Share of electricity generation from renewables in South Africa
South Africa: Share of electricity generation from renewables was 13.6% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Share of electricity generation from renewables 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 renewables in South Africa stood at 13.6%. That is the highest value across all 41 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 9.0% on the previous year and up 422.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of electricity generation from renewables in South Africa peaked at 13.6% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.1%, in 1993.
That places South Africa 149th out of 213 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1.3% | 0.4% | 2.0% | 5 |
| 1990s | 0.6% | 0.1% | 1.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.9% | 0.5% | 1.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.6% | 0.6% | 5.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.4% | 6.3% | 13.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 146 Seychelles 15.9% compare
- 147 Kazakhstan 14.9% compare
- 148 Tonga 14.3% compare
- 150 Dominica 13.3% compare
- 150 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 13.3% compare
- 152 Egypt 13.0% compare
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 share of electricity generation from renewables in South Africa?
- Share of electricity generation from renewables in South Africa was 13.6% 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 renewables recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 13.6% in 2025.
- What is the lowest share of electricity generation from renewables recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1% in 1993.
- How does South Africa rank for share of electricity generation from renewables?
- South Africa ranks 149th out of 213 groups with data for 2025.
- Is share of electricity generation from renewables rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 422.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- 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 renewables. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 41 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Measured as a percentage of total electricity produced in the country or region.