Energy use in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Energy use was 479.78 kg of oil equivalent per capita in 2023. ▼ Falling
Energy use in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1990–2023
Source: IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, International Energy Agency (IEA). Measured in kg of oil equivalent per capita.
Analysis
The most recent figure for energy use in Sub-Saharan Africa is 479.78 kg of oil equivalent per capita, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 34 years on record.
That represents a change of down 1.0% on the previous year and down 6.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, energy use in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 542.34 kg of oil equivalent per capita in 1991 and was at its lowest, 479.78 kg of oil equivalent per capita, in 2023.
That places Sub-Saharan Africa 36th out of 47 groups with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 34 years of available data.
Energy use in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | kg of oil equivalent per capita | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 539.29 kg of oil equivalent per capita | — |
| 1991 | 542.34 kg of oil equivalent per capita | +0.6% |
| 1992 | 526.97 kg of oil equivalent per capita | -2.8% |
| 1993 | 528.46 kg of oil equivalent per capita | +0.3% |
| 1994 | 526.57 kg of oil equivalent per capita | -0.4% |
| 1995 | 534.02 kg of oil equivalent per capita | +1.4% |
| 1996 | 537.28 kg of oil equivalent per capita | +0.6% |
| 1997 | 539.22 kg of oil equivalent per capita | +0.4% |
| 1998 | 529.16 kg of oil equivalent per capita | -1.9% |
| 1999 | 524.88 kg of oil equivalent per capita | -0.8% |
| 2000 | 499.64 kg of oil equivalent per capita | -4.8% |
| 2001 | 492.3 kg of oil equivalent per capita | -1.5% |
| 2002 | 483.27 kg of oil equivalent per capita | -1.8% |
| 2003 | 499.04 kg of oil equivalent per capita | +3.3% |
| 2004 | 508.82 kg of oil equivalent per capita | +2.0% |
| 2005 | 503.07 kg of oil equivalent per capita | -1.1% |
| 2006 | 501.63 kg of oil equivalent per capita | -0.3% |
| 2007 | 506.4 kg of oil equivalent per capita | +0.9% |
| 2008 | 520.7 kg of oil equivalent per capita | +2.8% |
| 2009 | 516.46 kg of oil equivalent per capita | -0.8% |
| 2010 | 513.38 kg of oil equivalent per capita | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 526.74 kg of oil equivalent per capita | +2.6% |
| 2012 | 511.55 kg of oil equivalent per capita | -2.9% |
| 2013 | 513.57 kg of oil equivalent per capita | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 517.94 kg of oil equivalent per capita | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 503.42 kg of oil equivalent per capita | -2.8% |
| 2016 | 505.4 kg of oil equivalent per capita | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 496.11 kg of oil equivalent per capita | -1.8% |
| 2018 | 484.62 kg of oil equivalent per capita | -2.3% |
| 2019 | 493.73 kg of oil equivalent per capita | +1.9% |
| 2020 | 480.43 kg of oil equivalent per capita | -2.7% |
| 2021 | 491.63 kg of oil equivalent per capita | +2.3% |
| 2022 | 484.62 kg of oil equivalent per capita | -1.4% |
| 2023 | 479.78 kg of oil equivalent per capita | -1.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 532.82 kg of oil equivalent per capita | 524.88 kg of oil equivalent per capita | 542.34 kg of oil equivalent per capita | 10 |
| 2000s | 503.13 kg of oil equivalent per capita | 483.27 kg of oil equivalent per capita | 520.7 kg of oil equivalent per capita | 10 |
| 2010s | 506.64 kg of oil equivalent per capita | 484.62 kg of oil equivalent per capita | 526.74 kg of oil equivalent per capita | 10 |
| 2020s | 484.11 kg of oil equivalent per capita | 479.78 kg of oil equivalent per capita | 491.63 kg of oil equivalent per capita | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
- 33 Malaysia 3,009 kg of oil equivalent per capita compare
- 34 Japan 3,006 kg of oil equivalent per capita compare
- 35 Belarus 2,856 kg of oil equivalent per capita compare
- 36 China 2,851 kg of oil equivalent per capita compare
- 37 Germany 2,825 kg of oil equivalent per capita compare
- 38 Estonia 2,709 kg of oil equivalent per capita compare
- 39 Libya 2,662 kg of oil equivalent per capita compare
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)
- Electric power consumption 376.79 kWh per capita (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is energy use in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Energy use in Sub-Saharan Africa was 479.78 kg of oil equivalent per capita in 2023, according to IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, International Energy Agency (IEA).
- What is the highest energy use recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 542.34 kg of oil equivalent per capita in 1991.
- What is the lowest energy use recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 479.78 kg of oil equivalent per capita in 2023.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for energy use?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 36th out of 47 groups with data for 2023.
- Is energy use rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.6%. 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 Energy use (kg of oil equivalent per capita). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Energy use refers to use of primary energy before transformation to other end-use fuels, which is equal to indigenous production plus imports and stock changes, minus exports and fuels supplied to ships and aircraft engaged in international transport.