Electric power transmission and distribution losses in Africa Western and Central

Africa Western and Central: Electric power transmission and distribution losses was 15.6% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
15.6%
Change on year
down 0.2%
Rank
14th
of 46 groups
All-time high
27.3%
in 1984
All-time low
7.0%
in 1974
Years of data
53
1971–2023

Electric power transmission and distribution losses in Africa Western and Central, 1971–2023

510152025197119972023

Source: IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, International Energy Agency (IEA). Measured in % of output.

Analysis

Africa Western and Central recorded 15.6% for electric power transmission and distribution losses in 2023.

The figure is down 0.2% on the previous year and down 18.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, electric power transmission and distribution losses in Africa Western and Central peaked at 27.3% in 1984 and was at its lowest, 7.0%, in 1974.

That places Africa Western and Central 14th out of 46 groups with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 53 years of available data.

Electric power transmission and distribution losses in Africa Western and Central, year by year

Annual values for Electric power transmission and distribution losses (% of output) in Africa Western and Central, 1971 to 2023.
Year % of output Change
1971 8.8%
1972 9.3% +6.7%
1973 9.7% +4.1%
1974 7.0% -28.5%
1975 9.4% +35.3%
1976 10.3% +9.9%
1977 9.8% -5.6%
1978 7.3% -25.5%
1979 17.1% +134.6%
1980 16.9% -1.3%
1981 25.5% +51.2%
1982 14.5% -43.1%
1983 16.8% +16.1%
1984 27.3% +61.9%
1985 22.8% -16.2%
1986 19.0% -16.7%
1987 20.0% +5.1%
1988 21.5% +7.5%
1989 20.4% -4.9%
1990 15.1% -26.4%
1991 15.0% -0.3%
1992 15.0% +0.3%
1993 14.6% -2.7%
1994 15.8% +8.1%
1995 16.6% +4.7%
1996 16.0% -3.2%
1997 15.6% -2.8%
1998 16.3% +4.4%
1999 16.1% -1.0%
2000 20.7% +28.7%
2001 20.7% -0.1%
2002 20.1% -3.2%
2003 21.8% +9.0%
2004 21.3% -2.3%
2005 21.1% -1.3%
2006 20.6% -2.2%
2007 17.3% -15.8%
2008 18.7% +7.8%
2009 18.0% -3.5%
2010 17.6% -2.2%
2011 19.0% +7.8%
2012 19.1% +0.3%
2013 19.2% +0.8%
2014 18.6% -3.1%
2015 18.3% -1.6%
2016 17.2% -6.0%
2017 16.3% -5.2%
2018 16.5% +1.1%
2019 16.6% +0.3%
2020 16.2% -2.2%
2021 16.2% +0.1%
2022 15.7% -3.5%
2023 15.6% -0.2%

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Electric power transmission and distribution losses in Africa Western and Central changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
1979 +134.6% 7.3% 17.1%
1984 +61.9% 16.8% 27.3%
1981 +51.2% 16.9% 25.5%
1982 -43.1% 25.5% 14.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 9.9% 7.0% 17.1% 9
1980s 20.5% 14.5% 27.3% 10
1990s 15.6% 14.6% 16.6% 10
2000s 20.0% 17.3% 21.8% 10
2010s 17.9% 16.3% 19.2% 10
2020s 15.9% 15.6% 16.2% 4

Countries ranked near Africa Western and Central

  1. 11 Jamaica 26.9% compare
  2. 12 Kenya 25.8% compare
  3. 13 Chad 23.6% compare
  4. 14 Zimbabwe 23.0% compare
  5. 15 Cameroon 22.0% compare
  6. 16 Syrian Arab Republic 21.9% compare
  7. 17 Argentina 21.8% compare

See the full ranking of 197 places →

More energy & mining data for Africa Western and Central

All data for Africa Western and Central →

Frequently asked questions

What is electric power transmission and distribution losses in Africa Western and Central?
Electric power transmission and distribution losses in Africa Western and Central was 15.6% in 2023, according to IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, International Energy Agency (IEA).
What is the highest electric power transmission and distribution losses recorded in Africa Western and Central?
The highest recorded value was 27.3% in 1984.
What is the lowest electric power transmission and distribution losses recorded in Africa Western and Central?
The lowest recorded value was 7.0% in 1974.
How does Africa Western and Central rank for electric power transmission and distribution losses?
Africa Western and Central ranks 14th out of 46 groups with data for 2023.
Is electric power transmission and distribution losses rising or falling in Africa Western and Central?
Over the last ten years it is down 18.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Africa Western and Central data come from?
The figures come from IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, International Energy Agency (IEA), published as part of Electric power transmission and distribution losses (% of output). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Electric power transmission and distribution losses in Africa Western and Central. Statizoid, drawing on IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, International Energy Agency (IEA). Retrieved 15 September 2026, from https://energy.statizoid.com/stat/electric-power-transmission-and-distribution-losses-percent-of-output/africa-western-and-central/

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About this data

Indicator
Electric power transmission and distribution losses (% of output)
Unit
% of output
Source
IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, International Energy Agency (IEA)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
197 places, 7,727 data points, 1960–2024
Last refreshed

Electric power transmission and distribution losses include losses in transmission between sources of supply and points of distribution and in the distribution to consumers, including pilferage. The losses are expressed as a share of the total output.