Primary energy from solar in South Africa
South Africa: Primary energy from solar was 18.56 terawatt-hours in 2025. β Volatile
Primary energy from solar in South Africa, 1965β2025
Source: Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017) β with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in terawatt-hours.
Analysis
In 2025, primary energy from solar in South Africa stood at 18.56 terawatt-hours. That is the highest value across all 61 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 6.8% on the previous year and up 575.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary energy from solar in South Africa peaked at 18.56 terawatt-hours in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0 terawatt-hours, in 1965.
South Africa ranks 20th of 80 countries on this measure, in the top 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 | 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 | 0.0163 terawatt-hours | 0.0093 terawatt-hours | 0.0233 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.1 terawatt-hours | 0.0276 terawatt-hours | 4.88 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.98 terawatt-hours | 5.77 terawatt-hours | 18.56 terawatt-hours | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 17 Poland 23.69 terawatt-hours compare
- 18 Chile 20.86 terawatt-hours compare
- 19 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 20 terawatt-hours compare
- 21 United Arab Emirates 18.2 terawatt-hours compare
- 22 Saudi Arabia 18.18 terawatt-hours compare
- 23 Taiwan, China 15.98 terawatt-hours 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 in South Africa?
- Primary energy from solar in South Africa was 18.56 terawatt-hours in 2025, according to Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017) β with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest primary energy from solar recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 18.56 terawatt-hours in 2025.
- What is the lowest primary energy from solar recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 terawatt-hours in 1965.
- How does South Africa rank for primary energy from solar?
- South Africa ranks 20th out of 80 countries with data for 2025.
- Is primary energy from solar rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 575.2%. 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) β with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Primary energy from solar. 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 terawatt-hours of total energy supply.