Access to electricity in urban vs. rural areas in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Access to electricity in urban vs. rural areas was 85.1% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Access to electricity in urban vs. rural areas in Zimbabwe, 1992–2024
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
In 2024, access to electricity in urban vs. rural areas in Zimbabwe stood at 85.1%.
The figure is up 1.3% on the previous year and up 2.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, access to electricity in urban vs. rural areas in Zimbabwe peaked at 91.4% in 2006 and was at its lowest, 80.4%, in 1994.
Zimbabwe ranks 188th of 212 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Access to electricity in urban vs. rural areas in Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | % of urban population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 85.5% | — |
| 1993 | 85.5% | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 80.4% | -6.0% |
| 1995 | 85.6% | +6.4% |
| 1996 | 85.6% | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 85.6% | -0.0% |
| 1998 | 85.6% | -0.0% |
| 1999 | 87.4% | +2.1% |
| 2000 | 85.4% | -2.3% |
| 2001 | 85.3% | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 85.3% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 85.2% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 85.2% | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 85.1% | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 91.4% | +7.4% |
| 2007 | 85.2% | -6.8% |
| 2008 | 85.2% | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 90.9% | +6.7% |
| 2010 | 85.3% | -6.2% |
| 2011 | 83.2% | -2.5% |
| 2012 | 85.4% | +2.6% |
| 2013 | 85.5% | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 83.4% | -2.5% |
| 2015 | 81.2% | -2.6% |
| 2016 | 85.5% | +5.3% |
| 2017 | 85.5% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 85.4% | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 85.4% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 85.7% | +0.4% |
| 2021 | 85.3% | -0.5% |
| 2022 | 89.0% | +4.3% |
| 2023 | 84.0% | -5.6% |
| 2024 | 85.1% | +1.3% |
Zimbabwe compared with similar countries
- Zimbabwe's 85.1% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 97.0%, 88% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zimbabwe's 85.1% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 85.3%, 100% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 85.1% | 80.4% | 87.4% | 8 |
| 2000s | 86.4% | 85.1% | 91.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 84.6% | 81.2% | 85.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 85.8% | 84.0% | 89.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
More energy & mining data for Zimbabwe
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate 25.83 % change on previous year (2024)
- Coal consumption, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Coal consumption, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary energy use, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Coal production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fuel imports 21.1% (2024)
- Ores and metals imports 0.8% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is access to electricity in urban vs. rural areas in Zimbabwe?
- Access to electricity in urban vs. rural areas in Zimbabwe was 85.1% 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 Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 91.4% in 2006.
- What is the lowest access to electricity in urban vs. rural areas recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 80.4% in 1994.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for access to electricity in urban vs. rural areas?
- Zimbabwe ranks 188th out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is access to electricity in urban vs. rural areas rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Zimbabwe 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
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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.