Electric power consumption in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Electric power consumption was 376.79 kWh per capita in 2023. ▼ Falling
Electric power consumption in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1990–2023
Source: IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, International Energy Agency (IEA). Measured in kWh per capita.
Analysis
The most recent figure for electric power consumption in Sub-Saharan Africa is 376.79 kWh per capita, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 34 years on record.
The figure is down 2.2% on the previous year and down 13.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, electric power consumption in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 487.3 kWh per capita in 1997 and was at its lowest, 376.79 kWh per capita, in 2023.
Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 32nd of 41 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 34 years of available data.
Electric power consumption in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | kWh per capita | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 455.06 kWh per capita | — |
| 1991 | 447.89 kWh per capita | -1.6% |
| 1992 | 433.22 kWh per capita | -3.3% |
| 1993 | 429.71 kWh per capita | -0.8% |
| 1994 | 432.39 kWh per capita | +0.6% |
| 1995 | 440.91 kWh per capita | +2.0% |
| 1996 | 482.01 kWh per capita | +9.3% |
| 1997 | 487.3 kWh per capita | +1.1% |
| 1998 | 461.09 kWh per capita | -5.4% |
| 1999 | 452.06 kWh per capita | -2.0% |
| 2000 | 453.81 kWh per capita | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 435.36 kWh per capita | -4.1% |
| 2002 | 454.23 kWh per capita | +4.3% |
| 2003 | 451.65 kWh per capita | -0.6% |
| 2004 | 457.82 kWh per capita | +1.4% |
| 2005 | 458.62 kWh per capita | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 464.08 kWh per capita | +1.2% |
| 2007 | 468.44 kWh per capita | +0.9% |
| 2008 | 448.62 kWh per capita | -4.2% |
| 2009 | 428.59 kWh per capita | -4.5% |
| 2010 | 444.83 kWh per capita | +3.8% |
| 2011 | 446.77 kWh per capita | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 437 kWh per capita | -2.2% |
| 2013 | 435.23 kWh per capita | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 436.66 kWh per capita | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 433.38 kWh per capita | -0.8% |
| 2016 | 430.24 kWh per capita | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 414.88 kWh per capita | -3.6% |
| 2018 | 417.08 kWh per capita | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 408.45 kWh per capita | -2.1% |
| 2020 | 389.53 kWh per capita | -4.6% |
| 2021 | 392.33 kWh per capita | +0.7% |
| 2022 | 385.16 kWh per capita | -1.8% |
| 2023 | 376.79 kWh per capita | -2.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 452.16 kWh per capita | 429.71 kWh per capita | 487.3 kWh per capita | 10 |
| 2000s | 452.12 kWh per capita | 428.59 kWh per capita | 468.44 kWh per capita | 10 |
| 2010s | 430.45 kWh per capita | 408.45 kWh per capita | 446.77 kWh per capita | 10 |
| 2020s | 385.95 kWh per capita | 376.79 kWh per capita | 392.33 kWh per capita | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
More energy & mining data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Fuel imports 23.6% (2024)
- Ores and metals imports 2.0% (2024)
- Ores and metals exports 16.1% (2024)
- Fuel exports 40.1% (2024)
- Electric power transmission and distribution losses 25.8% (2024)
- Mineral rents 2.9% (2021)
- Natural gas rents 0.5% (2021)
- Total natural resources rents 10.0% (2021)
- Alternative and nuclear energy 17.4% (2024)
- Combustible renewables and waste 62.0% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is electric power consumption in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Electric power consumption in Sub-Saharan Africa was 376.79 kWh per capita in 2023, according to IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, International Energy Agency (IEA).
- What is the highest electric power consumption recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 487.3 kWh per capita in 1997.
- What is the lowest electric power consumption recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 376.79 kWh per capita in 2023.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for electric power consumption?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 32nd out of 41 groups with data for 2023.
- Is electric power consumption rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa data come from?
- The figures come from IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, International Energy Agency (IEA), published as part of Electric power consumption (kWh per capita). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 34 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Electric power consumption measures the production of power plants and combined heat and power plants less transmission, distribution, and transformation losses and own use by heat and power plants.