Primary energy from renewables in South Africa
South Africa: Primary energy from renewables was 33.63 terawatt-hours in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Primary energy from renewables 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 renewables in South Africa is 33.63 terawatt-hours, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 61 years on record.
The figure is up 6.9% on the previous year and up 311.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary energy from renewables in South Africa peaked at 33.63 terawatt-hours in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.021 terawatt-hours, in 1969.
That places South Africa 42nd out of 77 groups 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.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.0288 terawatt-hours | 0.021 terawatt-hours | 0.037 terawatt-hours | 5 |
| 1970s | 1.11 terawatt-hours | 0.025 terawatt-hours | 1.94 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.46 terawatt-hours | 0.56 terawatt-hours | 3.16 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.31 terawatt-hours | 0.146 terawatt-hours | 2.53 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.33 terawatt-hours | 2.56 terawatt-hours | 4.99 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.79 terawatt-hours | 2.56 terawatt-hours | 13.71 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 25.25 terawatt-hours | 14.69 terawatt-hours | 33.63 terawatt-hours | 6 |
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 56.31 (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is primary energy from renewables in South Africa?
- Primary energy from renewables in South Africa was 33.63 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 renewables recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 33.63 terawatt-hours in 2025.
- What is the lowest primary energy from renewables recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.021 terawatt-hours in 1969.
- How does South Africa rank for primary energy from renewables?
- South Africa ranks 42nd out of 77 groups with data for 2025.
- Is primary energy from renewables rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 311.1%. 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 renewables. 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.