Share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access in Gambia
Gambia: Share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access was 39.2% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access in Gambia, 1993–2024
Source: SDG 7.1.1 Electrification Dataset, World Bank, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of rural population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access in Gambia is 39.2%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 30 years on record.
The figure is up 11.0% on the previous year and up 41.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access in Gambia peaked at 39.2% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 1.0%, in 2003.
Gambia ranks 185th of 212 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access in Gambia, year by year
| Year | % of rural population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 2.6% | — |
| 1994 | 1.9% | -28.9% |
| 1995 | 3.0% | +61.9% |
| 1996 | 4.2% | +37.8% |
| 1997 | 5.3% | +27.3% |
| 1998 | 6.4% | +21.3% |
| 1999 | 7.5% | +17.5% |
| 2000 | 18.8% | +149.2% |
| 2001 | 9.8% | -47.9% |
| 2002 | 10.8% | +10.2% |
| 2003 | 1.0% | -90.7% |
| 2004 | 13.0% | +1200.0% |
| 2005 | 4.5% | -65.4% |
| 2006 | 15.3% | +240.0% |
| 2007 | 16.5% | +7.8% |
| 2008 | 17.7% | +7.3% |
| 2009 | 18.8% | +6.2% |
| 2010 | 24.3% | +29.3% |
| 2011 | 25.1% | +3.3% |
| 2012 | 25.9% | +3.2% |
| 2013 | 30.3% | +17.0% |
| 2014 | 27.8% | -8.3% |
| 2015 | 28.9% | +4.0% |
| 2016 | 30.0% | +3.8% |
| 2017 | 20.5% | -31.7% |
| 2020 | 31.0% | +51.2% |
| 2021 | 31.2% | +0.6% |
| 2022 | 31.5% | +1.0% |
| 2023 | 35.3% | +12.1% |
| 2024 | 39.2% | +11.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4.4% | 1.9% | 7.5% | 7 |
| 2000s | 12.6% | 1.0% | 18.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 26.6% | 20.5% | 30.3% | 8 |
| 2020s | 33.6% | 31.0% | 39.2% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Gambia
More energy & mining data for Gambia
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate 3.08 % 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 31.7% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access in Gambia?
- Share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access in Gambia was 39.2% in 2024, according to SDG 7.1.1 Electrification Dataset, World Bank, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access recorded in Gambia?
- The highest recorded value was 39.2% in 2024.
- What is the lowest share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access recorded in Gambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.0% in 2003.
- How does Gambia rank for share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access?
- Gambia ranks 185th out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access rising or falling in Gambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 41.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Gambia data come from?
- The figures come from SDG 7.1.1 Electrification Dataset, World Bank, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 30 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Having access to electricity is defined in international statistics as having an electricity source that can provide very basic lighting, and charge a phone or power a radio for 4 hours per day.