Primary energy from nuclear in South Africa
South Africa: Primary energy from nuclear was 32.52 terawatt-hours in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
32.52 terawatt-hours
Change on year
up 30.9%
World rank
27th
of 219 countries
All-time high
45.53 terawatt-hours
in 2016
All-time low
0 terawatt-hours
in 1965
Years of data
61
1965–2025
Primary energy from nuclear 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
The most recent figure for primary energy from nuclear in South Africa is 32.52 terawatt-hours, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 30.9% on the previous year and down 12.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary energy from nuclear in South Africa peaked at 45.53 terawatt-hours in 2016 and was at its lowest, 0 terawatt-hours, in 1965.
South Africa ranks 27th of 219 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Primary energy from nuclear 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 | 11.89 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1985 | 16.11 terawatt-hours | +35.4% |
| 1986 | 26.68 terawatt-hours | +65.6% |
| 1987 | 18.69 terawatt-hours | -29.9% |
| 1988 | 31.8 terawatt-hours | +70.1% |
| 1989 | 33.63 terawatt-hours | +5.8% |
| 1990 | 25.6 terawatt-hours | -23.9% |
| 1991 | 27.71 terawatt-hours | +8.2% |
| 1992 | 28.15 terawatt-hours | +1.6% |
| 1993 | 21.98 terawatt-hours | -21.9% |
| 1994 | 29.38 terawatt-hours | +33.7% |
| 1995 | 34.25 terawatt-hours | +16.5% |
| 1996 | 35.68 terawatt-hours | +4.2% |
| 1997 | 38.32 terawatt-hours | +7.4% |
| 1998 | 41.22 terawatt-hours | +7.5% |
| 1999 | 38.9 terawatt-hours | -5.6% |
| 2000 | 39.42 terawatt-hours | +1.3% |
| 2001 | 32.48 terawatt-hours | -17.6% |
| 2002 | 36.34 terawatt-hours | +11.9% |
| 2003 | 38.37 terawatt-hours | +5.6% |
| 2004 | 40.5 terawatt-hours | +5.5% |
| 2005 | 34.22 terawatt-hours | -15.5% |
| 2006 | 30.38 terawatt-hours | -11.2% |
| 2007 | 34.29 terawatt-hours | +12.9% |
| 2008 | 39.41 terawatt-hours | +14.9% |
| 2009 | 38.81 terawatt-hours | -1.5% |
| 2010 | 40.99 terawatt-hours | +5.6% |
| 2011 | 39.1 terawatt-hours | -4.6% |
| 2012 | 39.3 terawatt-hours | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 42.75 terawatt-hours | +8.8% |
| 2014 | 41.8 terawatt-hours | -2.2% |
| 2015 | 37.08 terawatt-hours | -11.3% |
| 2016 | 45.53 terawatt-hours | +22.8% |
| 2017 | 43.01 terawatt-hours | -5.5% |
| 2018 | 33.6 terawatt-hours | -21.9% |
| 2019 | 43.29 terawatt-hours | +28.8% |
| 2020 | 36.69 terawatt-hours | -15.2% |
| 2021 | 38.75 terawatt-hours | +5.6% |
| 2022 | 32.1 terawatt-hours | -17.2% |
| 2023 | 25.89 terawatt-hours | -19.3% |
| 2024 | 24.84 terawatt-hours | -4.1% |
| 2025 | 32.52 terawatt-hours | +30.9% |
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 | 13.88 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 33.63 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1990s | 32.12 terawatt-hours | 21.98 terawatt-hours | 41.22 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 36.42 terawatt-hours | 30.38 terawatt-hours | 40.5 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 40.64 terawatt-hours | 33.6 terawatt-hours | 45.53 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 31.8 terawatt-hours | 24.84 terawatt-hours | 38.75 terawatt-hours | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More energy & mining data for South Africa
- Primary energy from fossil nuclear renewables, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
- Primary energy from fossil nuclear renewables, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fuel imports 17.7% (2025)
- Ores and metals imports 2.5% (2025)
- Fuel exports 8.2% (2025)
- Ores and metals exports 30.4% (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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is primary energy from nuclear in South Africa?
- Primary energy from nuclear in South Africa was 32.52 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 from nuclear recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 45.53 terawatt-hours in 2016.
- What is the lowest primary energy from nuclear recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 terawatt-hours in 1965.
- How does South Africa rank for primary energy from nuclear?
- South Africa ranks 27th out of 219 countries with data for 2025.
- Is primary energy from nuclear rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.3%. 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 from nuclear. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 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.