Primary energy from renewables per person in South Africa
South Africa: Primary energy from renewables per person was 519.39 kilowatt-hours per person in 2025. β Volatile
Primary energy from renewables per person in South Africa, 1965β2025
Source: Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017); Population based on various sources (2024) β with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in kilowatt-hours per person.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 519.39 kilowatt-hours per person for primary energy from renewables per person in 2025. That is the highest value across all 61 years on record.
The figure is up 5.7% on the previous year and up 260.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary energy from renewables per person in South Africa peaked at 519.39 kilowatt-hours per person in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.9716 kilowatt-hours per person, in 1969.
That places South Africa 64th out of 80 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.43 kilowatt-hours per person | 0.9716 kilowatt-hours per person | 1.94 kilowatt-hours per person | 5 |
| 1970s | 42.19 kilowatt-hours per person | 1.12 kilowatt-hours per person | 71.68 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 41.23 kilowatt-hours per person | 16.52 kilowatt-hours per person | 82.17 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 29.64 kilowatt-hours per person | 3.37 kilowatt-hours per person | 55.5 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 67.34 kilowatt-hours per person | 53.54 kilowatt-hours per person | 98.73 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 136.66 kilowatt-hours per person | 48.99 kilowatt-hours per person | 237.95 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 400.27 kilowatt-hours per person | 242.57 kilowatt-hours per person | 519.39 kilowatt-hours per person | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 61 Singapore 711.27 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 62 Saudi Arabia 571.87 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 63 Sri Lanka 534.97 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 65 Ukraine 512.41 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 66 Uzbekistan 453.63 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 67 Hong Kong (China) 427.5 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)
- Fuel exports 8.2% (2025)
- Electric power transmission and distribution losses 10.2% (2023)
- Share of dietary energy supply from carbohydrates vs gdp per capita 56.31 (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is primary energy from renewables per person in South Africa?
- Primary energy from renewables per person in South Africa was 519.39 kilowatt-hours per person in 2025, according to Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017); Population based on various sources (2024) β with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest primary energy from renewables per person recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 519.39 kilowatt-hours per person in 2025.
- What is the lowest primary energy from renewables per person recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.9716 kilowatt-hours per person in 1969.
- How does South Africa rank for primary energy from renewables per person?
- South Africa ranks 64th out of 80 countries with data for 2025.
- Is primary energy from renewables per person rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 260.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017); Population based on various sources (2024) β with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Primary energy from renewables per person. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV Β· JSON β 61 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Measured in kilowatt-hours of total energy supply per person.