Proportion of population with access to electricity, by urban/rural in Southern Africa
Southern Africa: Proportion of population with access to electricity, by urban/rural was 87.6% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Proportion of population with access to electricity, by urban/rural in Southern Africa, 2000–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
In 2024, proportion of population with access to electricity, by urban/rural in Southern Africa stood at 87.6%. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is up 2.9% on the previous year and up 7.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of population with access to electricity, by urban/rural in Southern Africa peaked at 87.6% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 64.1%, in 2001.
That places Southern Africa 24th out of 34 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
Proportion of population with access to electricity, by urban/rural in Southern Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 66.1% | — |
| 2001 | 64.1% | -3.0% |
| 2002 | 70.0% | +9.2% |
| 2003 | 72.2% | +3.1% |
| 2004 | 74.0% | +2.5% |
| 2005 | 74.5% | +0.7% |
| 2006 | 74.5% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 76.1% | +2.1% |
| 2008 | 76.2% | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 76.8% | +0.8% |
| 2010 | 77.4% | +0.8% |
| 2011 | 78.4% | +1.3% |
| 2012 | 80.0% | +2.0% |
| 2013 | 80.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 81.3% | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 81.1% | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 80.0% | -1.4% |
| 2017 | 80.7% | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 81.4% | +0.9% |
| 2019 | 81.8% | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 86.3% | +5.5% |
| 2021 | 86.0% | -0.3% |
| 2022 | 83.7% | -2.7% |
| 2023 | 85.1% | +1.7% |
| 2024 | 87.6% | +2.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 72.5% | 64.1% | 76.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 80.2% | 77.4% | 81.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 85.7% | 83.7% | 87.6% | 5 |
More energy & mining data for Southern Africa
- Energy intensity level of primary energy 5.64 (2023)
- Renewable energy share in the total final energy consumption 11.5% (2023)
- Installed renewable electricity-generating capacity 197.23 (2024)
- Fossil-fuel subsidies (consumption and production) as a proportion of 1.9% (2024)
- Fossil-fuel subsidies (consumption and production) 7.71 (2024)
- Fossil-fuel subsidies (consumption and production) per capita 105.43 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is proportion of population with access to electricity, by urban/rural in Southern Africa?
- Proportion of population with access to electricity, by urban/rural in Southern Africa was 87.6% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest proportion of population with access to electricity, by urban/rural recorded in Southern Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 87.6% in 2024.
- What is the lowest proportion of population with access to electricity, by urban/rural recorded in Southern Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 64.1% in 2001.
- How does Southern Africa rank for proportion of population with access to electricity, by urban/rural?
- Southern Africa ranks 24th out of 34 groups with data for 2024.
- Is proportion of population with access to electricity, by urban/rural rising or falling in Southern Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Southern Africa data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Proportion of population with access to electricity, by urban/rural (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).