Primary energy from low-carbon energy in South Africa
South Africa: Primary energy from low-carbon energy was 66.15 terawatt-hours in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Primary energy from low-carbon energy in South Africa, 1965–2025
Source: Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in terawatt-hours.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 66.15 terawatt-hours for primary energy from low-carbon energy in 2025. That is the highest value across all 61 years on record.
The figure is up 17.5% on the previous year and up 46.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary energy from low-carbon energy in South Africa peaked at 66.15 terawatt-hours in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.021 terawatt-hours, in 1969.
South Africa ranks 41st of 77 groups 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.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.0288 terawatt-hours | 0.021 terawatt-hours | 0.037 terawatt-hours | 5 |
| 1970s | 1.11 terawatt-hours | 0.025 terawatt-hours | 1.94 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1980s | 15.34 terawatt-hours | 0.595 terawatt-hours | 36.39 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1990s | 33.43 terawatt-hours | 22.13 terawatt-hours | 43.51 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 39.75 terawatt-hours | 34.61 terawatt-hours | 43.27 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 48.44 terawatt-hours | 42.55 terawatt-hours | 56.89 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 57.05 terawatt-hours | 51.38 terawatt-hours | 66.15 terawatt-hours | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More climate change data for South Africa
- Share co2 vs population 0.9265 (2100)
- Population growth 1.1% (2025)
- Population, total 64.75 million (2025)
- Urban population growth 1.3% (2025)
- Urban population 41.32 million (2025)
- Urban population 63.8% (2025)
- Co2 emissions vs gdp 6.87 (2024)
- Cumulative co emissions 22.83 billion (2024)
- Co emissions per capita 6.87 (2024)
- Co2 per capita vs renewable electricity 6.87 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is primary energy from low-carbon energy in South Africa?
- Primary energy from low-carbon energy in South Africa was 66.15 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 primary energy from low-carbon energy recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 66.15 terawatt-hours in 2025.
- What is the lowest primary energy from low-carbon energy recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.021 terawatt-hours in 1969.
- How does South Africa rank for primary energy from low-carbon energy?
- South Africa ranks 41st out of 77 groups with data for 2025.
- Is primary energy from low-carbon energy rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 46.2%. 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 Primary energy from low-carbon energy. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 61 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Measured in terawatt-hours of total energy supply.