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
61st
of 79 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

020406080196519952025

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 61st of 79 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest 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

  1. 58 Belarus 43.87 kilowatt-hours per person compare
  2. 59 Poland 40.02 kilowatt-hours per person compare
  3. 60 Belgium 31.56 kilowatt-hours per person compare
  4. 62 Estonia 27.54 kilowatt-hours per person compare
  5. 63 Hungary 25.42 kilowatt-hours per person compare
  6. 64 Morocco 10.49 kilowatt-hours per person compare

See the full ranking of 80 places →

More reference data data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

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 61st out of 79 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

Indicator
Primary energy from hydropower per person
Unit
kilowatt-hours per person
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
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
80 places, 4,564 data points, 1965–2025
Last refreshed

Measured in kilowatt-hours of total energy supply per person.