Share of electricity generation from fossil fuels in South Africa
South Africa: Share of electricity generation from fossil fuels was 82.2% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Share of electricity generation from fossil fuels in South Africa, 1985–2025
Source: Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, share of electricity generation from fossil fuels in South Africa stood at 82.2%. That is the lowest value across all 41 years on record.
The figure is down 2.6% on the previous year and down 11.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of electricity generation from fossil fuels in South Africa peaked at 95.0% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 82.2%, in 2025.
That places South Africa 70th out of 213 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 41 years of available data.
Share of electricity generation from fossil fuels in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 94.4% | — |
| 1986 | 91.8% | -2.8% |
| 1987 | 93.7% | +2.1% |
| 1988 | 90.5% | -3.5% |
| 1989 | 90.9% | +0.4% |
| 1990 | 93.2% | +2.6% |
| 1991 | 92.3% | -1.0% |
| 1992 | 93.2% | +1.0% |
| 1993 | 95.0% | +1.9% |
| 1994 | 93.2% | -1.8% |
| 1995 | 93.0% | -0.3% |
| 1996 | 92.3% | -0.7% |
| 1997 | 91.7% | -0.7% |
| 1998 | 91.3% | -0.4% |
| 1999 | 91.9% | +0.7% |
| 2000 | 93.1% | +1.2% |
| 2001 | 93.9% | +0.9% |
| 2002 | 93.4% | -0.5% |
| 2003 | 94.1% | +0.7% |
| 2004 | 94.0% | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 94.7% | +0.7% |
| 2006 | 94.7% | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 94.4% | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 94.3% | -0.2% |
| 2009 | 94.1% | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 94.2% | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 93.7% | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 94.4% | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 93.8% | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 92.9% | -1.0% |
| 2015 | 92.5% | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 90.8% | -1.8% |
| 2017 | 89.7% | -1.3% |
| 2018 | 90.6% | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 89.5% | -1.2% |
| 2020 | 89.5% | -0.0% |
| 2021 | 87.3% | -2.6% |
| 2022 | 85.9% | -1.6% |
| 2023 | 84.1% | -2.1% |
| 2024 | 84.3% | +0.3% |
| 2025 | 82.2% | -2.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 92.2% | 90.5% | 94.4% | 5 |
| 1990s | 92.7% | 91.3% | 95.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 94.1% | 93.1% | 94.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 92.2% | 89.5% | 94.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 85.6% | 82.2% | 89.5% | 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)
- 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 share of electricity generation from fossil fuels in South Africa?
- Share of electricity generation from fossil fuels in South Africa was 82.2% in 2025, according to Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of electricity generation from fossil fuels recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 95.0% in 1993.
- What is the lowest share of electricity generation from fossil fuels recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 82.2% in 2025.
- How does South Africa rank for share of electricity generation from fossil fuels?
- South Africa ranks 70th out of 213 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of electricity generation from fossil fuels rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of electricity generation from fossil fuels. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Electricity generation from coal, oil, and gas, measured as a percentage of total electricity produced in the country or region.