Electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables in South Africa
South Africa: Electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables was 199.45 terawatt-hours in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
199.45 terawatt-hours
Change on year
down 4.5%
World rank
15th
of 208 countries
All-time high
248.84 terawatt-hours
in 2007
All-time low
135.44 terawatt-hours
in 1985
Years of data
41
1985–2025
Electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables in South Africa, 1985–2025
Source: Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in terawatt-hours.
Analysis
The most recent figure for electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables in South Africa is 199.45 terawatt-hours, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 4.5% on the previous year and down 13.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables in South Africa peaked at 248.84 terawatt-hours in 2007 and was at its lowest, 135.44 terawatt-hours, in 1985.
South Africa ranks 15th of 208 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 41 years of available data.
Electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables in South Africa, year by year
| Year | terawatt-hours | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 135.44 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1986 | 136.03 terawatt-hours | +0.4% |
| 1987 | 142.81 terawatt-hours | +5.0% |
| 1988 | 143.08 terawatt-hours | +0.2% |
| 1989 | 148.46 terawatt-hours | +3.8% |
| 1990 | 155.93 terawatt-hours | +5.0% |
| 1991 | 155.39 terawatt-hours | -0.3% |
| 1992 | 156.72 terawatt-hours | +0.9% |
| 1993 | 165.96 terawatt-hours | +5.9% |
| 1994 | 169.4 terawatt-hours | +2.1% |
| 1995 | 173.55 terawatt-hours | +2.4% |
| 1996 | 184.72 terawatt-hours | +6.4% |
| 1997 | 192.87 terawatt-hours | +4.4% |
| 1998 | 187.53 terawatt-hours | -2.8% |
| 1999 | 186.66 terawatt-hours | -0.5% |
| 2000 | 196.07 terawatt-hours | +5.0% |
| 2001 | 197.23 terawatt-hours | +0.6% |
| 2002 | 206.03 terawatt-hours | +4.5% |
| 2003 | 220.31 terawatt-hours | +6.9% |
| 2004 | 229.88 terawatt-hours | +4.3% |
| 2005 | 231.85 terawatt-hours | +0.9% |
| 2006 | 240.44 terawatt-hours | +3.7% |
| 2007 | 248.84 terawatt-hours | +3.5% |
| 2008 | 243.53 terawatt-hours | -2.1% |
| 2009 | 234.8 terawatt-hours | -3.6% |
| 2010 | 244.47 terawatt-hours | +4.1% |
| 2011 | 246.05 terawatt-hours | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 243.39 terawatt-hours | -1.1% |
| 2013 | 240.17 terawatt-hours | -1.3% |
| 2014 | 236.67 terawatt-hours | -1.5% |
| 2015 | 231.29 terawatt-hours | -2.3% |
| 2016 | 229.61 terawatt-hours | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 228.82 terawatt-hours | -0.3% |
| 2018 | 232.24 terawatt-hours | +1.5% |
| 2019 | 226.62 terawatt-hours | -2.4% |
| 2020 | 215.57 terawatt-hours | -4.9% |
| 2021 | 214.19 terawatt-hours | -0.6% |
| 2022 | 205.45 terawatt-hours | -4.1% |
| 2023 | 195.97 terawatt-hours | -4.6% |
| 2024 | 208.75 terawatt-hours | +6.5% |
| 2025 | 199.45 terawatt-hours | -4.5% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 199.45 terawatt-hours is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 8.52 terawatt-hours, 23.4× the median. (54 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 199.45 terawatt-hours is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.945 terawatt-hours, 211.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 141.17 terawatt-hours | 135.44 terawatt-hours | 148.46 terawatt-hours | 5 |
| 1990s | 172.87 terawatt-hours | 155.39 terawatt-hours | 192.87 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 224.9 terawatt-hours | 196.07 terawatt-hours | 248.84 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 235.93 terawatt-hours | 226.62 terawatt-hours | 246.05 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 206.56 terawatt-hours | 195.97 terawatt-hours | 215.57 terawatt-hours | 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 electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables in South Africa?
- Electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables in South Africa was 199.45 terawatt-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 fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 248.84 terawatt-hours in 2007.
- What is the lowest electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 135.44 terawatt-hours in 1985.
- How does South Africa rank for electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables?
- South Africa ranks 15th out of 208 countries with data for 2025.
- Is electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Electricity generation from coal, oil, and gas, measured in terawatt-hours.