The number of people without electricity access stalls worldwide, IEA says
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The number of people worldwide without access to electricity has "remained largely unchanged since 2020" after falling steeply for many years, an International Energy Agency analysis finds.
The big picture: The problem remains especially acute in sub-Saharan Africa, where population growth is essentially offsetting new electricity connections, it finds.
- Lack of access to electricity is a chief concern of Energy Secretary Chris Wright, and the future of Africa's market affects U.S. infrastructure providers.
Threat level: Looking at the data through other lenses reveals a mixed picture.
- Access in sub-Saharan Africa grew from around 30% of the population in 2012 to 50% in 2024.
- Yet "average household consumption has fallen by around a quarter during the same period."
Friction point: "Over the past decade, electricity tariffs in many African countries have increased more rapidly than household income, reducing their ability to pay and forcing them to cut back on consumption.
Catch up quick: Basic access, while vital, is only part of the story on lifting economies.
What we're watching: Progress on new connections is "broadly flat" this year, preliminary data shows.
- The agency sees colliding forces — new policy momentum in some regions but also higher borrowing costs and falling development finance.
