Access to electricity in Africa Western and Central
Africa Western and Central: Access to electricity was 58.8% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Access to electricity in Africa Western and Central, 1993–2024
Source: SDG 7.1.1 Electrification Dataset, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for access to electricity in Africa Western and Central is 58.8%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 32 years on record.
The figure is up 3.1% on the previous year and up 23.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, access to electricity in Africa Western and Central peaked at 58.8% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 31.7%, in 1993.
Africa Western and Central ranks 40th of 47 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 32 years of available data.
Access to electricity in Africa Western and Central, year by year
| Year | % of population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 31.7% | — |
| 1994 | 32.7% | +3.3% |
| 1995 | 33.7% | +3.1% |
| 1996 | 32.7% | -3.0% |
| 1997 | 32.5% | -0.5% |
| 1998 | 33.5% | +3.1% |
| 1999 | 34.9% | +4.1% |
| 2000 | 34.3% | -1.9% |
| 2001 | 35.3% | +3.1% |
| 2002 | 35.8% | +1.4% |
| 2003 | 40.0% | +11.6% |
| 2004 | 37.6% | -5.9% |
| 2005 | 37.9% | +0.9% |
| 2006 | 40.0% | +5.3% |
| 2007 | 40.9% | +2.3% |
| 2008 | 41.9% | +2.4% |
| 2009 | 42.0% | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 42.0% | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 46.1% | +9.8% |
| 2012 | 44.2% | -4.1% |
| 2013 | 47.2% | +6.8% |
| 2014 | 47.8% | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 46.9% | -1.9% |
| 2016 | 51.1% | +8.9% |
| 2017 | 48.9% | -4.2% |
| 2018 | 51.3% | +5.0% |
| 2019 | 51.3% | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 51.9% | +1.1% |
| 2021 | 54.4% | +4.8% |
| 2022 | 55.6% | +2.2% |
| 2023 | 57.1% | +2.7% |
| 2024 | 58.8% | +3.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 33.1% | 31.7% | 34.9% | 7 |
| 2000s | 38.6% | 34.3% | 42.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 47.7% | 42.0% | 51.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 55.5% | 51.9% | 58.8% | 5 |
More energy & mining data for Africa Western and Central
- Fuel imports 27.6% (2023)
- Ores and metals imports 0.9% (2023)
- Ores and metals exports 3.9% (2023)
- Fuel exports 61.6% (2023)
- Electric power transmission and distribution losses 15.6% (2023)
- Mineral rents 1.5% (2021)
- Natural gas rents 0.9% (2021)
- Total natural resources rents 9.7% (2021)
- Alternative and nuclear energy 1.9% (2023)
- Electric power consumption 207.97 kWh per capita (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is access to electricity in Africa Western and Central?
- Access to electricity in Africa Western and Central was 58.8% in 2024, according to SDG 7.1.1 Electrification Dataset, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest access to electricity recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The highest recorded value was 58.8% in 2024.
- What is the lowest access to electricity recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The lowest recorded value was 31.7% in 1993.
- How does Africa Western and Central rank for access to electricity?
- Africa Western and Central ranks 40th out of 47 groups with data for 2024.
- Is access to electricity rising or falling in Africa Western and Central?
- Over the last ten years it is up 23.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Africa Western and Central data come from?
- The figures come from SDG 7.1.1 Electrification Dataset, World Bank (WB), published as part of Access to electricity (% of population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 32 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Access to electricity is the percentage of population with access to electricity. Electrification data are collected from industry, national surveys and international sources.