Net electricity imports in South Africa
South Africa: Net electricity imports was -5.92 terawatt-hours in 2025. β Volatile
Net electricity imports in South Africa, 2000β2025
Source: Ember (2026); Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy of the UK (2023) β with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in terawatt-hours.
Analysis
South Africa recorded -5.92 terawatt-hours for net electricity imports in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 355.4% on the previous year and down 281.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net electricity imports in South Africa peaked at 12.33 terawatt-hours in 2000 and was at its lowest, -6.63 terawatt-hours, in 2017.
South Africa ranks 197th of 210 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | -0.254 terawatt-hours | -3.6 terawatt-hours | 12.33 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | -4.18 terawatt-hours | -6.63 terawatt-hours | -1.55 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | -2.78 terawatt-hours | -5.92 terawatt-hours | -0.55 terawatt-hours | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 194 Zambia -3.12 terawatt-hours compare
- 195 Mozambique, Republic of -3.3 terawatt-hours compare
- 196 Tajikistan, Republic of -5.2 terawatt-hours compare
- 198 Israel -6.4 terawatt-hours compare
- 199 Canada -6.8 terawatt-hours compare
- 200 Czech Republic -7.46 terawatt-hours compare
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 56.31 (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net electricity imports in South Africa?
- Net electricity imports in South Africa was -5.92 terawatt-hours in 2025, according to Ember (2026); Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy of the UK (2023) β with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest net electricity imports recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 12.33 terawatt-hours in 2000.
- What is the lowest net electricity imports recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -6.63 terawatt-hours in 2017.
- How does South Africa rank for net electricity imports?
- South Africa ranks 197th out of 210 countries with data for 2025.
- Is net electricity imports rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 281.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Ember (2026); Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy of the UK (2023) β with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Net electricity imports. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV Β· JSON β 26 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Electricity imports minus exports, measured in terawatt-hours.