Primary energy from solar per person in South Africa
South Africa: Primary energy from solar per person was 286.65 kilowatt-hours per person in 2025. β Volatile
Primary energy from solar 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 286.65 kilowatt-hours per person for primary energy from solar per person in 2025. That is the highest value across all 61 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.6% on the previous year and up 491.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary energy from solar per person in South Africa peaked at 286.65 kilowatt-hours per person in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0 kilowatt-hours per person, in 1965.
That places South Africa 42nd out of 80 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.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0 kilowatt-hours per person | 0 kilowatt-hours per person | 0 kilowatt-hours per person | 5 |
| 1970s | 0 kilowatt-hours per person | 0 kilowatt-hours per person | 0 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 0 kilowatt-hours per person | 0 kilowatt-hours per person | 0 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 0 kilowatt-hours per person | 0 kilowatt-hours per person | 0 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.3274 kilowatt-hours per person | 0.1972 kilowatt-hours per person | 0.4504 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 36.21 kilowatt-hours per person | 0.5273 kilowatt-hours per person | 81.93 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 189.24 kilowatt-hours per person | 95.21 kilowatt-hours per person | 286.65 kilowatt-hours per person | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 39 Viet Nam 333.15 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 40 Ireland 315.5 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 41 United Kingdom 287.5 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 43 Singapore 278.34 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 44 Romania 240.79 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 45 Canada 225.19 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 from solar per person in South Africa?
- Primary energy from solar per person in South Africa was 286.65 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 solar per person recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 286.65 kilowatt-hours per person in 2025.
- What is the lowest primary energy from solar per person recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 kilowatt-hours per person in 1965.
- How does South Africa rank for primary energy from solar per person?
- South Africa ranks 42nd out of 80 countries with data for 2025.
- Is primary energy from solar per person rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 491.5%. 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 solar 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.