Electricity generation from nuclear in South Africa
South Africa: Electricity generation from nuclear was 10.21 terawatt-hours in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
10.21 terawatt-hours
Change on year
up 30.9%
World rank
26th
of 209 countries
All-time high
15.03 terawatt-hours
in 2016
All-time low
0 terawatt-hours
in 1965
Years of data
61
1965–2025
Electricity generation from nuclear in South Africa, 1965–2025
Source: Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in terawatt-hours.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 10.21 terawatt-hours for electricity generation from nuclear in 2025.
The figure is up 30.9% on the previous year and down 16.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, electricity generation from nuclear in South Africa peaked at 15.03 terawatt-hours in 2016 and was at its lowest, 0 terawatt-hours, in 1965.
That places South Africa 26th out of 209 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Electricity generation from nuclear 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 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1972 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1973 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1974 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1975 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1976 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1977 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1978 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1979 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1980 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1981 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1982 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1983 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1984 | 3.92 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1985 | 5.32 terawatt-hours | +35.4% |
| 1986 | 8.8 terawatt-hours | +65.6% |
| 1987 | 6.17 terawatt-hours | -29.9% |
| 1988 | 10.49 terawatt-hours | +70.1% |
| 1989 | 11.1 terawatt-hours | +5.8% |
| 1990 | 8.45 terawatt-hours | -23.9% |
| 1991 | 9.14 terawatt-hours | +8.2% |
| 1992 | 9.29 terawatt-hours | +1.6% |
| 1993 | 7.25 terawatt-hours | -21.9% |
| 1994 | 9.7 terawatt-hours | +33.7% |
| 1995 | 11.3 terawatt-hours | +16.5% |
| 1996 | 11.78 terawatt-hours | +4.2% |
| 1997 | 12.65 terawatt-hours | +7.4% |
| 1998 | 13.6 terawatt-hours | +7.5% |
| 1999 | 12.84 terawatt-hours | -5.6% |
| 2000 | 13.01 terawatt-hours | +1.3% |
| 2001 | 10.72 terawatt-hours | -17.6% |
| 2002 | 11.99 terawatt-hours | +11.8% |
| 2003 | 12.66 terawatt-hours | +5.6% |
| 2004 | 13.37 terawatt-hours | +5.6% |
| 2005 | 11.29 terawatt-hours | -15.6% |
| 2006 | 10.03 terawatt-hours | -11.2% |
| 2007 | 11.32 terawatt-hours | +12.9% |
| 2008 | 13 terawatt-hours | +14.8% |
| 2009 | 12.81 terawatt-hours | -1.5% |
| 2010 | 13.53 terawatt-hours | +5.6% |
| 2011 | 12.9 terawatt-hours | -4.7% |
| 2012 | 12.97 terawatt-hours | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 14.11 terawatt-hours | +8.8% |
| 2014 | 13.79 terawatt-hours | -2.3% |
| 2015 | 12.24 terawatt-hours | -11.2% |
| 2016 | 15.03 terawatt-hours | +22.8% |
| 2017 | 14.19 terawatt-hours | -5.6% |
| 2018 | 11.58 terawatt-hours | -18.4% |
| 2019 | 13.25 terawatt-hours | +14.4% |
| 2020 | 9.9 terawatt-hours | -25.3% |
| 2021 | 12.35 terawatt-hours | +24.7% |
| 2022 | 10.1 terawatt-hours | -18.2% |
| 2023 | 8.1 terawatt-hours | -19.8% |
| 2024 | 7.8 terawatt-hours | -3.7% |
| 2025 | 10.21 terawatt-hours | +30.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 5 |
| 1970s | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.58 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 11.1 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1990s | 10.6 terawatt-hours | 7.25 terawatt-hours | 13.6 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 12.02 terawatt-hours | 10.03 terawatt-hours | 13.37 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 13.36 terawatt-hours | 11.58 terawatt-hours | 15.03 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.74 terawatt-hours | 7.8 terawatt-hours | 12.35 terawatt-hours | 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 electricity generation from nuclear in South Africa?
- Electricity generation from nuclear in South Africa was 10.21 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 nuclear recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 15.03 terawatt-hours in 2016.
- What is the lowest electricity generation from nuclear recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 terawatt-hours in 1965.
- How does South Africa rank for electricity generation from nuclear?
- South Africa ranks 26th out of 209 countries with data for 2025.
- Is electricity generation from nuclear rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.6%. 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 nuclear. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 61 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Measured in terawatt-hours.