Per capita electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables in South Africa
South Africa: Per capita electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables was 3,080 kilowatt-hours in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
3,080 kilowatt-hours
Change on year
down 5.5%
World rank
50th
of 208 countries
All-time high
4,925 kilowatt-hours
in 2007
All-time low
3,080 kilowatt-hours
in 2025
Years of data
41
1985–2025
Per capita electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables in South Africa, 1985–2025
Source: Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in kilowatt-hours.
Analysis
In 2025, per capita electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables in South Africa stood at 3,080 kilowatt-hours. That is the lowest value across all 41 years on record.
That represents a change of down 5.5% on the previous year and down 24.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, per capita electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables in South Africa peaked at 4,925 kilowatt-hours in 2007 and was at its lowest, 3,080 kilowatt-hours, in 2025.
That places South Africa 50th out of 208 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
Per capita electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables in South Africa, year by year
| Year | kilowatt-hours | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 3,865 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 1986 | 3,760 kilowatt-hours | -2.7% |
| 1987 | 3,826 kilowatt-hours | +1.8% |
| 1988 | 3,718 kilowatt-hours | -2.8% |
| 1989 | 3,746 kilowatt-hours | +0.8% |
| 1990 | 3,827 kilowatt-hours | +2.1% |
| 1991 | 3,727 kilowatt-hours | -2.6% |
| 1992 | 3,692 kilowatt-hours | -0.9% |
| 1993 | 3,833 kilowatt-hours | +3.8% |
| 1994 | 3,850 kilowatt-hours | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 3,896 kilowatt-hours | +1.2% |
| 1996 | 4,094 kilowatt-hours | +5.1% |
| 1997 | 4,223 kilowatt-hours | +3.2% |
| 1998 | 4,057 kilowatt-hours | -3.9% |
| 1999 | 3,994 kilowatt-hours | -1.5% |
| 2000 | 4,158 kilowatt-hours | +4.1% |
| 2001 | 4,146 kilowatt-hours | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 4,291 kilowatt-hours | +3.5% |
| 2003 | 4,542 kilowatt-hours | +5.9% |
| 2004 | 4,692 kilowatt-hours | +3.3% |
| 2005 | 4,685 kilowatt-hours | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 4,809 kilowatt-hours | +2.7% |
| 2007 | 4,925 kilowatt-hours | +2.4% |
| 2008 | 4,764 kilowatt-hours | -3.3% |
| 2009 | 4,539 kilowatt-hours | -4.7% |
| 2010 | 4,670 kilowatt-hours | +2.9% |
| 2011 | 4,643 kilowatt-hours | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 4,525 kilowatt-hours | -2.5% |
| 2013 | 4,392 kilowatt-hours | -2.9% |
| 2014 | 4,257 kilowatt-hours | -3.1% |
| 2015 | 4,078 kilowatt-hours | -4.2% |
| 2016 | 4,010 kilowatt-hours | -1.7% |
| 2017 | 3,970 kilowatt-hours | -1.0% |
| 2018 | 3,962 kilowatt-hours | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 3,803 kilowatt-hours | -4.0% |
| 2020 | 3,559 kilowatt-hours | -6.4% |
| 2021 | 3,483 kilowatt-hours | -2.2% |
| 2022 | 3,294 kilowatt-hours | -5.4% |
| 2023 | 3,100 kilowatt-hours | -5.9% |
| 2024 | 3,261 kilowatt-hours | +5.2% |
| 2025 | 3,080 kilowatt-hours | -5.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 3,783 kilowatt-hours | 3,718 kilowatt-hours | 3,865 kilowatt-hours | 5 |
| 1990s | 3,919 kilowatt-hours | 3,692 kilowatt-hours | 4,223 kilowatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 4,555 kilowatt-hours | 4,146 kilowatt-hours | 4,925 kilowatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 4,231 kilowatt-hours | 3,803 kilowatt-hours | 4,670 kilowatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 3,296 kilowatt-hours | 3,080 kilowatt-hours | 3,559 kilowatt-hours | 6 |
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 per capita electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables in South Africa?
- Per capita electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables in South Africa was 3,080 kilowatt-hours in 2025, according to Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest per capita electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 4,925 kilowatt-hours in 2007.
- What is the lowest per capita electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,080 kilowatt-hours in 2025.
- How does South Africa rank for per capita electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables?
- South Africa ranks 50th out of 208 countries with data for 2025.
- Is per capita electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- 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 Per capita electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Electricity generation from coal, oil, and gas, measured in kilowatt-hours per person.