Millions of people are living in constant darkness, without access to basic necessities for daily life. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), more than 600 million Africans lack access to energy, resulting in African countries having the lowest worldwide electricity access rate of more than 43%.
The lack of electricity prevents households from performing vital tasks such as lighting their houses and streets. The impact is seen far beyond the home, influencing every sector of the economy, including business, education, and healthcare.
The lack of energy accessibility in many locations can be linked to a variety of causes, including high electricity costs and a lack of infrastructure. While Africa has relatively cheap energy costs on a global scale, there are still locations where prices are rather high in comparison to household earnings. In previous research, HowAfrica looked at the African countries with the highest electricity costs in 2023 and how they can hinder economic progress.
Another factor is the prolonged failure of African leaders to sufficiently invest in their nations’ electricity sectors, thereby falling short in the crucial task of building the necessary capacity.
According to an energy progress report, the African countries with the most people who do not have access to power are listed. The International Energy Agency (IEA), the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD), the World Bank, and other partners collaborated on the report.
| Rank | Country | Population without access to electricity |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nigeria | 86 million |
| 2 | Democratic Republic of the Congo | 76 million |
| 3 | Ethiopia | 55 million |
| 4 | United Republic of Tanzania | 36 million |
| 5 | Uganda | 25 million |
| 6 | Mozambique | 22 million |
| 7 | Niger | 21 million |
| 8 | Madagascar | 19 million |
| 9 | Burkina Faso | 18 million |
| 10 | Angola | 18 million |