14 African countries have less than 50% of their population with electricity

  • The low access rates in nations like South Sudan and the Central African Republic are often linked to conflict and instability.
  • Fourteen countries on the continent have less than 50% of their population with electricity.
  • At the very bottom of the list, South Sudan has a 5.40% access rate, while Burundi stands at 11.60% and Chad at 12.00%.
  • Twelve African countries have less than 40% access.

Imagine trying to run a hospital without stable power supply, or a school where children can't study after dark. For millions of people in countries with less than 50.3% electricity access, this isn't just an inconvenience—it's a daily reality. The low access rates in nations like South Sudan and the Central African Republic are a stark reminder of the immense struggles many African nations face, often linked to conflict and instability.

The numbers reveal the full scale of the challenge. Fourteen countries on the continent have less than 50% of their population with electricity, and twelve of those have less than 40% access. At the very bottom of the list, countries like South Sudan have a shockingly low access rate of just 5.40%, while Burundi stands at 11.60% and Chad at 12.00%.

Source:

World Bank

Period:

2023
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Nigeria’s urban electrification has stalled below 90% for over three decades
  • Urban electricity access has remained between 80% and 89% since 1990, never crossing to 90%.
  • The inability to achieve universal access suggests that infrastructure expansion has struggled to keep pace with rapid urbanisation and population growth.
  • Periodic dips in access, such as in 2010 and 2015, point to challenges in maintaining consistent electricity supply rather than just extending connections.
  • Insufficient generation, outdated grids, and policy inefficiencies have constrained Nigeria’s ability to deliver reliable and universal electricity access even in its urban centres.
Only one in three rural Nigerians have access to electricity after three decades of progress
  • Rural electricity access increased from just 4% in 1990 to about 33% in 2023, showing gradual progress over three decades.
  • The data reveals irregular jumps in certain years—such as 2003, 2011, and 2016—likely tied to temporary electrification programmes or revised data estimates. D
  • espite improvements, nearly two-thirds of rural Nigerians still lack electricity, underscoring a wide disparity in energy access across regions.
  • The slow rate of expansion highlights ongoing issues with investment, grid extension, and maintenance that continue to limit rural electrification efforts.
Lagos alone consumes 26% of the total supply of power from the national grid
  • Lagos receives the highest average monthly grid supply at 1,051 MW, accounting for 26% of national distribution.
  • The South West (excluding Lagos) comes second with 569 MW.
  • Abuja alone receives 435 MW, higher than the North Central zone at 396 MW.
  • The North East receives the least electricity from the grid, with only 199 MW monthly on average.
  • The combined total for Lagos and the rest of the South West is 1,620 MW, roughly 40% of national grid supply.
Six African countries have achieved full electricity access, with four being from North Africa
  • The highest-ranked countries have managed to provide electricity to every single citizen.
  • Four of the six countries with 100% access are from North Africa.
  • The list isn't a continuous climb; there's a big jump down from the 100% group to the rest of the top 15.
  • The data shows that with the right investment and policies, it is a very realistic goal for a country to achieve full electrification.
Coal dominated South Africa’s electricity source with over 80% share in 2023
  • Coal contributes a staggering 81.8% of South Africa’s total electricity generation.
  • Renewables remain marginal, with wind, solar photovoltaic (PV), and solar thermal collectively accounting for less than 8%.
  • Nuclear power holds a modest role, supplying 3.73% of the total output.
  • Hydropower and oil are limited contributors, together making up just over 6%.
  • Clean energy is growing, but slowly, with solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind leading the charge among non-fossil sources.
Eskom electricity tariff—categories and rates (2023/24, c/kWh)
  • Landlight tariffs (20A and 60A), offered primarily in rural areas, are Eskom’s highest tariff rates and are exclusive to direct (non-local authority) customers.
  • The Homelight 20A Block 1 tariff, which applies to consumption between 0–350 kWh, is the lowest among Eskom’s tariffs.
  • Landlight tariffs carry higher rates because they exclude other fixed charges such as: Ancillary service charge (c/kWh), Network demand charge (c/kWh), Network capacity charge (R/POD/day), and Service charge (R/POD/day). This structure makes Landlight more suitable for rural or low-income areas, where simplifying cost recovery is necessary.
  • Eskom classifies its tariffs into the following categories:
    • Residential Tariffs (for household electricity supply): Homelight 20A, Homelight 60A, Homepower, and Homeflex
    • Urban Tariffs (for large industrial and commercial users): Megaflex, Miniflex, Nightsave Urban (Large and Small), Business Rate, Public Lighting, Transflex (rail), and Gen-Wheeling/Offset tariffs
    • Rural Tariffs (for agricultural, business, and residential customers in rural areas): Ruraflex, Nightsave Rural, Landrate, and Landlight
    • Municipal Tariffs (for municipalities purchasing in bulk and for municipal services like water pumps or offices): Municrate, Municflex, and Public Lighting.
  • Customers with rooftop solar PV systems are required to be on the Homeflex tariff plan, which is based on Time-of-Use (ToU) pricing.
  • Several Eskom tariffs are Time-of-Use-based, where charges vary depending on peak, standard, and off-peak periods. These include: Nightsave Urban Large, Nightsave Urban Small, Megaflex, Miniflex, Homeflex, Nightsave Rural, Ruraflex, and Ruraflex Gen
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