Primary energy use per person in South Africa
South Africa: Primary energy use per person was 21,592 kilowatt-hours per person in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
21,592 kilowatt-hours per person
Change on year
down 1.4%
World rank
82nd
of 214 countries
All-time high
28,716 kilowatt-hours per person
in 2008
All-time low
18,098 kilowatt-hours per person
in 1966
Years of data
61
1965–2025
Primary energy use per person in South Africa, 1965–2025
Source: Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in kilowatt-hours per person.
Analysis
The most recent figure for primary energy use per person in South Africa is 21,592 kilowatt-hours per person, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.4% on the previous year and down 13.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary energy use per person in South Africa peaked at 28,716 kilowatt-hours per person in 2008 and was at its lowest, 18,098 kilowatt-hours per person, in 1966.
South Africa ranks 82nd of 214 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 61 years of available data.
Primary energy use per person in South Africa, year by year
| Year | kilowatt-hours per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 18,552 kilowatt-hours per person | — |
| 1966 | 18,098 kilowatt-hours per person | -2.4% |
| 1967 | 18,268 kilowatt-hours per person | +0.9% |
| 1968 | 18,688 kilowatt-hours per person | +2.3% |
| 1969 | 18,657 kilowatt-hours per person | -0.2% |
| 1970 | 18,915 kilowatt-hours per person | +1.4% |
| 1971 | 19,780 kilowatt-hours per person | +4.6% |
| 1972 | 19,797 kilowatt-hours per person | +0.1% |
| 1973 | 20,691 kilowatt-hours per person | +4.5% |
| 1974 | 20,684 kilowatt-hours per person | -0.0% |
| 1975 | 21,456 kilowatt-hours per person | +3.7% |
| 1976 | 21,744 kilowatt-hours per person | +1.3% |
| 1977 | 21,681 kilowatt-hours per person | -0.3% |
| 1978 | 20,893 kilowatt-hours per person | -3.6% |
| 1979 | 21,054 kilowatt-hours per person | +0.8% |
| 1980 | 21,814 kilowatt-hours per person | +3.6% |
| 1981 | 24,514 kilowatt-hours per person | +12.4% |
| 1982 | 25,517 kilowatt-hours per person | +4.1% |
| 1983 | 24,994 kilowatt-hours per person | -2.0% |
| 1984 | 26,412 kilowatt-hours per person | +5.7% |
| 1985 | 26,093 kilowatt-hours per person | -1.2% |
| 1986 | 25,711 kilowatt-hours per person | -1.5% |
| 1987 | 25,303 kilowatt-hours per person | -1.6% |
| 1988 | 26,978 kilowatt-hours per person | +6.6% |
| 1989 | 25,044 kilowatt-hours per person | -7.2% |
| 1990 | 25,262 kilowatt-hours per person | +0.9% |
| 1991 | 24,471 kilowatt-hours per person | -3.1% |
| 1992 | 24,205 kilowatt-hours per person | -1.1% |
| 1993 | 23,705 kilowatt-hours per person | -2.1% |
| 1994 | 24,295 kilowatt-hours per person | +2.5% |
| 1995 | 25,115 kilowatt-hours per person | +3.4% |
| 1996 | 25,252 kilowatt-hours per person | +0.5% |
| 1997 | 25,486 kilowatt-hours per person | +0.9% |
| 1998 | 24,760 kilowatt-hours per person | -2.8% |
| 1999 | 25,353 kilowatt-hours per person | +2.4% |
| 2000 | 25,141 kilowatt-hours per person | -0.8% |
| 2001 | 25,025 kilowatt-hours per person | -0.5% |
| 2002 | 24,152 kilowatt-hours per person | -3.5% |
| 2003 | 24,807 kilowatt-hours per person | +2.7% |
| 2004 | 26,133 kilowatt-hours per person | +5.3% |
| 2005 | 26,785 kilowatt-hours per person | +2.5% |
| 2006 | 27,919 kilowatt-hours per person | +4.2% |
| 2007 | 28,457 kilowatt-hours per person | +1.9% |
| 2008 | 28,716 kilowatt-hours per person | +0.9% |
| 2009 | 26,850 kilowatt-hours per person | -6.5% |
| 2010 | 27,430 kilowatt-hours per person | +2.2% |
| 2011 | 26,254 kilowatt-hours per person | -4.3% |
| 2012 | 26,911 kilowatt-hours per person | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 26,463 kilowatt-hours per person | -1.7% |
| 2014 | 25,337 kilowatt-hours per person | -4.3% |
| 2015 | 24,872 kilowatt-hours per person | -1.8% |
| 2016 | 24,942 kilowatt-hours per person | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 23,707 kilowatt-hours per person | -5.0% |
| 2018 | 24,080 kilowatt-hours per person | +1.6% |
| 2019 | 24,898 kilowatt-hours per person | +3.4% |
| 2020 | 21,992 kilowatt-hours per person | -11.7% |
| 2021 | 21,843 kilowatt-hours per person | -0.7% |
| 2022 | 20,717 kilowatt-hours per person | -5.2% |
| 2023 | 21,318 kilowatt-hours per person | +2.9% |
| 2024 | 21,910 kilowatt-hours per person | +2.8% |
| 2025 | 21,592 kilowatt-hours per person | -1.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 18,453 kilowatt-hours per person | 18,098 kilowatt-hours per person | 18,688 kilowatt-hours per person | 5 |
| 1970s | 20,669 kilowatt-hours per person | 18,915 kilowatt-hours per person | 21,744 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 25,238 kilowatt-hours per person | 21,814 kilowatt-hours per person | 26,978 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 24,790 kilowatt-hours per person | 23,705 kilowatt-hours per person | 25,486 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 26,399 kilowatt-hours per person | 24,152 kilowatt-hours per person | 28,716 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 25,489 kilowatt-hours per person | 23,707 kilowatt-hours per person | 27,430 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 21,562 kilowatt-hours per person | 20,717 kilowatt-hours per person | 21,992 kilowatt-hours per person | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 79 Bhutan 22,483 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 80 Lithuania 22,196 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 81 Mongolia 22,107 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 83 Chile 21,237 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 84 Portugal 20,942 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 85 French Polynesia 20,313 kilowatt-hours per person compare
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 primary energy use per person in South Africa?
- Primary energy use per person in South Africa was 21,592 kilowatt-hours per person in 2025, according to Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest primary energy use per person recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 28,716 kilowatt-hours per person in 2008.
- What is the lowest primary energy use per person recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 18,098 kilowatt-hours per person in 1966.
- How does South Africa rank for primary energy use per person?
- South Africa ranks 82nd out of 214 countries with data for 2025.
- Is primary energy use per person rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Primary energy use per person. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Measured in kilowatt-hours of total energy supply per person.