Energy intensity level of primary energy in Sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa: Energy intensity level of primary energy was 3.89 in 2023. ▼ Falling

Latest (2023)
3.89
Change on year
down 2.0%
Rank
12th
of 39 groups
All-time high
6.11
in 1995
All-time low
3.89
in 2023
Years of data
34
1990–2023

Energy intensity level of primary energy in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1990–2023

02461990200620231990: 5.71991: 5.91992: 5.91993: 6.11994: 6.11995: 6.11996: 61997: 61998: 61999: 62000: 5.72001: 5.52002: 5.22003: 5.32004: 5.22005: 52006: 4.82007: 4.72008: 4.72009: 4.62010: 4.42011: 4.42012: 4.32013: 4.22014: 4.12015: 42016: 4.12017: 42018: 3.92019: 42020: 4.12021: 4.12022: 42023: 3.9

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

The most recent figure for energy intensity level of primary energy in Sub-Saharan Africa is 3.89, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 34 years on record.

That represents a change of down 2.0% on the previous year and down 6.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, energy intensity level of primary energy in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 6.11 in 1995 and was at its lowest, 3.89, in 2023.

That places Sub-Saharan Africa 12th out of 39 groups with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 34 years of available data.

Energy intensity level of primary energy in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year

Annual values for Energy intensity level of primary energy (megajoules per constant 2021 purchasing power parity GDP) in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1990 to 2023.
Year Value Change
1990 5.72
1991 5.87 +2.6%
1992 5.93 +1.0%
1993 6.06 +2.2%
1994 6.07 +0.2%
1995 6.11 +0.7%
1996 6.02 -1.5%
1997 6.01 -0.2%
1998 5.99 -0.3%
1999 5.97 -0.3%
2000 5.67 -5.0%
2001 5.5 -3.0%
2002 5.22 -5.1%
2003 5.3 +1.5%
2004 5.25 -0.9%
2005 5.03 -4.2%
2006 4.85 -3.6%
2007 4.74 -2.3%
2008 4.72 -0.4%
2009 4.62 -2.1%
2010 4.42 -4.3%
2011 4.42 +0.0%
2012 4.27 -3.4%
2013 4.17 -2.3%
2014 4.11 -1.4%
2015 3.98 -3.2%
2016 4.06 +2.0%
2017 4 -1.5%
2018 3.9 -2.5%
2019 3.96 +1.5%
2020 4.09 +3.3%
2021 4.12 +0.7%
2022 3.97 -3.6%
2023 3.89 -2.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 5.97 5.72 6.11 10
2000s 5.09 4.62 5.67 10
2010s 4.13 3.9 4.42 10
2020s 4.02 3.89 4.12 4

Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa

  1. 9 Marshall Islands 9.87 compare
  2. 10 Iceland 9.43 compare
  3. 11 Central African Republic 9.38 compare
  4. 12 Zambia 9.17 compare
  5. 13 Libya 8.93 compare
  6. 14 Iran (Islamic Republic of) 8.35 compare
  7. 15 Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) 8.31 compare

See the full ranking of 260 places →

More energy & mining data for Sub-Saharan Africa

All data for Sub-Saharan Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is energy intensity level of primary energy in Sub-Saharan Africa?
Energy intensity level of primary energy in Sub-Saharan Africa was 3.89 in 2023, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest energy intensity level of primary energy recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
The highest recorded value was 6.11 in 1995.
What is the lowest energy intensity level of primary energy recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 3.89 in 2023.
How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for energy intensity level of primary energy?
Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 12th out of 39 groups with data for 2023.
Is energy intensity level of primary energy rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 6.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa data come from?
The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Energy intensity level of primary energy (megajoules per constant 2021 purchasing power parity GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Energy intensity level of primary energy in Sub-Saharan Africa. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 13 September 2026, from https://energy.statizoid.com/stat/energy-intensity-level-of-primary-energy-megajoules-per-constant-2021-purchasing-power/sub-saharan-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Energy intensity level of primary energy (megajoules per constant 2021 purchasing power parity GDP)
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
260 places, 8,735 data points, 1990–2024
Last refreshed