Molly Ayala
Access to electricity is considered one of the prerequisites for modern life. While global access to electricity has been steadily increasing over the last few decades, there are still parts of the world where most people do not have access to electricity. In 2021, 91% of the world population had access to electricity, leaving around 675 million people without electricity.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Global electricity access rate in 2015 | 87% |
| Global electricity access rate in 2021 | 91% |
| Number of people without electricity in 2021 | 675 million |
| Number of people without electricity in 2022 | 600 million |
| Number of people projected to be without electricity in 2030 | 645 million |
| Number of people projected to be without electricity in 2030 (if the current pace continues) | 660 million |
| Percentage of people in Sub-Saharan Africa without electricity in 2021 | 54% |
| Number of people without electricity in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2021 | 567 million |
| Number of people without electricity in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2022 | 600 million |
| Percentage of people in Sub-Saharan Africa without electricity in 2030 | 85% |
| Number of people without electricity in developing Asia in 2010 | 21% |
| Number of people without electricity in developing Asia in 2023 | 3% |
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What You'll Learn
Global access to electricity has been rising
Global access to electricity has been steadily rising in recent decades. In 1998, more than 1.5 billion people didn't have electricity; by 2015, this number had fallen below 1 billion for the first time in history. This progress has continued, with the global electricity access rate increasing from 87% in 2015 to 91% in 2021, serving close to an additional 800 million people. This means that around 90% of the planet's population was connected in 2019, and 91.4% in 2021.
However, this still leaves a significant number of people without access to electricity. In 2021, 675 million people still lacked access, mostly in least developed countries (LDCs) and fragile and conflict-affected settings. The region with the lowest access rates is sub-Saharan Africa, which accounts for three-quarters of the global deficit. In 2021, 567 million people in sub-Saharan Africa lacked access to electricity, a number that rose to 900 million across all of Africa. This is due to population growth outpacing efforts to increase access, and the Covid-19 pandemic and energy crisis triggered by the war in Ukraine have also slowed progress in recent years.
Despite these challenges, some regions have made impressive gains in improving access to electricity. Developing Asia has made remarkable progress, with almost 1 billion people gaining access since 2010, and 97% of the region having access in 2023 compared with 79% in 2010. This is largely due to ambitious government policies in countries like India, Indonesia, and Bangladesh. Southeast Asia has also seen a notable decline in the use of solid fuels, with only just over half of the population still relying on them. Latin America and the Caribbean, Eastern Asia, and Southeastern Asia are approaching universal access, with more than 98% of their populations having electricity access.
To reach universal access to electricity by 2030, around 135 million new connections are needed each year from 2024, requiring an investment of USD 50 million each year on average. While this target appears unlikely to be met, with an estimated 645 million people projected to remain without access in 2030, the world continues to advance towards sustainable energy targets. Renewable electricity generation has seen unprecedented growth during the Covid-19 crisis, and renewables now power nearly 30% of energy consumption in the electricity sector.
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Sub-Saharan Africa has the least access
While global electricity access has been steadily increasing over the last few decades, with the number of people without electricity falling below one billion in 2015, some regions still lack access to electricity. In 2022, the top 20 least-electrified countries in the world were all located in Africa, except for Papua New Guinea. Sub-Saharan Africa has the least access to electricity, with three-quarters of the world's population without electricity access. The region also shows great disparities in access between urban and rural areas. In 2022, over 80% of the urban population in Sub-Saharan Africa had access to electricity, while only 31% of rural dwellers had access.
Several factors contribute to the lack of access to electricity in Sub-Saharan Africa. One significant factor is the high percentage of the population living in rural areas, where electricity infrastructure is lacking. For example, in Burundi, 90% of the population lives in rural areas, and only a small percentage of them have access to electricity. Another factor is the frequent rebellions and military coups in some countries, leading to economic crises that hinder the development of electricity infrastructure. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic and the energy crisis triggered by the war in Ukraine have also set back progress in the region.
Some countries in Sub-Saharan Africa have particularly low access to electricity. For instance, in 2017, Niger could only supply electricity to around 14.4% of its population, and Sierra Leone had about 14.2% of its population with electricity access. Other countries with low access include the Central African Republic (10.8%), Burkina Faso (13.1%), Malawi (9.8%), and Burundi (6.5%).
Efforts are being made to improve access to electricity in Sub-Saharan Africa. The World Bank has provided funding for projects in several countries, such as a $50 million credit for Burkina Faso's electricity supply development project and an $85 million loan for Malawi's Energy Sector Support Project. Additionally, a French consulting firm has started an energy facility program to accelerate the building of rural infrastructure for supplying electrical power to remote areas in Africa. Initiatives to promote renewable energy systems, such as wind, solar, and geothermal generators, are also underway to provide reliable and low-cost energy to rural communities.
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Asia has made significant progress
Asia, the world's most populous region, has indeed made significant progress in terms of providing access to electricity to its population. In 2021, the global electricity access rate was 91%, up from 87% in 2015. While this progress has been positive across most regions, Asia stands out for its impressive gains.
In 2022, two of the largest developing Asian countries, India and Indonesia, achieved universal electricity access. This was a remarkable feat, as India alone accounts for a significant portion of the world's population. However, this progress has also slowed down the overall progress in the region, as other Asian countries have not kept pace with these two giants. Nonetheless, countries like Bangladesh, Cambodia, and the Philippines have made notable strides in recent years.
Overall, almost 1 billion people in developing Asia gained access to electricity since 2010, with 97% of the region having access in 2023 compared to just 79% in 2010. This progress is the result of ambitious government policies, such as India's Saubhagya scheme, and easier access to financing. The success of Southeast Asia, a rapidly developing region, is particularly noteworthy. Here, the use of solid fuels has declined dramatically, with a shift from nearly the entire population using them to just over half.
While Asia has made remarkable progress, it is not uniform across the region. Countries like Afghanistan, Mongolia, and Pakistan still require significant efforts to achieve universal access. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic and the energy crisis triggered by the war in Ukraine have posed challenges, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, which has the highest number of people without access to electricity. Despite these setbacks, Asia's progress is encouraging, and many developing countries in the region are on track to achieve universal access by 2030, leaving only a small percentage of the population without electricity.
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COVID-19 slowed progress in some regions
The COVID-19 pandemic slowed down the progress of providing electricity access in some regions. The pandemic's impact, combined with the energy crisis triggered by the war in Ukraine, has disrupted electrification efforts. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the number of people without electricity access peaked in 2022. While the number stabilized at around 600 million in 2023, it remains well above pre-pandemic levels.
The pandemic has particularly affected Sub-Saharan Africa, which already had the lowest rates of electricity access and the highest electricity costs globally. In 2020, the number of people without electricity in the region increased, reversing several years of slow but steady progress. As of 2019, about half of the 759 million people without electricity globally lived in fragile and conflict-affected settings, with Sub-Saharan Africa accounting for three-quarters of the global deficit.
The pandemic has exacerbated existing inequalities and financial challenges in these regions. For instance, in Africa, the Eritrean government deferred utility bill payments during the pandemic, and Nigeria's Ikeja Electric company stated it would not disconnect defaulting customers during the lockdown. However, as poverty levels increase, countries may be forced to scale back to basic electricity access due to citizens' financial constraints.
In contrast, some regions, such as India, Indonesia, and Bangladesh, have made significant progress toward universal electricity access during the pandemic. Ambitious government policies, such as the Indian Saubhagya scheme, have contributed to these gains. However, the progress in these large developing Asian countries has slowed improvements in the rest of the region, as other countries have not kept pace.
Overall, the pandemic has highlighted the limitations of grid-connected energy systems and the need for a mix of solutions. While renewable electricity generation has expanded during the pandemic, the share of renewable energy in the heat and transport sectors has lagged. The complex policy environment, including addressing inequalities and energy funding disparities, will be crucial in ensuring universal energy access.
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Universal access by 2030 is unlikely
While global access to electricity has been steadily rising in recent decades, universal access by 2030 is unlikely. In 2019, 90% of the planet's population was connected to electricity, leaving around 759 million people without access. The COVID-19 pandemic and the energy crisis triggered by the war in Ukraine have further slowed progress, with the number of people without access to electricity peaking in 2022. While the number declined to 750 million in 2023, this still falls short of the goal of universal access by 2030.
Regional disparities persist, with Sub-Saharan Africa accounting for three-quarters of the global deficit. In 2020, nearly half of the world's population without access to electricity lived in Sub-Saharan Africa, and this figure is expected to rise to 85% by 2030. The COVID-19 pandemic erased several years of slow but steady progress in the region, and population growth has outpaced efforts to extend access. While some countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, such as Ethiopia, Kenya, and Nigeria, have made significant strides, considerable efforts are still needed in countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar, Niger, and Tanzania.
On the other hand, many developing countries in Asia are on track to achieve universal access by 2030, with only 2% of the population projected to remain without access. India, Indonesia, and Bangladesh have made remarkable progress in recent years, thanks to ambitious government policies. However, further efforts are required in countries like Afghanistan, Mongolia, and Pakistan.
To achieve universal access by 2030, an investment of USD 50 million per year is needed, along with accelerated development plans that address affordability issues, support decentralized solutions, and implement national electrification programs. While electrification rates are an important indicator of progress, it is essential to consider other dimensions of energy consumption, such as the amount of electricity generated and used, as well as affordability at the individual and household levels.
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Frequently asked questions
As of 2021, 91% of the world population had access to electricity.
Sub-Saharan Africa has the lowest access rates for electricity. In 2021, 567 million people did not have access to electricity in this region.
About 660 million people are projected to still lack access to electricity by 2030.
The Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Malawi, Niger, Nigeria, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda represent more than half of the global population without electricity access in 2030.
