African population without electricity 2000-2021

Access to electricity in sub-Saharan Africa was set to decrease in 2021. Some 597 million people did not have electricity connections in the region that year, while in 2020 electrical energy was inaccessible to 581 million Africans. This means that around five out of every 10 individuals below the Sahara lived in the dark. In rural areas, the situation was even worse: over 70 percent of the population lacked access to electricity. Among Africa’s regions, Central and West Africa registered the most dramatic scenario, with electrification covering less than half of the population.

A new challenge for electrification progress

From 2000 to 2013, the number of people without electricity in sub-Saharan Africa increased annually, peaking at some 612 million individuals. This trend changed, however, between 2014 and 2019. During this period, few countries increased the accessibility to electrical energy, improving the overall conditions in the region. For instance, the access rate in Kenya reached nearly 70 percent – against 36 percent in 2014. Nevertheless, the electrification progress in sub-Saharan Africa has been afterward jeopardized by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The economic crisis triggered by the disease worsened the poverty level in Africa, leaving households in vulnerability and unable to afford electrical energy.

Renewables as a path to fight energy poverty

Investments in renewable technologies may play a key role in improving access to electricity in Africa. The continent has abundant hydro, solar, wind, and bioenergy resources. In fact, renewable energy capacity on the continent almost doubled in the last ten years. Similarly, the number of Africans connected to solar mini grids strongly increased, although it still covers a small share of the entire population – revealing a potential for growth in the coming years.