Number of people without access to clean fuels for cooking in South Africa
South Africa: Number of people without access to clean fuels for cooking was 6.45 million people in 2023. ▼ Falling
Number of people without access to clean fuels for cooking in South Africa, 2000–2023
Source: World Health Organization (via World Bank) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2023, number of people without access to clean fuels for cooking in South Africa stood at 6.45 million people. That is the lowest value across all 24 years on record.
That represents a change of down 4.3% on the previous year and down 35.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people without access to clean fuels for cooking in South Africa peaked at 20.42 million people in 2000 and was at its lowest, 6.45 million people, in 2023.
That places South Africa 51st out of 189 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 16.56 million people | 12.52 million people | 20.42 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.40 million people | 7.57 million people | 11.78 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.84 million people | 6.45 million people | 7.21 million people | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More reference data data for South Africa
- Spring temperature anomalies 0.191 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 1.36 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month 0.6318 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 1.18 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies 0.2153 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 209.92 2010 = 100 (2025)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Competitive elections 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people without access to clean fuels for cooking in South Africa?
- Number of people without access to clean fuels for cooking in South Africa was 6.45 million people in 2023, according to World Health Organization (via World Bank) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of people without access to clean fuels for cooking recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 20.42 million people in 2000.
- What is the lowest number of people without access to clean fuels for cooking recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.45 million people in 2023.
- How does South Africa rank for number of people without access to clean fuels for cooking?
- South Africa ranks 51st out of 189 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of people without access to clean fuels for cooking rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 35.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization (via World Bank) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of people without access to clean fuels for cooking. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Access to clean fuels or technologies such as natural gas, electricity, and clean cookstoves reduces exposure to indoor air pollutants, a leading cause of death in low-income households.