Annual percentage change in primary energy from hydropower in South Africa
South Africa: Annual percentage change in primary energy from hydropower was 67.0% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Annual percentage change in primary energy from hydropower in South Africa, 1966–2025
Source: Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, annual percentage change in primary energy from hydropower in South Africa stood at 67.0%.
That represents a change of up 245.6% on the previous year and up 213.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual percentage change in primary energy from hydropower in South Africa peaked at 644.6% in 1972 and was at its lowest, -80.6%, in 1993.
South Africa ranks 1st of 71 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual percentage change in primary energy from hydropower 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 | -5.9% | -85.8% |
| 1985 | 11.4% | -294.3% |
| 1986 | 160.1% | +1300.8% |
| 1987 | -0.4% | -100.2% |
| 1988 | 95.5% | -25945.9% |
| 1989 | -12.7% | -113.3% |
| 1990 | -63.4% | +397.4% |
| 1991 | 96.0% | -251.5% |
| 1992 | -62.0% | -164.6% |
| 1993 | -80.6% | +29.9% |
| 1994 | 635.6% | -888.8% |
| 1995 | -50.7% | -108.0% |
| 1996 | 149.3% | -394.3% |
| 1997 | 58.6% | -60.8% |
| 1998 | -23.8% | -140.5% |
| 1999 | -54.5% | +129.3% |
| 2000 | 51.7% | -194.8% |
| 2001 | 56.3% | +9.0% |
| 2002 | 21.1% | -62.5% |
| 2003 | -60.3% | -385.9% |
| 2004 | 14.8% | -124.6% |
| 2005 | 40.2% | +171.6% |
| 2006 | 117.5% | +192.3% |
| 2007 | -1.1% | -100.9% |
| 2008 | -56.0% | +4974.8% |
| 2009 | 15.2% | -127.2% |
| 2010 | -21.3% | -239.5% |
| 2011 | 168.1% | -890.3% |
| 2012 | -66.8% | -139.7% |
| 2013 | 8.4% | -112.6% |
| 2014 | 62.6% | +646.6% |
| 2015 | -59.3% | -194.8% |
| 2016 | -14.5% | -75.5% |
| 2017 | 24.4% | -267.8% |
| 2018 | 39.3% | +61.2% |
| 2019 | -37.4% | -195.3% |
| 2020 | 12.6% | -133.7% |
| 2021 | 107.2% | +749.1% |
| 2022 | 98.8% | -7.8% |
| 2023 | -36.5% | -137.0% |
| 2024 | -46.1% | +26.0% |
| 2025 | 67.0% | -245.6% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 67.0% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 2.4%, 28.2× the median. (24 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual percentage change in primary energy from hydropower 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | +25945.9% | -0.4% | 95.5% |
| 1976 | +6467.5% | -1.1% | 67.5% |
| 2008 | -4974.8% | -1.1% | -56.0% |
| 1979 | -2002.2% | -1.9% | -40.0% |
| 1971 | +1727.0% | 19.0% | 348.0% |
| 1986 | +1300.8% | 11.4% | 160.1% |
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 | 22.1% | -41.4% | 160.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 60.5% | -80.6% | 635.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 19.9% | -60.3% | 117.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.3% | -66.8% | 168.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 33.9% | -46.1% | 107.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More reference data data for South Africa
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5111 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 8.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.7468 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 41.1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 63.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 4.07 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual percentage change in primary energy from hydropower in South Africa?
- Annual percentage change in primary energy from hydropower in South Africa was 67.0% in 2025, according to Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual percentage change in primary energy from hydropower recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 644.6% in 1972.
- What is the lowest annual percentage change in primary energy from hydropower recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was -80.6% in 1993.
- How does South Africa rank for annual percentage change in primary energy from hydropower?
- South Africa ranks 1st out of 71 countries with data for 2025.
- Is annual percentage change in primary energy from hydropower rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 213.0%. 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) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual percentage change in primary energy from hydropower. 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.