Renewable energy in South Africa
South Africa: Renewable energy was 0.8523 terawatt-hours in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Renewable energy 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
South Africa recorded 0.8523 terawatt-hours for renewable energy in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 13.8% on the previous year and down 11.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, renewable energy in South Africa peaked at 1.45 terawatt-hours in 2013 and was at its lowest, 0 terawatt-hours, in 1965.
That places South Africa 56th out of 79 countries 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 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 | 0.1921 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 0.7 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.31 terawatt-hours | 1.16 terawatt-hours | 1.45 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.9984 terawatt-hours | 0.2429 terawatt-hours | 1.45 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.6031 terawatt-hours | 0.2625 terawatt-hours | 0.8523 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 renewable energy in South Africa?
- Renewable energy in South Africa was 0.8523 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 renewable energy recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1.45 terawatt-hours in 2013.
- What is the lowest renewable energy recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 terawatt-hours in 1965.
- How does South Africa rank for renewable energy?
- South Africa ranks 56th out of 79 countries with data for 2025.
- Is renewable energy rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.1%. 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 Renewable energy. 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.