Annual change in primary energy from low-carbon energy in South Africa
South Africa: Annual change in primary energy from low-carbon energy was 9.85 terawatt-hours in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
9.85 terawatt-hours
Change on year
up 739.9%
World rank
13th
of 80 countries
All-time high
14.65 terawatt-hours
in 1988
All-time low
-10.12 terawatt-hours
in 2018
Years of data
60
1966–2025
Annual change in primary energy from low-carbon energy in South Africa, 1966–2025
Source: Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in terawatt-hours.
Analysis
The most recent figure for annual change in primary energy from low-carbon energy in South Africa is 9.85 terawatt-hours, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 739.9% on the previous year and up 559.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual change in primary energy from low-carbon energy in South Africa peaked at 14.65 terawatt-hours in 1988 and was at its lowest, -10.12 terawatt-hours, in 2018.
South Africa ranks 13th of 80 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual change in primary energy from low-carbon energy in South Africa, year by year
| Year | terawatt-hours | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1966 | -0.001 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1967 | -0.01 terawatt-hours | +900.0% |
| 1968 | -0.002 terawatt-hours | -80.0% |
| 1969 | -0.003 terawatt-hours | +50.0% |
| 1970 | 0.004 terawatt-hours | -233.3% |
| 1971 | 0.087 terawatt-hours | +2075.0% |
| 1972 | 0.722 terawatt-hours | +729.9% |
| 1973 | 0.151 terawatt-hours | -79.1% |
| 1974 | 0.147 terawatt-hours | -2.6% |
| 1975 | -0.012 terawatt-hours | -108.2% |
| 1976 | 0.756 terawatt-hours | -6400.0% |
| 1977 | 0.068 terawatt-hours | -91.0% |
| 1978 | -0.037 terawatt-hours | -154.4% |
| 1979 | -0.763 terawatt-hours | +1962.2% |
| 1980 | -0.152 terawatt-hours | -80.1% |
| 1981 | 0.661 terawatt-hours | -534.9% |
| 1982 | -0.637 terawatt-hours | -196.4% |
| 1983 | -0.421 terawatt-hours | -33.9% |
| 1984 | 11.86 terawatt-hours | -2916.8% |
| 1985 | 4.28 terawatt-hours | -63.9% |
| 1986 | 11.57 terawatt-hours | +170.5% |
| 1987 | -7.99 terawatt-hours | -169.1% |
| 1988 | 14.65 terawatt-hours | -283.3% |
| 1989 | 1.43 terawatt-hours | -90.2% |
| 1990 | -9.78 terawatt-hours | -782.3% |
| 1991 | 3.08 terawatt-hours | -131.5% |
| 1992 | -0.7916 terawatt-hours | -125.7% |
| 1993 | -6.77 terawatt-hours | +754.8% |
| 1994 | 8.33 terawatt-hours | -223.1% |
| 1995 | 4.32 terawatt-hours | -48.2% |
| 1996 | 2.41 terawatt-hours | -44.2% |
| 1997 | 3.68 terawatt-hours | +52.6% |
| 1998 | 2.65 terawatt-hours | -27.9% |
| 1999 | -3.29 terawatt-hours | -224.0% |
| 2000 | 1.76 terawatt-hours | -153.5% |
| 2001 | -6.49 terawatt-hours | -468.8% |
| 2002 | 4.82 terawatt-hours | -174.4% |
| 2003 | 0.6826 terawatt-hours | -85.8% |
| 2004 | 2.27 terawatt-hours | +233.0% |
| 2005 | -6.4 terawatt-hours | -381.7% |
| 2006 | -2.26 terawatt-hours | -64.7% |
| 2007 | 4.67 terawatt-hours | -306.8% |
| 2008 | 3.39 terawatt-hours | -27.4% |
| 2009 | -0.6968 terawatt-hours | -120.6% |
| 2010 | 1.58 terawatt-hours | -326.6% |
| 2011 | 0.4404 terawatt-hours | -72.1% |
| 2012 | -1.45 terawatt-hours | -429.1% |
| 2013 | 3.68 terawatt-hours | -353.7% |
| 2014 | 1.19 terawatt-hours | -67.8% |
| 2015 | -2.15 terawatt-hours | -281.0% |
| 2016 | 9.88 terawatt-hours | -560.7% |
| 2017 | 1.58 terawatt-hours | -84.1% |
| 2018 | -10.12 terawatt-hours | -741.9% |
| 2019 | 10.28 terawatt-hours | -201.7% |
| 2020 | -5.51 terawatt-hours | -153.6% |
| 2021 | 5.68 terawatt-hours | -203.0% |
| 2022 | -0.7462 terawatt-hours | -113.1% |
| 2023 | -1.19 terawatt-hours | +58.9% |
| 2024 | 1.17 terawatt-hours | -199.0% |
| 2025 | 9.85 terawatt-hours | +739.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -0.004 terawatt-hours | -0.01 terawatt-hours | -0.001 terawatt-hours | 4 |
| 1970s | 0.1123 terawatt-hours | -0.763 terawatt-hours | 0.756 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.52 terawatt-hours | -7.99 terawatt-hours | 14.65 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.3831 terawatt-hours | -9.78 terawatt-hours | 8.33 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.1753 terawatt-hours | -6.49 terawatt-hours | 4.82 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.49 terawatt-hours | -10.12 terawatt-hours | 10.28 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.54 terawatt-hours | -5.51 terawatt-hours | 9.85 terawatt-hours | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More climate change data for South Africa
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 34,365 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 11,741 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 22,624 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 44.31 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 807.99 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 5,495 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 5,119 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 376.6 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 19.32 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 13.45 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual change in primary energy from low-carbon energy in South Africa?
- Annual change in primary energy from low-carbon energy in South Africa was 9.85 terawatt-hours in 2025, according to Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual change in primary energy from low-carbon energy recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 14.65 terawatt-hours in 1988.
- What is the lowest annual change in primary energy from low-carbon energy recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -10.12 terawatt-hours in 2018.
- How does South Africa rank for annual change in primary energy from low-carbon energy?
- South Africa ranks 13th out of 80 countries with data for 2025.
- Is annual change in primary energy from low-carbon energy rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 559.2%. 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) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual change in primary energy from low-carbon energy. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 60 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Change in total energy supply relative to the previous year, measured in terawatt-hours.