Primary energy from hydropower per person in South Africa
South Africa: Primary energy from hydropower per person was 27.72 kilowatt-hours per person in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
27.72 kilowatt-hours per person
Change on year
up 65.1%
World rank
62nd
of 80 countries
All-time high
82.17 kilowatt-hours per person
in 1988
All-time low
0.9716 kilowatt-hours per person
in 1969
Years of data
61
1965–2025
Primary energy from hydropower per person in South Africa, 1965–2025
Source: Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in kilowatt-hours per person.
Analysis
In 2025, primary energy from hydropower per person in South Africa stood at 27.72 kilowatt-hours per person.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 65.1% on the previous year and up 115.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary energy from hydropower per person in South Africa peaked at 82.17 kilowatt-hours per person in 1988 and was at its lowest, 0.9716 kilowatt-hours per person, in 1969.
South Africa ranks 62nd of 80 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Primary energy from hydropower per person in South Africa, year by year
| Year | kilowatt-hours per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 1.94 kilowatt-hours per person | — |
| 1966 | 1.83 kilowatt-hours per person | -5.7% |
| 1967 | 1.28 kilowatt-hours per person | -30.0% |
| 1968 | 1.15 kilowatt-hours per person | -10.5% |
| 1969 | 0.9716 kilowatt-hours per person | -15.2% |
| 1970 | 1.12 kilowatt-hours per person | +15.5% |
| 1971 | 4.88 kilowatt-hours per person | +335.1% |
| 1972 | 35.32 kilowatt-hours per person | +623.6% |
| 1973 | 40.54 kilowatt-hours per person | +14.8% |
| 1974 | 45.3 kilowatt-hours per person | +11.7% |
| 1975 | 43.6 kilowatt-hours per person | -3.8% |
| 1976 | 71.07 kilowatt-hours per person | +63.0% |
| 1977 | 71.68 kilowatt-hours per person | +0.9% |
| 1978 | 68.43 kilowatt-hours per person | -4.5% |
| 1979 | 39.95 kilowatt-hours per person | -41.6% |
| 1980 | 33.61 kilowatt-hours per person | -15.9% |
| 1981 | 54.12 kilowatt-hours per person | +61.1% |
| 1982 | 32.14 kilowatt-hours per person | -40.6% |
| 1983 | 18.17 kilowatt-hours per person | -43.4% |
| 1984 | 16.52 kilowatt-hours per person | -9.1% |
| 1985 | 17.81 kilowatt-hours per person | +7.8% |
| 1986 | 44.86 kilowatt-hours per person | +151.9% |
| 1987 | 43.32 kilowatt-hours per person | -3.4% |
| 1988 | 82.17 kilowatt-hours per person | +89.7% |
| 1989 | 69.62 kilowatt-hours per person | -15.3% |
| 1990 | 24.79 kilowatt-hours per person | -64.4% |
| 1991 | 47.5 kilowatt-hours per person | +91.6% |
| 1992 | 17.72 kilowatt-hours per person | -62.7% |
| 1993 | 3.37 kilowatt-hours per person | -81.0% |
| 1994 | 24.41 kilowatt-hours per person | +623.8% |
| 1995 | 11.88 kilowatt-hours per person | -51.3% |
| 1996 | 29.23 kilowatt-hours per person | +146.1% |
| 1997 | 45.81 kilowatt-hours per person | +56.7% |
| 1998 | 34.51 kilowatt-hours per person | -24.7% |
| 1999 | 15.54 kilowatt-hours per person | -55.0% |
| 2000 | 23.35 kilowatt-hours per person | +50.3% |
| 2001 | 36.18 kilowatt-hours per person | +55.0% |
| 2002 | 43.4 kilowatt-hours per person | +20.0% |
| 2003 | 17.06 kilowatt-hours per person | -60.7% |
| 2004 | 19.39 kilowatt-hours per person | +13.7% |
| 2005 | 26.91 kilowatt-hours per person | +38.8% |
| 2006 | 57.95 kilowatt-hours per person | +115.3% |
| 2007 | 56.71 kilowatt-hours per person | -2.1% |
| 2008 | 24.64 kilowatt-hours per person | -56.5% |
| 2009 | 28.06 kilowatt-hours per person | +13.9% |
| 2010 | 21.83 kilowatt-hours per person | -22.2% |
| 2011 | 57.81 kilowatt-hours per person | +164.8% |
| 2012 | 18.94 kilowatt-hours per person | -67.2% |
| 2013 | 20.19 kilowatt-hours per person | +6.6% |
| 2014 | 32.29 kilowatt-hours per person | +59.9% |
| 2015 | 12.87 kilowatt-hours per person | -60.1% |
| 2016 | 10.9 kilowatt-hours per person | -15.3% |
| 2017 | 13.46 kilowatt-hours per person | +23.5% |
| 2018 | 18.44 kilowatt-hours per person | +36.9% |
| 2019 | 11.35 kilowatt-hours per person | -38.4% |
| 2020 | 12.58 kilowatt-hours per person | +10.8% |
| 2021 | 25.66 kilowatt-hours per person | +104.0% |
| 2022 | 50.31 kilowatt-hours per person | +96.1% |
| 2023 | 31.51 kilowatt-hours per person | -37.4% |
| 2024 | 16.79 kilowatt-hours per person | -46.7% |
| 2025 | 27.72 kilowatt-hours per person | +65.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 27.72 kilowatt-hours per person is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 308.94 kilowatt-hours per person, 9% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Primary energy from hydropower 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | +623.6% | 4.88 kilowatt-hours per person | 35.32 kilowatt-hours per person |
| 1994 | +623.8% | 3.37 kilowatt-hours per person | 24.41 kilowatt-hours per person |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.43 kilowatt-hours per person | 0.9716 kilowatt-hours per person | 1.94 kilowatt-hours per person | 5 |
| 1970s | 42.19 kilowatt-hours per person | 1.12 kilowatt-hours per person | 71.68 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 41.23 kilowatt-hours per person | 16.52 kilowatt-hours per person | 82.17 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 25.47 kilowatt-hours per person | 3.37 kilowatt-hours per person | 47.5 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 33.37 kilowatt-hours per person | 17.06 kilowatt-hours per person | 57.95 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 21.81 kilowatt-hours per person | 10.9 kilowatt-hours per person | 57.81 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 27.43 kilowatt-hours per person | 12.58 kilowatt-hours per person | 50.31 kilowatt-hours per person | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 59 Belarus 43.87 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 60 Poland 40.02 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 61 Belgium 31.56 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 63 Estonia 27.54 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 64 Hungary 25.42 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 65 Morocco 10.49 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 primary energy from hydropower per person in South Africa?
- Primary energy from hydropower per person in South Africa was 27.72 kilowatt-hours per person in 2025, according to Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest primary energy from hydropower per person recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 82.17 kilowatt-hours per person in 1988.
- What is the lowest primary energy from hydropower per person recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.9716 kilowatt-hours per person in 1969.
- How does South Africa rank for primary energy from hydropower per person?
- South Africa ranks 62nd out of 80 countries with data for 2025.
- Is primary energy from hydropower per person rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 115.4%. 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); Smil (2017); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Primary energy from hydropower 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 of total energy supply per person.