Electricity generation from solar and wind per person in South Africa
South Africa: Electricity generation from solar and wind per person was 475.69 kilowatt-hours in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
475.69 kilowatt-hours
Change on year
up 3.6%
World rank
55th
of 208 countries
All-time high
475.69 kilowatt-hours
in 2025
All-time low
0 kilowatt-hours
in 1971
Years of data
55
1971–2025
Electricity generation from solar and wind per person in South Africa, 1971–2025
Source: Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in kilowatt-hours.
Analysis
The most recent figure for electricity generation from solar and wind per person in South Africa is 475.69 kilowatt-hours, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
The figure is up 3.6% on the previous year and up 393.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, electricity generation from solar and wind per person in South Africa peaked at 475.69 kilowatt-hours in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0 kilowatt-hours, in 1971.
That places South Africa 55th out of 208 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Electricity generation from solar and wind per person in South Africa, year by year
| Year | kilowatt-hours | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 0 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 1972 | 0 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 1973 | 0 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 1974 | 0 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 1975 | 0 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 1976 | 0 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 1977 | 0 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 1978 | 0 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 1979 | 0 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 1980 | 0 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 1981 | 0 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 1982 | 0 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 1983 | 0 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 1984 | 0 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 1985 | 0 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 1986 | 0 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 1987 | 0 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 1988 | 0 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 1989 | 0 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 1990 | 0 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 1991 | 0 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 1992 | 0 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 1993 | 0 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 1994 | 0 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 1995 | 0 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 1996 | 0 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 1997 | 0 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 1998 | 0 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 1999 | 0 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 2000 | 0 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 2001 | 0 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 2002 | 0.4165 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 2003 | 0.6186 kilowatt-hours | +48.5% |
| 2004 | 0.6124 kilowatt-hours | -1.0% |
| 2005 | 0.6062 kilowatt-hours | -1.0% |
| 2006 | 0.6 kilowatt-hours | -1.0% |
| 2007 | 0.5937 kilowatt-hours | -1.0% |
| 2008 | 0.7826 kilowatt-hours | +31.8% |
| 2009 | 0.9666 kilowatt-hours | +23.5% |
| 2010 | 0.9552 kilowatt-hours | -1.2% |
| 2011 | 1.13 kilowatt-hours | +18.5% |
| 2012 | 1.3 kilowatt-hours | +15.0% |
| 2013 | 1.65 kilowatt-hours | +26.5% |
| 2014 | 38.67 kilowatt-hours | +2249.5% |
| 2015 | 96.43 kilowatt-hours | +149.4% |
| 2016 | 126.09 kilowatt-hours | +30.8% |
| 2017 | 190.16 kilowatt-hours | +50.8% |
| 2018 | 186.82 kilowatt-hours | -1.8% |
| 2019 | 201.89 kilowatt-hours | +8.1% |
| 2020 | 221.09 kilowatt-hours | +9.5% |
| 2021 | 268.12 kilowatt-hours | +21.3% |
| 2022 | 323.19 kilowatt-hours | +20.5% |
| 2023 | 417.8 kilowatt-hours | +29.3% |
| 2024 | 459.32 kilowatt-hours | +9.9% |
| 2025 | 475.69 kilowatt-hours | +3.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0 kilowatt-hours | 0 kilowatt-hours | 0 kilowatt-hours | 9 |
| 1980s | 0 kilowatt-hours | 0 kilowatt-hours | 0 kilowatt-hours | 10 |
| 1990s | 0 kilowatt-hours | 0 kilowatt-hours | 0 kilowatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.5196 kilowatt-hours | 0 kilowatt-hours | 0.9666 kilowatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 84.51 kilowatt-hours | 0.9552 kilowatt-hours | 201.89 kilowatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 360.87 kilowatt-hours | 221.09 kilowatt-hours | 475.69 kilowatt-hours | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
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)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Gas production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is electricity generation from solar and wind per person in South Africa?
- Electricity generation from solar and wind per person in South Africa was 475.69 kilowatt-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 solar and wind per person recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 475.69 kilowatt-hours in 2025.
- What is the lowest electricity generation from solar and wind per person recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 kilowatt-hours in 1971.
- How does South Africa rank for electricity generation from solar and wind per person?
- South Africa ranks 55th out of 208 countries with data for 2025.
- Is electricity generation from solar and wind per person rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 393.3%. 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 solar and wind per person. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Measured in kilowatt-hours per person.