Share of primary energy from solar in South Africa
South Africa: Share of primary energy from solar was 1.3% in 2025. β Volatile
Share of primary energy from solar in South Africa, 1965β2025
Source: Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017); U.S. Energy Information Administration (2026) β with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of primary energy from solar in South Africa is 1.3%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 61 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 7.1% on the previous year and up 581.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of primary energy from solar in South Africa peaked at 1.3% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1965.
That places South Africa 35th out of 80 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 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 5 |
| 1970s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.9% | 0.4% | 1.3% | 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 primary energy from solar in South Africa?
- Share of primary energy from solar in South Africa was 1.3% in 2025, according to Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017); U.S. Energy Information Administration (2026) β with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of primary energy from solar recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1.3% in 2025.
- What is the lowest share of primary energy from solar recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1965.
- How does South Africa rank for share of primary energy from solar?
- South Africa ranks 35th out of 80 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of primary energy from solar rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 581.3%. 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); U.S. Energy Information Administration (2026) β with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of primary energy from solar. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV Β· JSON β 61 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Measured as a percentage of total energy supply.