Primary energy use by source in South Africa
South Africa: Primary energy use by source was 11.3 terawatt-hours in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Primary energy use by source in South Africa, 1965–2025
Source: Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in terawatt-hours.
Analysis
In 2025, primary energy use by source in South Africa stood at 11.3 terawatt-hours.
That represents a change of up 1.4% on the previous year and up 267.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary energy use by source in South Africa peaked at 11.61 terawatt-hours in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0 terawatt-hours, in 1965.
That places South Africa 28th 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.
Primary energy use by source in South Africa, year by year
| Year | terawatt-hours | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1966 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1967 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1968 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1969 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1970 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1971 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1972 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1973 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1974 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1975 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1976 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1977 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1978 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1979 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1980 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1981 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1982 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1983 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1984 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1985 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1986 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1987 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1988 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1989 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1990 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1991 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1992 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1993 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1994 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1995 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1996 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1997 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1998 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1999 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 2000 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 2001 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 2002 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 2003 | 0.006 terawatt-hours | — |
| 2004 | 0.012 terawatt-hours | +100.0% |
| 2005 | 0.012 terawatt-hours | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 0.012 terawatt-hours | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 0.012 terawatt-hours | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 0.021 terawatt-hours | +75.0% |
| 2009 | 0.03 terawatt-hours | +42.9% |
| 2010 | 0.034 terawatt-hours | +13.3% |
| 2011 | 0.037 terawatt-hours | +8.8% |
| 2012 | 0.037 terawatt-hours | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 0.037 terawatt-hours | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 1.07 terawatt-hours | +2781.1% |
| 2015 | 3.07 terawatt-hours | +188.1% |
| 2016 | 4.21 terawatt-hours | +37.1% |
| 2017 | 7.02 terawatt-hours | +66.8% |
| 2018 | 6.47 terawatt-hours | -7.9% |
| 2019 | 6.62 terawatt-hours | +2.4% |
| 2020 | 6.63 terawatt-hours | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 8.36 terawatt-hours | +26.2% |
| 2022 | 9.69 terawatt-hours | +15.9% |
| 2023 | 11.61 terawatt-hours | +19.8% |
| 2024 | 11.14 terawatt-hours | -4.1% |
| 2025 | 11.3 terawatt-hours | +1.4% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 11.3 terawatt-hours is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.05 terawatt-hours, 10.8× the median. (24 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Primary energy use by source in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | +2781.1% | 0.037 terawatt-hours | 1.07 terawatt-hours |
| 2015 | +188.1% | 1.07 terawatt-hours | 3.07 terawatt-hours |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 5 |
| 1970s | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1980s | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1990s | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.0105 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 0.03 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.86 terawatt-hours | 0.034 terawatt-hours | 7.02 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.79 terawatt-hours | 6.63 terawatt-hours | 11.61 terawatt-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 primary energy use by source in South Africa?
- Primary energy use by source in South Africa was 11.3 terawatt-hours in 2025, according to Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest primary energy use by source recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 11.61 terawatt-hours in 2023.
- What is the lowest primary energy use by source recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 terawatt-hours in 1965.
- How does South Africa rank for primary energy use by source?
- South Africa ranks 28th out of 80 countries with data for 2025.
- Is primary energy use by source rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 267.9%. 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) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Primary energy use by source. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Measured in terawatt-hours of total energy supply.