Electricity generation from solar in South Africa
South Africa: Electricity generation from solar was 19.48 terawatt-hours in 2025. β Volatile
Electricity generation from solar in South Africa, 1971β2025
Source: Ember (2026); Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Pinto et al. (2023) β with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in terawatt-hours.
Analysis
In 2025, electricity generation from solar in South Africa stood at 19.48 terawatt-hours. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
The figure is up 6.4% on the previous year and up 711.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, electricity generation from solar in South Africa peaked at 19.48 terawatt-hours in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0 terawatt-hours, in 1971.
That places South Africa 19th out of 210 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 9 |
| 1980s | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1990s | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.016 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 0.02 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.05 terawatt-hours | 0.02 terawatt-hours | 5.4 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.98 terawatt-hours | 6.98 terawatt-hours | 19.48 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 electricity generation from solar in South Africa?
- Electricity generation from solar in South Africa was 19.48 terawatt-hours in 2025, according to Ember (2026); Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Pinto et al. (2023) β with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest electricity generation from solar recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 19.48 terawatt-hours in 2025.
- What is the lowest electricity generation from solar recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 terawatt-hours in 1971.
- How does South Africa rank for electricity generation from solar?
- South Africa ranks 19th out of 210 countries with data for 2025.
- Is electricity generation from solar rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 711.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Ember (2026); Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Pinto et al. (2023) β with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Electricity generation from solar. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV Β· JSON β 55 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Measured in terawatt-hours.