Electricity production by source in Kenya
Kenya: Electricity production by source was 48.4% in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Electricity production by source in Kenya, 1990–2021
Source: IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, IEA, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of total.
Analysis
In 2021, electricity production by source in Kenya stood at 48.4%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.1% on the previous year and up 81.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, electricity production by source in Kenya peaked at 54.7% in 2017 and was at its lowest, -0.2%, in 2001.
That places Kenya 6th out of 208 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Electricity production by source in Kenya, year by year
| Year | % of total | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 16.3% | — |
| 1991 | 14.7% | -9.9% |
| 1992 | 14.2% | -3.4% |
| 1993 | 13.6% | -4.0% |
| 1994 | 10.5% | -23.1% |
| 1995 | 12.4% | +18.9% |
| 1996 | 12.0% | -3.8% |
| 1997 | 10.8% | -9.7% |
| 1998 | 11.0% | +1.9% |
| 1999 | 11.4% | +3.0% |
| 2000 | 26.1% | +129.6% |
| 2001 | -0.2% | -100.6% |
| 2002 | 3.6% | -2266.7% |
| 2003 | 8.6% | +140.8% |
| 2004 | 16.8% | +96.0% |
| 2005 | 18.1% | +7.4% |
| 2006 | 21.1% | +16.9% |
| 2007 | 15.2% | -27.9% |
| 2008 | 17.8% | +16.7% |
| 2009 | 27.6% | +55.4% |
| 2010 | 17.7% | -36.0% |
| 2011 | 26.6% | +50.3% |
| 2012 | 22.8% | -14.4% |
| 2013 | 22.7% | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 40.1% | +76.5% |
| 2015 | 50.1% | +24.9% |
| 2016 | 45.0% | -10.2% |
| 2017 | 54.7% | +21.6% |
| 2018 | 44.1% | -19.3% |
| 2019 | 53.9% | +22.1% |
| 2020 | 46.9% | -12.8% |
| 2021 | 48.4% | +3.1% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 48.4% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 4.7%, 10.4× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 48.4% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3.5%, 13.7× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Electricity production by source in Kenya 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.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | +2266.7% | -0.2% | 3.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 12.7% | 10.5% | 16.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 15.5% | -0.2% | 27.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 37.8% | 17.7% | 54.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 47.7% | 46.9% | 48.4% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More energy & mining data for Kenya
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate 6.22 % 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)
- Primary energy use, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Coal production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fuel imports 23.5% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is electricity production by source in Kenya?
- Electricity production by source in Kenya was 48.4% in 2021, according to IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, IEA, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest electricity production by source recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 54.7% in 2017.
- What is the lowest electricity production by source recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.2% in 2001.
- How does Kenya rank for electricity production by source?
- Kenya ranks 6th out of 208 countries with data for 2021.
- Is electricity production by source rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 81.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, IEA, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Electricity production by source. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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