These barriers have left large portions of the population without a constant energy supply, slowing industrial growth and quality of life. Addressing these challenges requires a comprehensive understanding of the underlying issues and their impacts.
Africa’s energy deficit has been attributed to a combination of economic, infrastructural, and policy challenges. These issues persist despite the continent’s vast natural resources and immense potential for renewable energy development.
The recently released State of African Energy Report 2025 has revealed that out of the 685 million people without access to electricity globally, 590 million (86%) reside in Africa, where achieving widespread electricity access remains a significant challenge, especially in rural areas with little to no connectivity.
A notable disparity in power supply emerges when comparing regions: in 2023, South America, with similar geographical conditions and a population of about 400 million, recorded a per capita power demand of nearly 2,300 kilowatt-hours (kWh). In contrast, Africa, with a population of about 1.5 billion, had a significantly lower per capita demand of approximately 418 kWh.
This means that, on average, a person in South America consumes five times more electricity than a person in Africa. The disparity is even more pronounced when compared to Europe, where per capita power demand is over 5,000 kWh.
Regional Performance
The State of African Energy Report divides the continent into two regions based on their location relative to the Sahara Desert: North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa. North Africa, consisting of seven countries—Algeria, Egypt, Eritrea, Libya, Morocco, Sudan, and Tunisia—represents the continent’s largest regional power market.
North African countries generally boast electricity access rates exceeding 90% and have been actively implementing strategies to improve their power sectors, reduce dependence on fossil fuels, and facilitate the energy transition. In contrast, many Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries face significant challenges, with half of the region’s population still lacking access to electricity.
Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa have managed to raise their electricity access rates to 55% today, up from 38.3% in 2010. However, the slow progress in electrification has been attributed to rapid population growth, which has outpaced efforts to expand electricity access
Sub-Saharan African countries such as Botswana, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa have relatively high electricity access, with over 75% of their populations connected to the grid. However, nearly seven countries in the region have electricity access rates under 20%, meaning only one in five people has electricity. In countries like the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, and Malawi, electrification efforts have not kept pace with population growth
Efforts to improve Africa’s electricity access
Most African countries, particularly those in the northern region have actively pursued strategies to enhance the power sector while reducing reliance on fossil fuels and enabling energy transition.
Apart from Governments, several other organizations have made several commendable efforts to see that a larger percentage of Africans have access to quality electricity.
The World Bank Group and the African Development Bank have launched an ambitious initiative, “Mission 300,” aimed at providing electricity access to at least 300 million people in Africa. This commitment is now rallying development partners and gaining momentum both within Africa and internationally.
The World Bank Group will work to connect 250 million people while the African Development Bank Group will support an additional 50 million people.
This project which aims to switch on millions of African homes may either be through connections to the electricity grid or distributed renewable energy solutions, such as mini-grids powered by solar panels and stand-alone solar installations, could be transformational for people’s well-being, protecting forests, and all facets of the region’s economy.
