Top 10 African countries in the global energy transition index (ETI)

Africa’s energy story is one of contrasts—a continent abundant with natural resources yet faced with profound energy challenges.

With a rapidly growing population and rising demand for power, the energy transition is a lifeline, offering the promise of sustainable development and resilience against the mounting impacts of climate change.

The energy transition involves shifting from fossil fuels like coal and oil to cleaner, renewable sources such as solar, wind, and hydropower. Globally, this shift is measured through the Energy Transition Index (ETI), which evaluates countries based on their energy system performance and readiness to transition.

Africa has immense renewable energy potential. The continent receives some of the highest solar radiation in the world, has vast hydropower resources from rivers like the Nile and Congo, and experiences strong winds in regions such as the Horn of Africa.

Yet, over 600 million Africans lack access to electricity, and many countries still rely heavily on fossil fuels. The barriers to transitioning include limited infrastructure, financing gaps, and regulatory bottlenecks.

Despite these challenges, several African countries have embraced renewable energy, prioritizing energy transition through policy frameworks and international partnerships.

African countries have also embraced innovative solutions to address energy challenges. Mini-grids, solar home systems, and pay-as-you-go models transform rural energy access.

International partnerships, such as those with the World Bank and African Development Bank, provide financing and technical expertise to accelerate the transition.

In 2024, the highest-ranking African country in the global energy transition index (ETI) was Morocco, according to Statista. The country placed 65th globally.

Moreover, Namibia and Kenya were the second and third-highest ETI-scoring African countries, as they placed 68th and 70th worldwide, respectively. The indicator measures the energy system performance of countries and their readiness for energy transition on a scale of 0-100.