Primary energy from low-carbon energy per person in South Africa
South Africa: Primary energy from low-carbon energy per person was 1,022 kilowatt-hours per person in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
1,022 kilowatt-hours per person
Change on year
up 16.2%
World rank
61st
of 80 countries
All-time high
1,022 kilowatt-hours per person
in 2025
All-time low
0.9716 kilowatt-hours per person
in 1969
Years of data
61
1965–2025
Primary energy from low-carbon energy per person in South Africa, 1965–2025
Source: Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in kilowatt-hours per person.
Analysis
The most recent figure for primary energy from low-carbon energy per person in South Africa is 1,022 kilowatt-hours per person, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 61 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 16.2% on the previous year and up 28.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary energy from low-carbon energy per person in South Africa peaked at 1,022 kilowatt-hours per person in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.9716 kilowatt-hours per person, in 1969.
South Africa ranks 61st of 80 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Primary energy from low-carbon energy per person in South Africa, year by year
| Year | kilowatt-hours per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 1.94 kilowatt-hours per person | — |
| 1966 | 1.83 kilowatt-hours per person | -5.7% |
| 1967 | 1.28 kilowatt-hours per person | -30.0% |
| 1968 | 1.15 kilowatt-hours per person | -10.5% |
| 1969 | 0.9716 kilowatt-hours per person | -15.2% |
| 1970 | 1.12 kilowatt-hours per person | +15.5% |
| 1971 | 4.88 kilowatt-hours per person | +335.1% |
| 1972 | 35.32 kilowatt-hours per person | +623.6% |
| 1973 | 40.54 kilowatt-hours per person | +14.8% |
| 1974 | 45.3 kilowatt-hours per person | +11.7% |
| 1975 | 43.6 kilowatt-hours per person | -3.8% |
| 1976 | 71.07 kilowatt-hours per person | +63.0% |
| 1977 | 71.68 kilowatt-hours per person | +0.9% |
| 1978 | 68.43 kilowatt-hours per person | -4.5% |
| 1979 | 39.95 kilowatt-hours per person | -41.6% |
| 1980 | 33.61 kilowatt-hours per person | -15.9% |
| 1981 | 54.12 kilowatt-hours per person | +61.1% |
| 1982 | 32.14 kilowatt-hours per person | -40.6% |
| 1983 | 18.17 kilowatt-hours per person | -43.4% |
| 1984 | 367.45 kilowatt-hours per person | +1921.9% |
| 1985 | 477.43 kilowatt-hours per person | +29.9% |
| 1986 | 782.15 kilowatt-hours per person | +63.8% |
| 1987 | 543.99 kilowatt-hours per person | -30.5% |
| 1988 | 908.48 kilowatt-hours per person | +67.0% |
| 1989 | 918.34 kilowatt-hours per person | +1.1% |
| 1990 | 653.14 kilowatt-hours per person | -28.9% |
| 1991 | 712.17 kilowatt-hours per person | +9.0% |
| 1992 | 680.85 kilowatt-hours per person | -4.4% |
| 1993 | 511.14 kilowatt-hours per person | -24.9% |
| 1994 | 692.18 kilowatt-hours per person | +35.4% |
| 1995 | 780.72 kilowatt-hours per person | +12.8% |
| 1996 | 824.03 kilowatt-hours per person | +5.5% |
| 1997 | 894.71 kilowatt-hours per person | +8.6% |
| 1998 | 941.29 kilowatt-hours per person | +5.2% |
| 1999 | 860.75 kilowatt-hours per person | -8.6% |
| 2000 | 890.2 kilowatt-hours per person | +3.4% |
| 2001 | 746.23 kilowatt-hours per person | -16.2% |
| 2002 | 839.62 kilowatt-hours per person | +12.5% |
| 2003 | 845.37 kilowatt-hours per person | +0.7% |
| 2004 | 883.29 kilowatt-hours per person | +4.5% |
| 2005 | 745 kilowatt-hours per person | -15.7% |
| 2006 | 692.25 kilowatt-hours per person | -7.1% |
| 2007 | 777.43 kilowatt-hours per person | +12.3% |
| 2008 | 834.85 kilowatt-hours per person | +7.4% |
| 2009 | 811.47 kilowatt-hours per person | -2.8% |
| 2010 | 832.1 kilowatt-hours per person | +2.5% |
| 2011 | 830.18 kilowatt-hours per person | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 791.08 kilowatt-hours per person | -4.7% |
| 2013 | 845.35 kilowatt-hours per person | +6.9% |
| 2014 | 852.74 kilowatt-hours per person | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 797.95 kilowatt-hours per person | -6.4% |
| 2016 | 963.11 kilowatt-hours per person | +20.7% |
| 2017 | 984.18 kilowatt-hours per person | +2.2% |
| 2018 | 795.16 kilowatt-hours per person | -19.2% |
| 2019 | 954.74 kilowatt-hours per person | +20.1% |
| 2020 | 848.37 kilowatt-hours per person | -11.1% |
| 2021 | 927.72 kilowatt-hours per person | +9.4% |
| 2022 | 902.73 kilowatt-hours per person | -2.7% |
| 2023 | 872.07 kilowatt-hours per person | -3.4% |
| 2024 | 879.57 kilowatt-hours per person | +0.9% |
| 2025 | 1,022 kilowatt-hours per person | +16.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.43 kilowatt-hours per person | 0.9716 kilowatt-hours per person | 1.94 kilowatt-hours per person | 5 |
| 1970s | 42.19 kilowatt-hours per person | 1.12 kilowatt-hours per person | 71.68 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 413.59 kilowatt-hours per person | 18.17 kilowatt-hours per person | 918.34 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 755.1 kilowatt-hours per person | 511.14 kilowatt-hours per person | 941.29 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 806.57 kilowatt-hours per person | 692.25 kilowatt-hours per person | 890.2 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 864.66 kilowatt-hours per person | 791.08 kilowatt-hours per person | 984.18 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 908.69 kilowatt-hours per person | 848.37 kilowatt-hours per person | 1,022 kilowatt-hours per person | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 58 Qatar 1,247 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 59 Philippines 1,171 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 60 Mexico 1,168 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 62 Oman 922.22 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 63 Kazakhstan 844.82 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 64 Singapore 711.27 kilowatt-hours per person compare
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 primary energy from low-carbon energy per person in South Africa?
- Primary energy from low-carbon energy per person in South Africa was 1,022 kilowatt-hours per person in 2025, according to Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest primary energy from low-carbon energy per person recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1,022 kilowatt-hours per person in 2025.
- What is the lowest primary energy from low-carbon energy per person recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.9716 kilowatt-hours per person in 1969.
- How does South Africa rank for primary energy from low-carbon energy per person?
- South Africa ranks 61st out of 80 countries with data for 2025.
- Is primary energy from low-carbon energy per person rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 28.0%. 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); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Primary energy from low-carbon energy per person. 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 kilowatt-hours of total energy supply per person.