Share of the population without access to clean fuels for cooking in South Africa
South Africa: Share of the population without access to clean fuels for cooking was 10.0% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Share of the population without access to clean fuels for cooking in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 10.0% for share of the population without access to clean fuels for cooking in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is down 41.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of the population without access to clean fuels for cooking in South Africa peaked at 43.0% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 10.0%, in 2023.
That places South Africa 86th out of 194 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Share of the population without access to clean fuels for cooking in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 43.0% | — |
| 2001 | 41.0% | -4.7% |
| 2002 | 39.0% | -4.9% |
| 2003 | 37.0% | -5.1% |
| 2004 | 35.0% | -5.4% |
| 2005 | 32.0% | -8.6% |
| 2006 | 30.0% | -6.2% |
| 2007 | 28.0% | -6.7% |
| 2008 | 26.0% | -7.1% |
| 2009 | 24.0% | -7.7% |
| 2010 | 23.0% | -4.2% |
| 2011 | 21.0% | -8.7% |
| 2012 | 20.0% | -4.8% |
| 2013 | 18.0% | -10.0% |
| 2014 | 17.0% | -5.6% |
| 2015 | 16.0% | -5.9% |
| 2016 | 15.0% | -6.2% |
| 2017 | 14.0% | -6.7% |
| 2018 | 13.0% | -7.1% |
| 2019 | 13.0% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 12.0% | -7.7% |
| 2021 | 11.0% | -8.3% |
| 2022 | 11.0% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 10.0% | -9.1% |
| 2024 | 10.0% | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 33.5% | 24.0% | 43.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.0% | 13.0% | 23.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.8% | 10.0% | 12.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More population data for South Africa
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.2264 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.7997 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.2264 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.1847 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 73,530 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.8824 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.0148 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.2% (2100)
- Population density 77.75 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 5.55 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of the population without access to clean fuels for cooking in South Africa?
- Share of the population without access to clean fuels for cooking in South Africa was 10.0% in 2024, according to World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of the population without access to clean fuels for cooking recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 43.0% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of the population without access to clean fuels for cooking recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.0% in 2023.
- How does South Africa rank for share of the population without access to clean fuels for cooking?
- South Africa ranks 86th out of 194 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of the population without access to clean fuels for cooking rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 41.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of the population without access to clean fuels for cooking. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Proportion of population without primary reliance on clean fuels and technology is calculated as the number of people unable to use clean fuels and technologies for cooking, heating and lighting divided by total population reporting that any cooking, heating or lighting, expressed as percentage. “Clean” is defined by the emission rate targets and specific fuel recommendations (i.e. against unprocessed coal and kerosene) included in the normative guidance WHO guidelines for indoor air quality: household fuel combustion.