Nigeria vs South Africa: Electricity Compared
Nigeria generated 42.5 TWh of electricity in 2025 and South Africa 243 TWh, according to Ember. Nigeria's largest source was gas (68.0%); South Africa's was coal (81.4%). Each kWh generated emitted 452 gCO2/kWh in Nigeria and 699 gCO2/kWh in South Africa. These are Ember annual statistics for 2025, compiled from national sources; they are not real time.
Who is bigger and who is cleaner? South Africa is the bigger electricity producer, generating 5.7 times as much as Nigeria in 2025 (243 TWh against 42.5 TWh). Nigeria has the cleaner electricity by carbon intensity, at 452 gCO2/kWh against 699 gCO2/kWh in South Africa in 2025.
Why this comparison: a well known regional or sporting rivalry.
Open this comparison in the interactive tool to add more countries or change the metric.
Key Facts
- Coal supplied 81.4% of South Africa's electricity in 2025, against none in Nigeria.
- South Africa's electricity was 1.5 times as carbon intensive as Nigeria's in 2025, at 699 gCO2/kWh against 452 gCO2/kWh.
- The average person in South Africa used 3.66 MWh of electricity in 2025, 21.5 times as much as in Nigeria (0.17 MWh).
- Low carbon sources supplied 32.0% of Nigeria's electricity in 2025 and 17.8% of South Africa's.
- Electricity demand in 2025 was 40.2 TWh in Nigeria and 237 TWh in South Africa.
Key Figures, 2025
Ember annual statistics| Measure | Nigeria | South Africa |
|---|---|---|
| Total generation | 42.5 TWh | 243 TWh |
| Electricity demand | 40.2 TWh | 237 TWh |
| Demand per person | 0.17 MWh | 3.66 MWh |
| Carbon intensity | 452 gCO2/kWh | 699 gCO2/kWh |
| Power sector emissions | 19.2 MtCO2 | 170 MtCO2 |
| Low carbon share | 32.0% | 17.8% |
| Largest source | Gas 68.0% | Coal 81.4% |
Generation Mix, 2025
Share of generationCarbon Intensity, 2000 to 2025
Ember annual statistics| Year | Nigeria | South Africa |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 412 gCO2/kWh | 799 gCO2/kWh |
| 2001 | 412 gCO2/kWh | 806 gCO2/kWh |
| 2002 | 412 gCO2/kWh | 802 gCO2/kWh |
| 2003 | 420 gCO2/kWh | 808 gCO2/kWh |
| 2004 | 442 gCO2/kWh | 807 gCO2/kWh |
| 2005 | 445 gCO2/kWh | 813 gCO2/kWh |
| 2006 | 482 gCO2/kWh | 814 gCO2/kWh |
| 2007 | 482 gCO2/kWh | 810 gCO2/kWh |
| 2008 | 482 gCO2/kWh | 809 gCO2/kWh |
| 2009 | 508 gCO2/kWh | 808 gCO2/kWh |
| 2010 | 499 gCO2/kWh | 808 gCO2/kWh |
| 2011 | 516 gCO2/kWh | 804 gCO2/kWh |
| 2012 | 528 gCO2/kWh | 807 gCO2/kWh |
| 2013 | 536 gCO2/kWh | 800 gCO2/kWh |
| 2014 | 548 gCO2/kWh | 792 gCO2/kWh |
| 2015 | 530 gCO2/kWh | 791 gCO2/kWh |
| 2016 | 511 gCO2/kWh | 779 gCO2/kWh |
| 2017 | 500 gCO2/kWh | 769 gCO2/kWh |
| 2018 | 520 gCO2/kWh | 775 gCO2/kWh |
| 2019 | 506 gCO2/kWh | 764 gCO2/kWh |
| 2020 | 523 gCO2/kWh | 763 gCO2/kWh |
| 2021 | 523 gCO2/kWh | 742 gCO2/kWh |
| 2022 | 497 gCO2/kWh | 729 gCO2/kWh |
| 2023 | 510 gCO2/kWh | 714 gCO2/kWh |
| 2024 | 496 gCO2/kWh | 718 gCO2/kWh |
| 2025 | 452 gCO2/kWh | 699 gCO2/kWh |
Demand per Person, 2000 to 2025
Ember annual statistics| Year | Nigeria | South Africa |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 0.12 MWh | 4.73 MWh |
| 2001 | 0.12 MWh | 4.46 MWh |
| 2002 | 0.16 MWh | 4.64 MWh |
| 2003 | 0.15 MWh | 4.79 MWh |
| 2004 | 0.17 MWh | 4.92 MWh |
| 2005 | 0.16 MWh | 4.90 MWh |
| 2006 | 0.16 MWh | 5.02 MWh |
| 2007 | 0.15 MWh | 5.15 MWh |
| 2008 | 0.13 MWh | 4.98 MWh |
| 2009 | 0.12 MWh | 4.79 MWh |
| 2010 | 0.16 MWh | 4.91 MWh |
| 2011 | 0.16 MWh | 4.90 MWh |
| 2012 | 0.16 MWh | 4.70 MWh |
| 2013 | 0.16 MWh | 4.60 MWh |
| 2014 | 0.17 MWh | 4.54 MWh |
| 2015 | 0.17 MWh | 4.38 MWh |
| 2016 | 0.18 MWh | 4.31 MWh |
| 2017 | 0.15 MWh | 4.31 MWh |
| 2018 | 0.16 MWh | 4.29 MWh |
| 2019 | 0.16 MWh | 4.16 MWh |
| 2020 | 0.16 MWh | 3.91 MWh |
| 2021 | 0.17 MWh | 3.93 MWh |
| 2022 | 0.16 MWh | 3.81 MWh |
| 2023 | 0.17 MWh | 3.68 MWh |
| 2024 | 0.15 MWh | 3.85 MWh |
| 2025 | 0.17 MWh | 3.66 MWh |
Nigeria history · South Africa history
Source: Ember (ember-energy.org), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Data as of 2025.
Related
Cite this page
World Power Monitor. (2025). Nigeria vs South Africa: Electricity Compared. https://worldpowermonitor.com/compare/nigeria-vs-south-africa/
World Power Monitor. Nigeria vs South Africa: Electricity Compared. Data as of 2025. Data from Ember. https://worldpowermonitor.com/compare/nigeria-vs-south-africa/
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title = {{Nigeria vs South Africa: Electricity Compared}},
author = {{World Power Monitor}},
year = {2025},
note = {Data as of 2025. Data from Ember.},
url = {https://worldpowermonitor.com/compare/nigeria-vs-south-africa/}
} Permalink: https://worldpowermonitor.com/compare/nigeria-vs-south-africa/
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