Share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access in Sao Tome and Principe
Sao Tome and Principe: Share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access was 75.1% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access in Sao Tome and Principe, 2000–2024
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 Sao Tome and Principe is 75.1%, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 7.9% on the previous year and up 43.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access in Sao Tome and Principe peaked at 76.4% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 34.1%, in 2009.
That places Sao Tome and Principe 164th out of 212 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
Share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access in Sao Tome and Principe, year by year
| Year | % of rural population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 40.1% | — |
| 2001 | 36.5% | -9.0% |
| 2002 | 37.4% | +2.5% |
| 2003 | 38.4% | +2.7% |
| 2004 | 39.4% | +2.6% |
| 2005 | 40.4% | +2.5% |
| 2006 | 41.4% | +2.5% |
| 2007 | 42.5% | +2.7% |
| 2008 | 43.7% | +2.8% |
| 2009 | 34.1% | -22.0% |
| 2010 | 46.2% | +35.5% |
| 2011 | 47.5% | +2.8% |
| 2012 | 42.8% | -9.9% |
| 2013 | 50.4% | +17.8% |
| 2014 | 52.4% | +4.0% |
| 2015 | 53.8% | +2.7% |
| 2016 | 58.6% | +8.9% |
| 2017 | 76.2% | +30.0% |
| 2018 | 55.7% | -26.9% |
| 2019 | 68.2% | +22.4% |
| 2020 | 71.0% | +4.1% |
| 2021 | 73.7% | +3.8% |
| 2022 | 76.4% | +3.7% |
| 2023 | 69.6% | -8.9% |
| 2024 | 75.1% | +7.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 39.4% | 34.1% | 43.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 55.2% | 42.8% | 76.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 73.2% | 69.6% | 76.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sao Tome and Principe
More energy & mining data for Sao Tome and Principe
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate 11.6 % 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 29.3% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access in Sao Tome and Principe was 75.1% 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 Sao Tome and Principe?
- The highest recorded value was 76.4% in 2022.
- What is the lowest share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The lowest recorded value was 34.1% in 2009.
- How does Sao Tome and Principe rank for share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access?
- Sao Tome and Principe ranks 164th out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access rising or falling in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 43.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sao Tome and Principe 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 — 25 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.