Primary energy use, annual growth rate in South Africa
South Africa: Primary energy use, annual growth rate was -0.3095 % change on previous year in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Primary energy use, annual growth rate in South Africa, 1966–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in % change on previous year.
Analysis
South Africa recorded -0.3095 % change on previous year for primary energy use, annual growth rate in 2025.
The figure is down 107.6% on the previous year and down 294.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary energy use, annual growth rate in South Africa peaked at 16.27 % change on previous year in 1981 and was at its lowest, -10.23 % change on previous year, in 2020.
That places South Africa 163rd out of 217 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Primary energy use, annual growth rate in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % change on previous year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1966 | 0.6218 % change on previous year | — |
| 1967 | 4.14 % change on previous year | +565.5% |
| 1968 | 5.54 % change on previous year | +33.9% |
| 1969 | 2.97 % change on previous year | -46.5% |
| 1970 | 4.5 % change on previous year | +51.8% |
| 1971 | 7.68 % change on previous year | +70.7% |
| 1972 | 2.99 % change on previous year | -61.0% |
| 1973 | 7.55 % change on previous year | +152.1% |
| 1974 | 2.83 % change on previous year | -62.6% |
| 1975 | 6.64 % change on previous year | +135.1% |
| 1976 | 4.12 % change on previous year | -38.0% |
| 1977 | 2.44 % change on previous year | -40.7% |
| 1978 | -0.9662 % change on previous year | -139.5% |
| 1979 | 3.54 % change on previous year | -465.9% |
| 1980 | 6.81 % change on previous year | +92.7% |
| 1981 | 16.27 % change on previous year | +138.9% |
| 1982 | 7.75 % change on previous year | -52.4% |
| 1983 | 1.43 % change on previous year | -81.5% |
| 1984 | 9.4 % change on previous year | +555.7% |
| 1985 | 2.14 % change on previous year | -77.2% |
| 1986 | 1.73 % change on previous year | -19.0% |
| 1987 | 1.53 % change on previous year | -11.7% |
| 1988 | 9.92 % change on previous year | +547.2% |
| 1989 | -4.4 % change on previous year | -144.4% |
| 1990 | 3.71 % change on previous year | -184.4% |
| 1991 | -0.8919 % change on previous year | -124.0% |
| 1992 | 0.7077 % change on previous year | -179.4% |
| 1993 | -0.0964 % change on previous year | -113.6% |
| 1994 | 4.16 % change on previous year | -4418.3% |
| 1995 | 4.64 % change on previous year | +11.4% |
| 1996 | 1.86 % change on previous year | -59.9% |
| 1997 | 2.14 % change on previous year | +15.4% |
| 1998 | -1.66 % change on previous year | -177.7% |
| 1999 | 3.52 % change on previous year | -311.5% |
| 2000 | 0.0734 % change on previous year | -97.9% |
| 2001 | 0.3998 % change on previous year | +444.4% |
| 2002 | -2.57 % change on previous year | -743.0% |
| 2003 | 3.74 % change on previous year | -245.5% |
| 2004 | 6.41 % change on previous year | +71.5% |
| 2005 | 3.54 % change on previous year | -44.8% |
| 2006 | 5.3 % change on previous year | +49.9% |
| 2007 | 3.01 % change on previous year | -43.3% |
| 2008 | 2.08 % change on previous year | -30.7% |
| 2009 | -5.38 % change on previous year | -358.2% |
| 2010 | 3.38 % change on previous year | -162.8% |
| 2011 | -3.1 % change on previous year | -191.7% |
| 2012 | 4.03 % change on previous year | -229.9% |
| 2013 | -0.0276 % change on previous year | -100.7% |
| 2014 | -2.65 % change on previous year | +9490.1% |
| 2015 | 0.159 % change on previous year | -106.0% |
| 2016 | 1.23 % change on previous year | +673.3% |
| 2017 | -4.33 % change on previous year | -452.0% |
| 2018 | 3.3 % change on previous year | -176.2% |
| 2019 | 5.12 % change on previous year | +55.2% |
| 2020 | -10.23 % change on previous year | -299.9% |
| 2021 | 0.8657 % change on previous year | -108.5% |
| 2022 | -3.8 % change on previous year | -539.2% |
| 2023 | 4.28 % change on previous year | -212.5% |
| 2024 | 4.07 % change on previous year | -4.9% |
| 2025 | -0.3095 % change on previous year | -107.6% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's -0.3095 % change on previous year is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 2.6 % change on previous year. (56 countries reporting)
- South Africa's -0.3095 % change on previous year is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.54 % change on previous year. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Primary energy use, annual growth rate in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | -9490.1% | -0.0276 % change on previous year | -2.65 % change on previous year |
| 1994 | +4418.3% | -0.0964 % change on previous year | 4.16 % change on previous year |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 3.32 % change on previous year | 0.6218 % change on previous year | 5.54 % change on previous year | 4 |
| 1970s | 4.13 % change on previous year | -0.9662 % change on previous year | 7.68 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1980s | 5.26 % change on previous year | -4.4 % change on previous year | 16.27 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.81 % change on previous year | -1.66 % change on previous year | 4.64 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.66 % change on previous year | -5.38 % change on previous year | 6.41 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.7104 % change on previous year | -4.33 % change on previous year | 5.12 % change on previous year | 10 |
| 2020s | -0.8556 % change on previous year | -10.23 % change on previous year | 4.28 % change on previous year | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More energy & mining data for South Africa
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate -0.3095 % change on previous year (2025)
- Coal consumption, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal consumption, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fuel imports 17.7% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is primary energy use, annual growth rate in South Africa?
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate in South Africa was -0.3095 % change on previous year in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest primary energy use, annual growth rate recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 16.27 % change on previous year in 1981.
- What is the lowest primary energy use, annual growth rate recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -10.23 % change on previous year in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for primary energy use, annual growth rate?
- South Africa ranks 163rd out of 217 countries with data for 2025.
- Is primary energy use, annual growth rate rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 294.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Primary energy use, annual growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 60 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
The year-on-year percentage change in Primary energy use. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.
Computed from
- Primary energy use Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017); U.S. Energy Information Administration (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
The year-on-year percentage change in Primary energy use. Computed from consecutive annual observations; years either side of a gap are skipped rather than bridged.