Oil production in South Africa
South Africa: Oil production was 1.13 terawatt-hours in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Oil production in South Africa, 1980–2024
Source: Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Etemad & Luciani (1991); U.S. Energy Information Administration (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in terawatt-hours.
Analysis
The most recent figure for oil production in South Africa is 1.13 terawatt-hours, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 8.3% on the previous year and down 73.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, oil production in South Africa peaked at 23.33 terawatt-hours in 2004 and was at its lowest, 0 terawatt-hours, in 1980.
South Africa ranks 84th of 220 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.
Oil production in South Africa, year by year
| Year | terawatt-hours | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1981 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1982 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1983 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1984 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1985 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1986 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1987 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1988 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1989 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1990 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1991 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1992 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1993 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1994 | 3.99 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1995 | 3.99 terawatt-hours | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 4.01 terawatt-hours | +0.3% |
| 1997 | 3.99 terawatt-hours | -0.3% |
| 1998 | 14.44 terawatt-hours | +261.5% |
| 1999 | 10.74 terawatt-hours | -25.6% |
| 2000 | 12.7 terawatt-hours | +18.2% |
| 2001 | 9.75 terawatt-hours | -23.2% |
| 2002 | 13.29 terawatt-hours | +36.4% |
| 2003 | 8.82 terawatt-hours | -33.7% |
| 2004 | 23.33 terawatt-hours | +164.5% |
| 2005 | 10.86 terawatt-hours | -53.4% |
| 2006 | 11.08 terawatt-hours | +2.0% |
| 2007 | 11.09 terawatt-hours | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 11.38 terawatt-hours | +2.6% |
| 2009 | 4.91 terawatt-hours | -56.9% |
| 2010 | 4.6 terawatt-hours | -6.3% |
| 2011 | 4.91 terawatt-hours | +6.7% |
| 2012 | 4.87 terawatt-hours | -0.8% |
| 2013 | 4.65 terawatt-hours | -4.4% |
| 2014 | 4.3 terawatt-hours | -7.6% |
| 2015 | 4.3 terawatt-hours | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 2.71 terawatt-hours | -37.0% |
| 2017 | 2.33 terawatt-hours | -14.1% |
| 2018 | 2.07 terawatt-hours | -11.3% |
| 2019 | 1.84 terawatt-hours | -10.8% |
| 2020 | 1.66 terawatt-hours | -10.1% |
| 2021 | 1.49 terawatt-hours | -10.1% |
| 2022 | 1.35 terawatt-hours | -9.4% |
| 2023 | 1.23 terawatt-hours | -8.9% |
| 2024 | 1.13 terawatt-hours | -8.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 1.13 terawatt-hours is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.13 terawatt-hours, 1.0× the median. (57 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Oil production 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | +261.5% | 3.99 terawatt-hours | 14.44 terawatt-hours |
| 2004 | +164.5% | 8.82 terawatt-hours | 23.33 terawatt-hours |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.12 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 14.44 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.72 terawatt-hours | 4.91 terawatt-hours | 23.33 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.66 terawatt-hours | 1.84 terawatt-hours | 4.91 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.37 terawatt-hours | 1.13 terawatt-hours | 1.66 terawatt-hours | 5 |
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 oil production in South Africa?
- Oil production in South Africa was 1.13 terawatt-hours in 2024, according to Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Etemad & Luciani (1991); U.S. Energy Information Administration (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest oil production recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 23.33 terawatt-hours in 2004.
- What is the lowest oil production recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 terawatt-hours in 1980.
- How does South Africa rank for oil production?
- South Africa ranks 84th out of 220 countries with data for 2024.
- Is oil production rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 73.8%. 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); Etemad & Luciani (1991); U.S. Energy Information Administration (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Oil production. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Measured in terawatt-hours. Includes crude oil, condensates, natural gas liquids, and other liquid fuels.