Share of rural and urban population with access to clean fuels for cooking in South Africa
South Africa: Share of rural and urban population with access to clean fuels for cooking was 96.5 in 2023. ▲ Rising
Share of rural and urban population with access to clean fuels for cooking in South Africa, 2000–2023
Source: International Energy Agency (IEA), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), UN Statistics Division, World Health Organization (WHO), and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of rural and urban population with access to clean fuels for cooking in South Africa is 96.5, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.2% on the previous year and up 5.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of rural and urban population with access to clean fuels for cooking in South Africa peaked at 96.5 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 76.9, in 2000.
South Africa ranks 98th of 189 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Share of rural and urban population with access to clean fuels for cooking in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 76.9 | — |
| 2001 | 77.9 | +1.3% |
| 2002 | 79.1 | +1.5% |
| 2003 | 80.3 | +1.5% |
| 2004 | 81.7 | +1.7% |
| 2005 | 83 | +1.6% |
| 2006 | 84.3 | +1.6% |
| 2007 | 85.5 | +1.4% |
| 2008 | 86.7 | +1.4% |
| 2009 | 87.9 | +1.4% |
| 2010 | 89 | +1.3% |
| 2011 | 90.1 | +1.2% |
| 2012 | 91 | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 91.7 | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 92.5 | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 93.2 | +0.8% |
| 2016 | 93.9 | +0.8% |
| 2017 | 94.4 | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 94.9 | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 95.2 | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 95.7 | +0.5% |
| 2021 | 96 | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 96.3 | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 96.5 | +0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 82.33 | 76.9 | 87.9 | 10 |
| 2010s | 92.59 | 89 | 95.2 | 10 |
| 2020s | 96.12 | 95.7 | 96.5 | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 95 Tuvalu 97.2 compare
- 96 Dominican Republic 96.9 compare
- 97 Uzbekistan 96.8 compare
- 98 Jamaica 96.5 compare
- 98 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 96.5 compare
- 101 Gabon 96.1 compare
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 rural and urban population with access to clean fuels for cooking in South Africa?
- Share of rural and urban population with access to clean fuels for cooking in South Africa was 96.5 in 2023, according to International Energy Agency (IEA), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), UN Statistics Division, World Health Organization (WHO), and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of rural and urban population with access to clean fuels for cooking recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 96.5 in 2023.
- What is the lowest share of rural and urban population with access to clean fuels for cooking recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 76.9 in 2000.
- How does South Africa rank for share of rural and urban population with access to clean fuels for cooking?
- South Africa ranks 98th out of 189 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of rural and urban population with access to clean fuels for cooking rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from International Energy Agency (IEA), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), UN Statistics Division, World Health Organization (WHO), and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of rural and urban population with access to clean fuels for cooking. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Access to clean fuels or technologies such as natural gas, electricity, and clean cookstoves reduces exposure to indoor air pollutants, a leading cause of death in low-income households.