Getting electricity: Cost to get electricity in South Africa
South Africa: Getting electricity: Cost to get electricity was 158.4% in 2019. ◆ Volatile
Getting electricity: Cost to get electricity in South Africa, 2009–2019
Source: World Bank. Measured in % of income per capita.
Analysis
In 2019, getting electricity: cost to get electricity in South Africa stood at 158.4%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.1% on the previous year and down 81.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, getting electricity: cost to get electricity in South Africa peaked at 950.1% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 156.7%, in 2018.
That places South Africa 117th out of 189 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Getting electricity: Cost to get electricity in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of income per capita | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 874.8% | — |
| 2010 | 950.1% | +8.6% |
| 2011 | 874.2% | -8.0% |
| 2012 | 797.1% | -8.8% |
| 2013 | 758.0% | -4.9% |
| 2014 | 729.5% | -3.8% |
| 2015 | 161.4% | -77.9% |
| 2016 | 175.5% | +8.7% |
| 2017 | 165.4% | -5.8% |
| 2018 | 156.7% | -5.3% |
| 2019 | 158.4% | +1.1% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 158.4% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 274.9%, 58% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 158.4% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1,979.3%, 8% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 874.8% | 874.8% | 874.8% | 1 |
| 2010s | 492.6% | 156.7% | 950.1% | 10 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More private sector data for South Africa
- Merchandise trade 57.2% (2025)
- Food imports 7.2% (2025)
- Manufactures imports 62.1% (2025)
- Merchandise imports 128.08 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 12.8% (2025)
- Manufactures exports 38.3% (2025)
- Merchandise exports 116.40 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 1,798 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2725 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 5.74 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is getting electricity: cost to get electricity in South Africa?
- Getting electricity: cost to get electricity in South Africa was 158.4% in 2019, according to the World Bank.
- What is the highest getting electricity: cost to get electricity recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 950.1% in 2010.
- What is the lowest getting electricity: cost to get electricity recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 156.7% in 2018.
- How does South Africa rank for getting electricity: cost to get electricity?
- South Africa ranks 117th out of 189 countries with data for 2019.
- Is getting electricity: cost to get electricity rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 81.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from the World Bank, published as part of Getting electricity: Cost to get electricity (% of income per capita). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 11 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
The cost is the total median cost associated with completing the procedures to connect a warehouse to electricity. It is calculated as a percentage of income per capita. All the fees and costs associated with completing the procedures to connect a warehouse to electricity are recorded, including those related to obtaining clearances from government agencies, applying for the connection, receiving inspections of both the site and the internal wiring, purchasing material, getting the actual connection works and paying a security deposit. Bribes are not included.