Oil reserves in South Africa
South Africa: Oil reserves was 2.38 million cubic meters in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Oil reserves in South Africa, 1983–2021
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (2022) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in cubic meters.
Analysis
The most recent figure for oil reserves in South Africa is 2.38 million cubic meters, measured in 2021. That is the lowest value across all 31 years on record.
That represents a change of unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, oil reserves in South Africa peaked at 18.52 million cubic meters in 1983 and was at its lowest, 2.38 million cubic meters, in 2007.
That places South Africa 84th out of 216 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Oil reserves in South Africa, year by year
| Year | cubic meters | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 18.52 million cubic meters | — |
| 1984 | 18.28 million cubic meters | -1.3% |
| 1985 | 18.20 million cubic meters | -0.4% |
| 1994 | 6.52 million cubic meters | -64.2% |
| 1995 | 6.42 million cubic meters | -1.5% |
| 1996 | 4.24 million cubic meters | -33.9% |
| 1997 | 4.24 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 4.67 million cubic meters | +10.0% |
| 1999 | 4.67 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 4.67 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 4.67 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 2.49 million cubic meters | -46.6% |
| 2003 | 2.49 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 2.49 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 2.49 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 2.49 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 2.38 million cubic meters | -4.3% |
| 2008 | 2.38 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 2.38 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 2.38 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 2.38 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 2.38 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 2.38 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 2.38 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 2.38 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 2.38 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 2.38 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 2.38 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 2.38 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 2.38 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 2.38 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 2.38 million cubic meters is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 13.69 million cubic meters, 17% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 18.34 million cubic meters | 18.20 million cubic meters | 18.52 million cubic meters | 3 |
| 1990s | 5.13 million cubic meters | 4.24 million cubic meters | 6.52 million cubic meters | 6 |
| 2000s | 2.90 million cubic meters | 2.38 million cubic meters | 4.67 million cubic meters | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.38 million cubic meters | 2.38 million cubic meters | 2.38 million cubic meters | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.38 million cubic meters | 2.38 million cubic meters | 2.38 million cubic meters | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More energy & mining data for South Africa
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate -0.3095 % change on previous year (2025)
- Coal consumption, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal consumption, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fuel imports 17.7% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is oil reserves in South Africa?
- Oil reserves in South Africa was 2.38 million cubic meters in 2021, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration (2022) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest oil reserves recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 18.52 million cubic meters in 1983.
- What is the lowest oil reserves recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.38 million cubic meters in 2007.
- How does South Africa rank for oil reserves?
- South Africa ranks 84th out of 216 countries with data for 2021.
- Is oil reserves rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from U.S. Energy Information Administration (2022) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Oil reserves. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 31 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Proved reserves, measured in cubic meters, are generally those quantities that can be recovered in the future from known reservoirs under existing economic and operating conditions, according to geological and engineering information. Includes crude oil and lease condensate.