Electricity generation from solar per person in South Africa
South Africa: Electricity generation from solar per person was 300.86 kilowatt-hours in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
300.86 kilowatt-hours
Change on year
up 5.2%
World rank
51st
of 210 countries
All-time high
300.86 kilowatt-hours
in 2025
All-time low
0 kilowatt-hours
in 1971
Years of data
55
1971–2025
Electricity generation from solar per person in South Africa, 1971–2025
Source: Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in kilowatt-hours.
Analysis
The most recent figure for electricity generation from solar per person in South Africa is 300.86 kilowatt-hours, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
That represents a change of up 5.2% on the previous year and up 611.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, electricity generation from solar per person in South Africa peaked at 300.86 kilowatt-hours in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0 kilowatt-hours, in 1971.
That places South Africa 51st out of 210 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Electricity generation from solar per person in South Africa, year by year
| Year | kilowatt-hours | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 0 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 1972 | 0 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 1973 | 0 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 1974 | 0 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 1975 | 0 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 1976 | 0 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 1977 | 0 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 1978 | 0 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 1979 | 0 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 1980 | 0 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 1981 | 0 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 1982 | 0 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 1983 | 0 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 1984 | 0 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 1985 | 0 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 1986 | 0 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 1987 | 0 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 1988 | 0 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 1989 | 0 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 1990 | 0 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 1991 | 0 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 1992 | 0 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 1993 | 0 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 1994 | 0 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 1995 | 0 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 1996 | 0 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 1997 | 0 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 1998 | 0 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 1999 | 0 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 2000 | 0 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 2001 | 0 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 2002 | 0.4165 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 2003 | 0.4124 kilowatt-hours | -1.0% |
| 2004 | 0.4082 kilowatt-hours | -1.0% |
| 2005 | 0.4041 kilowatt-hours | -1.0% |
| 2006 | 0.4 kilowatt-hours | -1.0% |
| 2007 | 0.3958 kilowatt-hours | -1.0% |
| 2008 | 0.3913 kilowatt-hours | -1.1% |
| 2009 | 0.3866 kilowatt-hours | -1.2% |
| 2010 | 0.3821 kilowatt-hours | -1.2% |
| 2011 | 0.3774 kilowatt-hours | -1.2% |
| 2012 | 0.5578 kilowatt-hours | +47.8% |
| 2013 | 0.9144 kilowatt-hours | +63.9% |
| 2014 | 19.43 kilowatt-hours | +2024.4% |
| 2015 | 42.31 kilowatt-hours | +117.8% |
| 2016 | 52.57 kilowatt-hours | +24.2% |
| 2017 | 68.36 kilowatt-hours | +30.0% |
| 2018 | 77.46 kilowatt-hours | +13.3% |
| 2019 | 90.62 kilowatt-hours | +17.0% |
| 2020 | 115.25 kilowatt-hours | +27.2% |
| 2021 | 127.47 kilowatt-hours | +10.6% |
| 2022 | 167.69 kilowatt-hours | +31.5% |
| 2023 | 234.29 kilowatt-hours | +39.7% |
| 2024 | 285.9 kilowatt-hours | +22.0% |
| 2025 | 300.86 kilowatt-hours | +5.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0 kilowatt-hours | 0 kilowatt-hours | 0 kilowatt-hours | 9 |
| 1980s | 0 kilowatt-hours | 0 kilowatt-hours | 0 kilowatt-hours | 10 |
| 1990s | 0 kilowatt-hours | 0 kilowatt-hours | 0 kilowatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.3215 kilowatt-hours | 0 kilowatt-hours | 0.4165 kilowatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 35.3 kilowatt-hours | 0.3774 kilowatt-hours | 90.62 kilowatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 205.25 kilowatt-hours | 115.25 kilowatt-hours | 300.86 kilowatt-hours | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 48 Antigua and Barbuda 319.89 kilowatt-hours compare
- 49 Martinique 317.91 kilowatt-hours compare
- 50 Puerto Rico 309.09 kilowatt-hours compare
- 52 Guadeloupe 292.15 kilowatt-hours compare
- 53 Singapore 279.35 kilowatt-hours compare
- 54 United Kingdom 277.78 kilowatt-hours 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)
- 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 electricity generation from solar per person in South Africa?
- Electricity generation from solar per person in South Africa was 300.86 kilowatt-hours in 2025, according to Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest electricity generation from solar per person recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 300.86 kilowatt-hours in 2025.
- What is the lowest electricity generation from solar per person recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 kilowatt-hours in 1971.
- How does South Africa rank for electricity generation from solar per person?
- South Africa ranks 51st out of 210 countries with data for 2025.
- Is electricity generation from solar per person rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 611.1%. 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 Electricity generation from solar per person. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Measured in kilowatt-hours per person.