Gas consumption per person in South Africa
South Africa: Gas consumption per person was 722.95 kilowatt-hours per person in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
722.95 kilowatt-hours per person
Change on year
down 3.0%
World rank
101st
of 219 countries
All-time high
810.17 kilowatt-hours per person
in 2012
All-time low
0 kilowatt-hours per person
in 1965
Years of data
61
1965–2025
Gas consumption per person in South Africa, 1965–2025
Source: Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in kilowatt-hours per person.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gas consumption per person in South Africa is 722.95 kilowatt-hours per person, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.0% on the previous year and down 5.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gas consumption per person in South Africa peaked at 810.17 kilowatt-hours per person in 2012 and was at its lowest, 0 kilowatt-hours per person, in 1965.
South Africa ranks 101st of 219 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Gas consumption per person in South Africa, year by year
| Year | kilowatt-hours per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 0 kilowatt-hours per person | — |
| 1966 | 0 kilowatt-hours per person | — |
| 1967 | 0 kilowatt-hours per person | — |
| 1968 | 0 kilowatt-hours per person | — |
| 1969 | 0 kilowatt-hours per person | — |
| 1970 | 0 kilowatt-hours per person | — |
| 1971 | 26.8 kilowatt-hours per person | — |
| 1972 | 38.81 kilowatt-hours per person | +44.8% |
| 1973 | 40.86 kilowatt-hours per person | +5.3% |
| 1974 | 46.6 kilowatt-hours per person | +14.1% |
| 1975 | 59.6 kilowatt-hours per person | +27.9% |
| 1976 | 58.58 kilowatt-hours per person | -1.7% |
| 1977 | 54.63 kilowatt-hours per person | -6.8% |
| 1978 | 54.53 kilowatt-hours per person | -0.2% |
| 1979 | 65.6 kilowatt-hours per person | +20.3% |
| 1980 | 72.04 kilowatt-hours per person | +9.8% |
| 1981 | 67.57 kilowatt-hours per person | -6.2% |
| 1982 | 59.42 kilowatt-hours per person | -12.1% |
| 1983 | 65.02 kilowatt-hours per person | +9.4% |
| 1984 | 63 kilowatt-hours per person | -3.1% |
| 1985 | 57.53 kilowatt-hours per person | -8.7% |
| 1986 | 58.46 kilowatt-hours per person | +1.6% |
| 1987 | 52.42 kilowatt-hours per person | -10.3% |
| 1988 | 51.3 kilowatt-hours per person | -2.1% |
| 1989 | 50.78 kilowatt-hours per person | -1.0% |
| 1990 | 483.69 kilowatt-hours per person | +852.6% |
| 1991 | 478.31 kilowatt-hours per person | -1.1% |
| 1992 | 433.79 kilowatt-hours per person | -9.3% |
| 1993 | 294.2 kilowatt-hours per person | -32.2% |
| 1994 | 289.84 kilowatt-hours per person | -1.5% |
| 1995 | 289.87 kilowatt-hours per person | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 249.2 kilowatt-hours per person | -14.0% |
| 1997 | 203.98 kilowatt-hours per person | -18.1% |
| 1998 | 201.14 kilowatt-hours per person | -1.4% |
| 1999 | 253.88 kilowatt-hours per person | +26.2% |
| 2000 | 241.65 kilowatt-hours per person | -4.8% |
| 2001 | 290.73 kilowatt-hours per person | +20.3% |
| 2002 | 289.87 kilowatt-hours per person | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 217.01 kilowatt-hours per person | -25.1% |
| 2004 | 496.88 kilowatt-hours per person | +129.0% |
| 2005 | 698.22 kilowatt-hours per person | +40.5% |
| 2006 | 748.96 kilowatt-hours per person | +7.3% |
| 2007 | 750.24 kilowatt-hours per person | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 767.28 kilowatt-hours per person | +2.3% |
| 2009 | 642.59 kilowatt-hours per person | -16.3% |
| 2010 | 787.49 kilowatt-hours per person | +22.6% |
| 2011 | 807.8 kilowatt-hours per person | +2.6% |
| 2012 | 810.17 kilowatt-hours per person | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 741.49 kilowatt-hours per person | -8.5% |
| 2014 | 773.13 kilowatt-hours per person | +4.3% |
| 2015 | 761.35 kilowatt-hours per person | -1.5% |
| 2016 | 638.26 kilowatt-hours per person | -16.2% |
| 2017 | 695.92 kilowatt-hours per person | +9.0% |
| 2018 | 752.53 kilowatt-hours per person | +8.1% |
| 2019 | 715.11 kilowatt-hours per person | -5.0% |
| 2020 | 655.61 kilowatt-hours per person | -8.3% |
| 2021 | 682.78 kilowatt-hours per person | +4.1% |
| 2022 | 684.45 kilowatt-hours per person | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 750.63 kilowatt-hours per person | +9.7% |
| 2024 | 745.39 kilowatt-hours per person | -0.7% |
| 2025 | 722.95 kilowatt-hours per person | -3.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 722.95 kilowatt-hours per person is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1,560 kilowatt-hours per person, 46% of the median. (57 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Gas consumption per person 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | +852.6% | 50.78 kilowatt-hours per person | 483.69 kilowatt-hours per person |
| 2004 | +129.0% | 217.01 kilowatt-hours per person | 496.88 kilowatt-hours per person |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0 kilowatt-hours per person | 0 kilowatt-hours per person | 0 kilowatt-hours per person | 5 |
| 1970s | 44.6 kilowatt-hours per person | 0 kilowatt-hours per person | 65.6 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 59.75 kilowatt-hours per person | 50.78 kilowatt-hours per person | 72.04 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 317.79 kilowatt-hours per person | 201.14 kilowatt-hours per person | 483.69 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 514.34 kilowatt-hours per person | 217.01 kilowatt-hours per person | 767.28 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 748.32 kilowatt-hours per person | 638.26 kilowatt-hours per person | 810.17 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 706.97 kilowatt-hours per person | 655.61 kilowatt-hours per person | 750.63 kilowatt-hours per person | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 98 Myanmar 805.74 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 99 Sweden 797.37 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 100 El Salvador 783.45 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 102 Bosnia and Herzegovina 693.35 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 103 Mozambique 634.54 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 104 Vietnam 569.29 kilowatt-hours per person compare
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 gas consumption per person in South Africa?
- Gas consumption per person in South Africa was 722.95 kilowatt-hours per person in 2025, according to Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest gas consumption per person recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 810.17 kilowatt-hours per person in 2012.
- What is the lowest gas consumption per person recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 kilowatt-hours per person in 1965.
- How does South Africa rank for gas consumption per person?
- South Africa ranks 101st out of 219 countries with data for 2025.
- Is gas consumption per person rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.0%. 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) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Gas consumption 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 per person.