Access to electricity in urban vs. rural areas in Congo
Congo: Access to electricity in urban vs. rural areas was 72.0% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Access to electricity in urban vs. rural areas in Congo, 2000–2024
Source: SDG 7.1.1 Electrification Dataset, World Bank, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of urban population.
Analysis
Congo recorded 72.0% for access to electricity in urban vs. rural areas in 2024. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is up 3.7% on the previous year and up 18.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, access to electricity in urban vs. rural areas in Congo peaked at 72.0% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 46.2%, in 2000.
Congo ranks 200th of 212 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 50.3% | 46.2% | 53.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 61.3% | 57.1% | 65.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 68.4% | 66.2% | 72.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Congo
More energy & mining data for Congo
- Fuel imports 5.2% (2023)
- Ores and metals imports 1.1% (2023)
- Ores and metals exports 1.2% (2023)
- Gas production 19.21 terawatt-hours (2024)
- Fossil fuel production per person, by fuel 3,033 kilowatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel 19.21 terawatt-hours (2024)
- Gas production per person 3,033 kilowatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fuel exports 85.9% (2023)
- Electric power transmission and distribution losses 38.5% (2023)
- Share of dietary energy supply from carbohydrates vs. GDP per capita 66.7% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is access to electricity in urban vs. rural areas in Congo?
- Access to electricity in urban vs. rural areas in Congo was 72.0% in 2024, according to SDG 7.1.1 Electrification Dataset, World Bank, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest access to electricity in urban vs. rural areas recorded in Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 72.0% in 2024.
- What is the lowest access to electricity in urban vs. rural areas recorded in Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 46.2% in 2000.
- How does Congo rank for access to electricity in urban vs. rural areas?
- Congo ranks 200th out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is access to electricity in urban vs. rural areas rising or falling in Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Congo data come from?
- The figures come from SDG 7.1.1 Electrification Dataset, World Bank, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Access to electricity in urban vs. rural areas. 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
The definition used in international statistics adopts a very low cutoff for what it means to ‘have access to electricity’. It is defined as having an electricity source that can provide very basic lighting, and charge a phone or power a radio for 4 hours per day.