Share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: Share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access was 46.6% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access in Zimbabwe, 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
Zimbabwe recorded 46.6% for share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access in 2024.
That represents a change of down 9.3% on the previous year and up 505.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access in Zimbabwe peaked at 51.4% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 3.1%, in 1992.
That places Zimbabwe 176th 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 Zimbabwe, year by year
| Year | % of rural population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 3.1% | — |
| 1993 | 6.8% | +122.3% |
| 1994 | 4.2% | -37.9% |
| 1995 | 7.0% | +65.9% |
| 1996 | 7.1% | +1.5% |
| 1997 | 7.2% | +1.5% |
| 1998 | 7.3% | +1.5% |
| 1999 | 13.9% | +89.2% |
| 2000 | 7.3% | -47.4% |
| 2001 | 7.6% | +4.1% |
| 2002 | 7.2% | -5.3% |
| 2003 | 8.8% | +22.2% |
| 2004 | 9.8% | +11.4% |
| 2005 | 10.7% | +9.2% |
| 2006 | 9.4% | -12.1% |
| 2007 | 12.7% | +35.1% |
| 2008 | 13.8% | +8.7% |
| 2009 | 19.6% | +42.0% |
| 2010 | 15.8% | -19.4% |
| 2011 | 14.1% | -10.8% |
| 2012 | 23.8% | +68.8% |
| 2013 | 18.9% | -20.6% |
| 2014 | 7.7% | -59.3% |
| 2015 | 10.9% | +41.6% |
| 2016 | 21.9% | +100.9% |
| 2017 | 24.2% | +10.5% |
| 2018 | 26.4% | +9.1% |
| 2019 | 28.3% | +7.2% |
| 2020 | 37.1% | +31.1% |
| 2021 | 31.6% | -14.8% |
| 2022 | 33.7% | +6.6% |
| 2023 | 51.4% | +52.5% |
| 2024 | 46.6% | -9.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 7.1% | 3.1% | 13.9% | 8 |
| 2000s | 10.7% | 7.2% | 19.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.2% | 7.7% | 28.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 40.1% | 31.6% | 51.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zimbabwe
More energy & mining data for Zimbabwe
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate 25.83 % 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 (2025)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fuel imports 21.1% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access in Zimbabwe?
- Share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access in Zimbabwe was 46.6% 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 Zimbabwe?
- The highest recorded value was 51.4% in 2023.
- What is the lowest share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access recorded in Zimbabwe?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.1% in 1992.
- How does Zimbabwe rank for share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access?
- Zimbabwe ranks 176th out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of rural vs. urban population with electricity access rising or falling in Zimbabwe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 505.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zimbabwe 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.