South Africa: environment

Is South Africa generating more electricity?

Electricity generation in South Africa fell 7.1% in August 2026 compared with August 2025, according to Stats SA, released on 1 October 2026. Seasonally adjusted generation fell 0.2% from July. Electricity distributed (consumed) fell 1.1% over the year.

Generation has been lower than a year earlier in every month from March to August 2026. The Stats SA survey covers enterprises that generate or distribute electricity. The September figures are due on 5 November 2026.

Official sources: Stats SA: Electricity generated and available for distribution, August 2026 (PDF)

How many households still experience load shedding?

31.0% of South African households experienced load shedding or other electricity interruptions in the week before they were surveyed in 2025, down from 35.9% in 2024 and 92.1% in 2023, according to the Stats SA General Household Survey 2025.

Load shedding is the planned rotation of power cuts used to protect the national grid when supply falls short. The survey figure also includes unscheduled outages, such as those caused by local faults or cable theft. 90.6% of households were connected to mains electricity in 2025.

Official sources: Stats SA: General Household Survey 2025 (PDF)

What do South African households cook with?

8.0% of South African households used wood as their main cooking fuel in 2025, down from 20.0% in 2002, according to the Stats SA General Household Survey 2025. Paraffin use fell from 16.1% to 1.9% over the same period, as the share of households connected to mains electricity rose from 76.7% to 90.6%.

Wood was still used by 37.6% of households in Limpopo and 16.3% in Mpumalanga. Households that considered air pollution a problem in their area fell from 22.7% in 2003 to 16.9% in 2025, which Stats SA links to the switch from wood and coal to electricity.

Official sources: Stats SA: General Household Survey 2025 (PDF)

How many South African households recycle?

10.5% of South African households separated recyclable materials from their waste in 2025, according to the Stats SA General Household Survey 2025. About three-fifths of households had refuse removed, including 84.9% of urban households but only 13.0% of rural households, and 84.7% of households reported burning waste at least occasionally.

Where refuse is not collected, households often burn or dump it, which adds to air pollution and littering. The figures are self-reported by households.

Official sources: Stats SA: General Household Survey 2025 (PDF)

What are the main environmental problems in South Africa?

Waste removal problems and littering (40.1%) and land degradation and soil erosion (38.5%) were the environmental problems reported by the most South African households in 2025, according to the Stats SA General Household Survey 2025. 16.9% considered air pollution a problem and 15.2% noise.

The survey asks households which environmental problems they experience where they live, so it measures perceptions rather than pollution levels. Concern about littering and waste removal has risen since 2009, when 32.4% of households reported it. In Mangaung, 54.1% of households said waste removal and littering were a problem.

Official sources: Stats SA: General Household Survey 2025 (PDF)

How much CO2 does South Africa emit per person?

The European Commission's EDGAR database puts carbon dioxide emissions per person in South Africa at 6.9 tonnes in 2024. The peak was 9.5 tonnes in 2008 and the low 6.8 tonnes in 2023. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 0.4 tonnes, and South Africa placed 2nd highest of 47. Worldwide: 33rd of 186.

What are South Africa's emissions?

570 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent: that is total greenhouse gas emissions in South Africa for 2024, according to the European Commission's EDGAR database. Its high point since 2005 was 2014, at 611 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent; its low point was 2005, at 549 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 24.6 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, and South Africa placed 1st highest of 47. Of 186 countries with 2024 data, 17th highest.

How much renewable energy does South Africa use?

In 2021, the renewable share of final energy use in South Africa was 9.7%, according to the IEA, IRENA, the UN Statistics Division, the World Bank and the WHO. Its high point since 2005 was 2020, at 9.8%; its low point was 2014, at 7.6%. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 71.1%, and South Africa placed 45th highest of 48. Worldwide: 143rd of 191.

What is South Africa's forest cover?

In 2024, forest area as a share of land in South Africa was 18.8%, according to the FAO. No year since 2005 has been higher. It is 30th highest of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 22.2%. World rank, highest first: 123rd of 190.

What is PM2.5 air pollution in South Africa?

The latest figure from the Global Burden of Disease study, for 2023, is 27.7 micrograms per cubic metre. Since 2005 it has ranged from 21.7 micrograms per cubic metre (2005) to 32.8 micrograms per cubic metre (2010). Sub-Saharan Africa median: 27.5 micrograms per cubic metre; South Africa is 24th highest of 48. World rank, highest first: 55th of 192.

How much of South Africa is in national parks and reserves?

The latest figure from the UN Environment Programme, for 2025, is 9.6%. Its high point since 2013 was 2016, at 14.1%; its low point was 2013, at 7.0%. It is 37th highest of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 16.9%. World rank, highest first: 144th of 192.

What is water stress in South Africa?

The latest figure from the FAO, for 2022, is 67.6%. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. It is 3rd highest of 47 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 5.1%. Of 175 countries with 2022 data, 25th highest.