Share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access in Kenya
Kenya: Share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access was 67.1% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access in Kenya, 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 Kenya is 67.1%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 1.2% on the previous year and up 167.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access in Kenya peaked at 68.4% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 1.1%, in 1997.
Kenya ranks 167th 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 Kenya, year by year
| Year | % of rural population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 4.1% | — |
| 1997 | 1.1% | -73.3% |
| 1998 | 6.6% | +501.9% |
| 1999 | 4.7% | -28.9% |
| 2000 | 6.6% | +39.7% |
| 2001 | 8.3% | +25.8% |
| 2002 | 10.0% | +20.5% |
| 2003 | 6.9% | -31.0% |
| 2004 | 13.4% | +94.2% |
| 2005 | 15.1% | +12.7% |
| 2006 | 16.9% | +11.9% |
| 2007 | 18.6% | +10.1% |
| 2008 | 20.4% | +9.7% |
| 2009 | 10.1% | -50.5% |
| 2010 | 7.2% | -28.7% |
| 2011 | 25.7% | +256.9% |
| 2012 | 27.5% | +7.0% |
| 2013 | 29.3% | +6.5% |
| 2014 | 25.1% | -14.3% |
| 2015 | 29.0% | +15.5% |
| 2016 | 42.1% | +45.2% |
| 2017 | 45.8% | +8.8% |
| 2018 | 51.6% | +12.7% |
| 2019 | 61.7% | +19.6% |
| 2020 | 62.7% | +1.6% |
| 2021 | 68.2% | +8.8% |
| 2022 | 68.4% | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 67.9% | -0.7% |
| 2024 | 67.1% | -1.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4.2% | 1.1% | 6.6% | 4 |
| 2000s | 12.6% | 6.6% | 20.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 34.5% | 7.2% | 61.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 66.9% | 62.7% | 68.4% | 5 |
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 share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access in Kenya?
- Share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access in Kenya was 67.1% 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 Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 68.4% in 2022.
- What is the lowest share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.1% in 1997.
- How does Kenya rank for share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access?
- Kenya ranks 167th out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 167.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya 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
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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.