Share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access was 24.9% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access in Sierra Leone, 2004–2024
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
In 2024, share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access in Sierra Leone stood at 24.9%. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
The figure is up 31.1% on the previous year and up 1,283.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access in Sierra Leone peaked at 24.9% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0.6%, in 2007.
Sierra Leone ranks 193rd 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 Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | % of rural population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 9.7% | — |
| 2007 | 0.6% | -93.8% |
| 2009 | 1.0% | +66.7% |
| 2012 | 1.5% | +50.0% |
| 2014 | 1.8% | +20.0% |
| 2015 | 1.9% | +5.6% |
| 2016 | 1.6% | -15.8% |
| 2017 | 5.4% | +237.5% |
| 2018 | 6.4% | +18.5% |
| 2019 | 1.5% | -76.6% |
| 2020 | 4.7% | +213.3% |
| 2021 | 4.9% | +4.3% |
| 2022 | 5.0% | +2.0% |
| 2023 | 19.0% | +280.0% |
| 2024 | 24.9% | +31.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3.8% | 0.6% | 9.7% | 3 |
| 2010s | 2.9% | 1.5% | 6.4% | 7 |
| 2020s | 11.7% | 4.7% | 24.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More energy & mining data for Sierra Leone
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate 3.19 % 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 1.1% (2018)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access in Sierra Leone?
- Share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access in Sierra Leone was 24.9% 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 Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 24.9% in 2024.
- What is the lowest share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.6% in 2007.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access?
- Sierra Leone ranks 193rd out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1,283.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone 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 — 15 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.