Annual percentage change in primary energy from low-carbon energy in South Africa
South Africa: Annual percentage change in primary energy from low-carbon energy was 17.5% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Annual percentage 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 %.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 17.5% for annual percentage change in primary energy from low-carbon energy in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 722.4% on the previous year and up 486.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual percentage change in primary energy from low-carbon energy in South Africa peaked at 1,993.1% in 1984 and was at its lowest, -41.4%, in 1983.
South Africa ranks 14th 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 percentage change in primary energy from low-carbon energy in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1966 | -2.7% | — |
| 1967 | -27.8% | +927.8% |
| 1968 | -7.7% | -72.3% |
| 1969 | -12.5% | +62.5% |
| 1970 | 19.0% | -252.4% |
| 1971 | 348.0% | +1727.0% |
| 1972 | 644.6% | +85.2% |
| 1973 | 18.1% | -97.2% |
| 1974 | 14.9% | -17.6% |
| 1975 | -1.1% | -107.1% |
| 1976 | 67.5% | -6467.5% |
| 1977 | 3.6% | -94.6% |
| 1978 | -1.9% | -152.5% |
| 1979 | -40.0% | +2002.2% |
| 1980 | -13.3% | -66.8% |
| 1981 | 66.6% | -601.5% |
| 1982 | -38.5% | -157.8% |
| 1983 | -41.4% | +7.5% |
| 1984 | 1,993.1% | -4910.0% |
| 1985 | 34.3% | -98.3% |
| 1986 | 69.1% | +101.4% |
| 1987 | -28.2% | -140.9% |
| 1988 | 72.2% | -355.5% |
| 1989 | 4.1% | -94.3% |
| 1990 | -26.9% | -755.4% |
| 1991 | 11.6% | -143.0% |
| 1992 | -2.7% | -123.1% |
| 1993 | -23.4% | +778.2% |
| 1994 | 37.6% | -260.7% |
| 1995 | 14.2% | -62.3% |
| 1996 | 6.9% | -51.1% |
| 1997 | 9.9% | +42.8% |
| 1998 | 6.5% | -34.4% |
| 1999 | -7.6% | -216.4% |
| 2000 | 4.4% | -157.9% |
| 2001 | -15.4% | -453.4% |
| 2002 | 13.6% | -187.9% |
| 2003 | 1.7% | -87.5% |
| 2004 | 5.5% | +227.5% |
| 2005 | -14.8% | -366.9% |
| 2006 | -6.1% | -58.6% |
| 2007 | 13.5% | -320.3% |
| 2008 | 8.6% | -36.1% |
| 2009 | -1.6% | -118.9% |
| 2010 | 3.8% | -330.4% |
| 2011 | 1.0% | -73.1% |
| 2012 | -3.3% | -425.8% |
| 2013 | 8.6% | -362.3% |
| 2014 | 2.6% | -70.3% |
| 2015 | -4.5% | -276.5% |
| 2016 | 21.8% | -582.6% |
| 2017 | 2.9% | -86.9% |
| 2018 | -17.8% | -724.0% |
| 2019 | 22.1% | -223.7% |
| 2020 | -9.7% | -143.9% |
| 2021 | 11.1% | -214.1% |
| 2022 | -1.3% | -111.8% |
| 2023 | -2.1% | +61.0% |
| 2024 | 2.1% | -201.1% |
| 2025 | 17.5% | +722.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -12.7% | -27.8% | -2.7% | 4 |
| 1970s | 107.3% | -40.0% | 644.6% | 10 |
| 1980s | 211.8% | -41.4% | 1,993.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.6% | -26.9% | 37.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.9% | -15.4% | 13.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.7% | -17.8% | 22.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.9% | -9.7% | 17.5% | 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 percentage change in primary energy from low-carbon energy in South Africa?
- Annual percentage change in primary energy from low-carbon energy in South Africa was 17.5% 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 percentage change in primary energy from low-carbon energy recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1,993.1% in 1984.
- What is the lowest annual percentage change in primary energy from low-carbon energy recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -41.4% in 1983.
- How does South Africa rank for annual percentage change in primary energy from low-carbon energy?
- South Africa ranks 14th out of 80 countries with data for 2025.
- Is annual percentage change in primary energy from low-carbon energy rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 486.7%. 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 percentage change in primary energy from low-carbon energy. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage change in total energy supply relative to the previous year.