Electricity generation from low-carbon sources per person (low-carbon) in South Africa
South Africa: Electricity generation from low-carbon sources per person (low-carbon) was 668.91 kilowatt-hours in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Electricity generation from low-carbon sources 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
In 2025, electricity generation from low-carbon sources per person in South Africa stood at 668.91 kilowatt-hours. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
The figure is up 10.4% on the previous year and up 102.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, electricity generation from low-carbon sources per person in South Africa peaked at 668.91 kilowatt-hours in 2025 and was at its lowest, 4.88 kilowatt-hours, in 1971.
South Africa ranks 90th of 214 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Electricity generation from low-carbon sources per person (low-carbon) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | kilowatt-hours | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 4.88 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 1972 | 35.32 kilowatt-hours | +623.6% |
| 1973 | 40.54 kilowatt-hours | +14.8% |
| 1974 | 45.3 kilowatt-hours | +11.7% |
| 1975 | 43.6 kilowatt-hours | -3.8% |
| 1976 | 71.07 kilowatt-hours | +63.0% |
| 1977 | 71.68 kilowatt-hours | +0.9% |
| 1978 | 68.43 kilowatt-hours | -4.5% |
| 1979 | 39.95 kilowatt-hours | -41.6% |
| 1980 | 33.61 kilowatt-hours | -15.9% |
| 1981 | 54.12 kilowatt-hours | +61.1% |
| 1982 | 32.14 kilowatt-hours | -40.6% |
| 1983 | 18.17 kilowatt-hours | -43.4% |
| 1984 | 132.33 kilowatt-hours | +628.1% |
| 1985 | 169.48 kilowatt-hours | +28.1% |
| 1986 | 288.17 kilowatt-hours | +70.0% |
| 1987 | 208.54 kilowatt-hours | -27.6% |
| 1988 | 354.85 kilowatt-hours | +70.2% |
| 1989 | 349.7 kilowatt-hours | -1.5% |
| 1990 | 232.14 kilowatt-hours | -33.6% |
| 1991 | 266.84 kilowatt-hours | +14.9% |
| 1992 | 236.55 kilowatt-hours | -11.4% |
| 1993 | 170.94 kilowatt-hours | -27.7% |
| 1994 | 244.77 kilowatt-hours | +43.2% |
| 1995 | 265.6 kilowatt-hours | +8.5% |
| 1996 | 291.51 kilowatt-hours | +9.8% |
| 1997 | 325.95 kilowatt-hours | +11.8% |
| 1998 | 333.75 kilowatt-hours | +2.4% |
| 1999 | 294.45 kilowatt-hours | -11.8% |
| 2000 | 309.37 kilowatt-hours | +5.1% |
| 2001 | 270.36 kilowatt-hours | -12.6% |
| 2002 | 303 kilowatt-hours | +12.1% |
| 2003 | 287.21 kilowatt-hours | -5.2% |
| 2004 | 300.67 kilowatt-hours | +4.7% |
| 2005 | 264.3 kilowatt-hours | -12.1% |
| 2006 | 267.41 kilowatt-hours | +1.2% |
| 2007 | 289.94 kilowatt-hours | +8.4% |
| 2008 | 288.76 kilowatt-hours | -0.4% |
| 2009 | 285.34 kilowatt-hours | -1.2% |
| 2010 | 288.86 kilowatt-hours | +1.2% |
| 2011 | 310.03 kilowatt-hours | +7.3% |
| 2012 | 269.23 kilowatt-hours | -13.2% |
| 2013 | 288.6 kilowatt-hours | +7.2% |
| 2014 | 325.57 kilowatt-hours | +12.8% |
| 2015 | 330.73 kilowatt-hours | +1.6% |
| 2016 | 405.17 kilowatt-hours | +22.5% |
| 2017 | 456.67 kilowatt-hours | +12.7% |
| 2018 | 410.49 kilowatt-hours | -10.1% |
| 2019 | 443.88 kilowatt-hours | +8.1% |
| 2020 | 415.61 kilowatt-hours | -6.4% |
| 2021 | 508.43 kilowatt-hours | +22.3% |
| 2022 | 540.57 kilowatt-hours | +6.3% |
| 2023 | 585.01 kilowatt-hours | +8.2% |
| 2024 | 605.71 kilowatt-hours | +3.5% |
| 2025 | 668.91 kilowatt-hours | +10.4% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 668.91 kilowatt-hours is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 493.38 kilowatt-hours, 1.4× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 668.91 kilowatt-hours is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 81.21 kilowatt-hours, 8.2× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Electricity generation from low-carbon sources per person (low-carbon) in South Africa changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | +628.1% | 18.17 kilowatt-hours | 132.33 kilowatt-hours |
| 1972 | +623.6% | 4.88 kilowatt-hours | 35.32 kilowatt-hours |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 46.75 kilowatt-hours | 4.88 kilowatt-hours | 71.68 kilowatt-hours | 9 |
| 1980s | 164.11 kilowatt-hours | 18.17 kilowatt-hours | 354.85 kilowatt-hours | 10 |
| 1990s | 266.25 kilowatt-hours | 170.94 kilowatt-hours | 333.75 kilowatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 286.64 kilowatt-hours | 264.3 kilowatt-hours | 309.37 kilowatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 352.92 kilowatt-hours | 269.23 kilowatt-hours | 456.67 kilowatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 554.04 kilowatt-hours | 415.61 kilowatt-hours | 668.91 kilowatt-hours | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More climate change data for South Africa
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 717.27 million kg (2050)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is electricity generation from low-carbon sources per person in South Africa?
- Electricity generation from low-carbon sources per person in South Africa was 668.91 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 low-carbon sources per person recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 668.91 kilowatt-hours in 2025.
- What is the lowest electricity generation from low-carbon sources per person recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.88 kilowatt-hours in 1971.
- How does South Africa rank for electricity generation from low-carbon sources per person?
- South Africa ranks 90th out of 214 countries with data for 2025.
- Is electricity generation from low-carbon sources per person rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 102.3%. 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 low-carbon sources 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. Low-carbon sources correspond to renewables and nuclear power, that produce significantly less greenhouse-gas emissions than fossil fuels. Renewables include solar, wind, hydropower, bioenergy, geothermal, wave, and tidal.