Share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access in Zambia
Zambia: Share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access was 31.3% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access in Zambia, 1992–2024
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
Zambia recorded 31.3% for share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access in 2024. That is the highest value across all 32 years on record.
That represents a change of up 77.8% on the previous year and up 645.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access in Zambia peaked at 31.3% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0.6%, in 1994.
That places Zambia 190th out of 212 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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 Zambia, year by year
| Year | % of rural population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 6.7% | — |
| 1994 | 0.6% | -91.4% |
| 1995 | 1.3% | +125.7% |
| 1996 | 1.8% | +39.6% |
| 1997 | 2.8% | +52.9% |
| 1998 | 2.9% | +4.8% |
| 1999 | 4.3% | +47.4% |
| 2000 | 2.1% | -50.7% |
| 2001 | 5.8% | +176.2% |
| 2002 | 2.2% | -62.1% |
| 2003 | 1.9% | -13.6% |
| 2004 | 4.7% | +147.4% |
| 2005 | 6.7% | +42.6% |
| 2006 | 7.0% | +4.5% |
| 2007 | 0.6% | -91.4% |
| 2008 | 7.4% | +1133.3% |
| 2009 | 7.6% | +2.7% |
| 2010 | 4.0% | -47.4% |
| 2011 | 8.1% | +102.5% |
| 2012 | 8.2% | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 8.4% | +2.4% |
| 2014 | 4.2% | -50.0% |
| 2015 | 4.7% | +11.9% |
| 2016 | 9.9% | +110.6% |
| 2017 | 14.0% | +41.4% |
| 2018 | 12.4% | -11.4% |
| 2019 | 14.2% | +14.5% |
| 2020 | 14.0% | -1.4% |
| 2021 | 14.5% | +3.6% |
| 2022 | 15.0% | +3.4% |
| 2023 | 17.6% | +17.3% |
| 2024 | 31.3% | +77.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.9% | 0.6% | 6.7% | 7 |
| 2000s | 4.6% | 0.6% | 7.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.8% | 4.0% | 14.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 18.5% | 14.0% | 31.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 187 Togo 33.9% compare
- 188 Tanzania, United Republic of 33.7% compare
- 189 Mali 31.4% compare
- 191 Guinea 29.4% compare
- 192 Madagascar 26.5% compare
- 193 Guinea-Bissau 24.9% compare
- 193 Sierra Leone 24.9% compare
More energy & mining data for Zambia
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate 0.0312 % 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 22.9% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access in Zambia?
- Share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access in Zambia was 31.3% 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 Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 31.3% in 2024.
- What is the lowest share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.6% in 1994.
- How does Zambia rank for share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access?
- Zambia ranks 190th out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 645.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia 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.
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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.