Direct primary energy consumption from fossil fuels, nuclear, and renewables in South Africa
South Africa: Direct primary energy consumption from fossil fuels, nuclear, and renewables was 0.6% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Direct primary energy consumption from fossil fuels, nuclear, and renewables in South Africa, 1965–2024
Source: Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, direct primary energy consumption from fossil fuels, nuclear, and renewables in South Africa stood at 0.6%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.5% on the previous year and down 39.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, direct primary energy consumption from fossil fuels, nuclear, and renewables in South Africa peaked at 1.2% in 1998 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1965.
That places South Africa 27th out of 80 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Direct primary energy consumption from fossil fuels, nuclear, and renewables in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 0.0% | — |
| 1966 | 0.0% | — |
| 1967 | 0.0% | — |
| 1968 | 0.0% | — |
| 1969 | 0.0% | — |
| 1970 | 0.0% | — |
| 1971 | 0.0% | — |
| 1972 | 0.0% | — |
| 1973 | 0.0% | — |
| 1974 | 0.0% | — |
| 1975 | 0.0% | — |
| 1976 | 0.0% | — |
| 1977 | 0.0% | — |
| 1978 | 0.0% | — |
| 1979 | 0.0% | — |
| 1980 | 0.0% | — |
| 1981 | 0.0% | — |
| 1982 | 0.0% | — |
| 1983 | 0.0% | — |
| 1984 | 0.4% | — |
| 1985 | 0.6% | +33.0% |
| 1986 | 1.0% | +64.0% |
| 1987 | 0.7% | -31.4% |
| 1988 | 1.0% | +55.9% |
| 1989 | 1.1% | +10.9% |
| 1990 | 0.8% | -27.1% |
| 1991 | 0.9% | +9.4% |
| 1992 | 0.9% | +0.9% |
| 1993 | 0.7% | -22.1% |
| 1994 | 0.9% | +28.9% |
| 1995 | 1.0% | +11.6% |
| 1996 | 1.1% | +2.4% |
| 1997 | 1.1% | +5.3% |
| 1998 | 1.2% | +9.6% |
| 1999 | 1.1% | -9.0% |
| 2000 | 1.1% | +1.4% |
| 2001 | 0.9% | -18.3% |
| 2002 | 1.1% | +15.1% |
| 2003 | 1.0% | -2.8% |
| 2004 | 1.0% | -3.4% |
| 2005 | 0.9% | -10.8% |
| 2006 | 0.8% | -13.0% |
| 2007 | 0.8% | +10.0% |
| 2008 | 0.9% | +7.1% |
| 2009 | 0.9% | -1.1% |
| 2010 | 0.9% | +4.9% |
| 2011 | 0.9% | -3.3% |
| 2012 | 0.9% | +1.8% |
| 2013 | 1.0% | +8.4% |
| 2014 | 1.0% | -3.2% |
| 2015 | 0.9% | -9.1% |
| 2016 | 1.0% | +17.9% |
| 2017 | 1.0% | -4.9% |
| 2018 | 0.8% | -14.8% |
| 2019 | 0.9% | +9.7% |
| 2020 | 0.7% | -21.5% |
| 2021 | 0.9% | +25.1% |
| 2022 | 0.8% | -14.6% |
| 2023 | 0.6% | -21.2% |
| 2024 | 0.6% | -3.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 5 |
| 1970s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.5% | 0.0% | 1.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.0% | 0.7% | 1.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.9% | 0.8% | 1.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.9% | 0.8% | 1.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.7% | 0.6% | 0.9% | 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)
- 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 direct primary energy consumption from fossil fuels, nuclear, and renewables in South Africa?
- Direct primary energy consumption from fossil fuels, nuclear, and renewables in South Africa was 0.6% in 2024, according to Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest direct primary energy consumption from fossil fuels, nuclear, and renewables recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1.2% in 1998.
- What is the lowest direct primary energy consumption from fossil fuels, nuclear, and renewables recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1965.
- How does South Africa rank for direct primary energy consumption from fossil fuels, nuclear, and renewables?
- South Africa ranks 27th out of 80 countries with data for 2024.
- Is direct primary energy consumption from fossil fuels, nuclear, and renewables rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 39.2%. 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 (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Direct primary energy consumption from fossil fuels, nuclear, and renewables. 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
Measured as a percentage of the total (direct) primary energy.