Primary direct energy consumption by source in South Africa
South Africa: Primary direct energy consumption by source was 267.99 terawatt-hours in 2024. ▲ Rising
Primary direct energy consumption by source in South Africa, 1965–2024
Source: Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in terawatt-hours.
Analysis
The most recent figure for primary direct energy consumption by source in South Africa is 267.99 terawatt-hours, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 7.6% on the previous year and down 15.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary direct energy consumption by source in South Africa peaked at 344.8 terawatt-hours in 2015 and was at its lowest, 67.36 terawatt-hours, in 1965.
South Africa ranks 33rd of 79 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 60 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 80.47 terawatt-hours | 67.36 terawatt-hours | 95.33 terawatt-hours | 5 |
| 1970s | 131.87 terawatt-hours | 103.3 terawatt-hours | 147.82 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1980s | 168.96 terawatt-hours | 144.07 terawatt-hours | 198.18 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1990s | 231.2 terawatt-hours | 200.1 terawatt-hours | 259.98 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 289.11 terawatt-hours | 264.3 terawatt-hours | 310.25 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 320.42 terawatt-hours | 302.44 terawatt-hours | 344.8 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 281.61 terawatt-hours | 267.99 terawatt-hours | 290.04 terawatt-hours | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
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 56.3% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is primary direct energy consumption by source in South Africa?
- Primary direct energy consumption by source in South Africa was 267.99 terawatt-hours in 2024, according to Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest primary direct energy consumption by source recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 344.8 terawatt-hours in 2015.
- What is the lowest primary direct energy consumption by source recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 67.36 terawatt-hours in 1965.
- How does South Africa rank for primary direct energy consumption by source?
- South Africa ranks 33rd out of 79 countries with data for 2024.
- Is primary direct energy consumption by source rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.2%. 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 (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Primary direct energy consumption by source. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 60 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Energy consumption is measured in terawatt-hours, in terms of direct primary energy. This means that fossil fuels include the energy lost due to inefficiencies in energy production.