Number of new electric cars sold in South Africa
South Africa: Number of new electric cars sold was 3,800 cars in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Number of new electric cars sold in South Africa, 2013–2025
Source: International Energy Agency. Global EV Outlook 2025. – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in cars.
Analysis
In 2025, number of new electric cars sold in South Africa stood at 3,800 cars. That is the highest value across all 13 years on record.
The figure is up 95.9% on the previous year and up 1,483.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of new electric cars sold in South Africa peaked at 3,800 cars in 2025 and was at its lowest, 15 cars, in 2014.
South Africa ranks 52nd of 58 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Number of new electric cars sold in South Africa, year by year
| Year | cars | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 34 cars | — |
| 2014 | 15 cars | -55.9% |
| 2015 | 240 cars | +1500.0% |
| 2016 | 380 cars | +58.3% |
| 2017 | 198 cars | -47.9% |
| 2018 | 148 cars | -25.3% |
| 2019 | 232 cars | +56.8% |
| 2020 | 242 cars | +4.3% |
| 2021 | 271 cars | +12.0% |
| 2022 | 620 cars | +128.8% |
| 2023 | 1,080 cars | +74.2% |
| 2024 | 1,940 cars | +79.6% |
| 2025 | 3,800 cars | +95.9% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 3,800 cars is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 102,650 cars, 4% of the median. (12 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Number of new electric cars sold 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | +1500.0% | 15 cars | 240 cars |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 178.14 cars | 15 cars | 380 cars | 7 |
| 2020s | 1,326 cars | 242 cars | 3,800 cars | 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 number of new electric cars sold in South Africa?
- Number of new electric cars sold in South Africa was 3,800 cars in 2025, according to International Energy Agency. Global EV Outlook 2025. – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of new electric cars sold recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 3,800 cars in 2025.
- What is the lowest number of new electric cars sold recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 15 cars in 2014.
- How does South Africa rank for number of new electric cars sold?
- South Africa ranks 52nd out of 58 countries with data for 2025.
- Is number of new electric cars sold rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1,483.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from International Energy Agency. Global EV Outlook 2025. – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of new electric cars sold. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 13 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Electric cars include fully battery-electric and plug-in hybrids.