Per capita electricity generation vs. GDP per capita in South Africa
South Africa: Per capita electricity generation vs. GDP per capita was 3,749 kilowatt-hours in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
3,749 kilowatt-hours
Change on year
down 3.0%
World rank
83rd
of 212 countries
All-time high
5,215 kilowatt-hours
in 2007
All-time low
3,685 kilowatt-hours
in 2023
Years of data
41
1985–2025
Per capita electricity generation vs. GDP per capita 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 vs. gdp per capita in South Africa stood at 3,749 kilowatt-hours.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.0% on the previous year and down 14.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, per capita electricity generation vs. gdp per capita in South Africa peaked at 5,215 kilowatt-hours in 2007 and was at its lowest, 3,685 kilowatt-hours, in 2023.
That places South Africa 83rd out of 212 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
Per capita electricity generation vs. GDP per capita in South Africa, year by year
| Year | kilowatt-hours | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 4,095 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 1986 | 4,097 kilowatt-hours | +0.1% |
| 1987 | 4,082 kilowatt-hours | -0.4% |
| 1988 | 4,110 kilowatt-hours | +0.7% |
| 1989 | 4,122 kilowatt-hours | +0.3% |
| 1990 | 4,104 kilowatt-hours | -0.4% |
| 1991 | 4,038 kilowatt-hours | -1.6% |
| 1992 | 3,960 kilowatt-hours | -1.9% |
| 1993 | 4,035 kilowatt-hours | +1.9% |
| 1994 | 4,129 kilowatt-hours | +2.3% |
| 1995 | 4,191 kilowatt-hours | +1.5% |
| 1996 | 4,434 kilowatt-hours | +5.8% |
| 1997 | 4,606 kilowatt-hours | +3.9% |
| 1998 | 4,443 kilowatt-hours | -3.5% |
| 1999 | 4,344 kilowatt-hours | -2.2% |
| 2000 | 4,467 kilowatt-hours | +2.8% |
| 2001 | 4,417 kilowatt-hours | -1.1% |
| 2002 | 4,594 kilowatt-hours | +4.0% |
| 2003 | 4,830 kilowatt-hours | +5.1% |
| 2004 | 4,993 kilowatt-hours | +3.4% |
| 2005 | 4,949 kilowatt-hours | -0.9% |
| 2006 | 5,076 kilowatt-hours | +2.6% |
| 2007 | 5,215 kilowatt-hours | +2.7% |
| 2008 | 5,053 kilowatt-hours | -3.1% |
| 2009 | 4,824 kilowatt-hours | -4.5% |
| 2010 | 4,959 kilowatt-hours | +2.8% |
| 2011 | 4,953 kilowatt-hours | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 4,795 kilowatt-hours | -3.2% |
| 2013 | 4,681 kilowatt-hours | -2.4% |
| 2014 | 4,583 kilowatt-hours | -2.1% |
| 2015 | 4,408 kilowatt-hours | -3.8% |
| 2016 | 4,415 kilowatt-hours | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 4,427 kilowatt-hours | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 4,373 kilowatt-hours | -1.2% |
| 2019 | 4,247 kilowatt-hours | -2.9% |
| 2020 | 3,975 kilowatt-hours | -6.4% |
| 2021 | 3,991 kilowatt-hours | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 3,834 kilowatt-hours | -3.9% |
| 2023 | 3,685 kilowatt-hours | -3.9% |
| 2024 | 3,867 kilowatt-hours | +4.9% |
| 2025 | 3,749 kilowatt-hours | -3.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 4,101 kilowatt-hours | 4,082 kilowatt-hours | 4,122 kilowatt-hours | 5 |
| 1990s | 4,228 kilowatt-hours | 3,960 kilowatt-hours | 4,606 kilowatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 4,842 kilowatt-hours | 4,417 kilowatt-hours | 5,215 kilowatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 4,584 kilowatt-hours | 4,247 kilowatt-hours | 4,959 kilowatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 3,850 kilowatt-hours | 3,685 kilowatt-hours | 3,991 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 vs. gdp per capita in South Africa?
- Per capita electricity generation vs. gdp per capita in South Africa was 3,749 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 vs. gdp per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 5,215 kilowatt-hours in 2007.
- What is the lowest per capita electricity generation vs. gdp per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,685 kilowatt-hours in 2023.
- How does South Africa rank for per capita electricity generation vs. gdp per capita?
- South Africa ranks 83rd out of 212 countries with data for 2025.
- Is per capita electricity generation vs. gdp per capita rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.9%. 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 vs. GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Measured in kilowatt-hours per person.