatt-hours | 0.56 terawatt-hours | 3.16 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.12 terawatt-hours | 0.146 terawatt-hours | 2.09 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.65 terawatt-hours | 0.83 terawatt-hours | 2.9 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.21 terawatt-hours | 0.62 terawatt-hours | 3.06 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.92 terawatt-hours | 1.1 terawatt-hours | 3.1 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)
- Fuel exports 8.2% (2025)
- Electric power transmission and distribution losses 10.2% (2023)
- Share of dietary energy supply from carbohydrates vs. GDP per capita 56.3% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is electricity generation from hydropower in South Africa?
- Electricity generation from hydropower in South Africa was 1.83 terawatt-hours in 2025, according to Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest electricity generation from hydropower recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 3.16 terawatt-hours in 1988.
- What is the lowest electricity generation from hydropower recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.021 terawatt-hours in 1969.
- How does South Africa rank for electricity generation from hydropower?
- South Africa ranks 89th out of 214 countries with data for 2025.
- Is electricity generation from hydropower rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 150.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Electricity generation from hydropower. 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 in terawatt-hours.