Reliable electricity is a critical driver of economic growth, stability and development and several African countries are aspiring to improve stable electricity supply to their citizens.
According to the African Development Bank (AfDB), about 640 million Africans do not have access to electricity. This figure corresponds to a 40% electricity access rate for African countries, the lowest in the world.
10 African countries with the best access to electricity
This data highlights the 10 African countries with the best electricity access and also indicates the percentage of the population with access to electricity:
1. Mauritius
The major electricity source in Mauritius is Coal (42%) and oil (37%). About 100% of its population has access to electricity due to the country's strong investment in renewable energy sources.
2. Egypt
Egypt’s major source of electricity includes coal (2.4%), Oil (36.9%) and natural gas (55.1%). About 100% of its population enjoys access to electricity nationwide.
3. Morocco
Morocco is one of the most electrified nations in Africa with 100% of its rural and urban inhabitants having access to electricity.
4. Tunisia
Tunisia provides electricity to 100% of its rural and urban populace meeting all of its domestic consumption needs. The majority of its electricity comes from natural gas and plans to invest long-term in renewable energy.
5. Algeria
Algeria has an overall electricity access rating of 99.8%. 99.6% in rural areas and 99.9% in urban areas. The country's major source of electricity is natural gas (96%), with the remaining 4% coming from a mix of hydropower, wind, solar, and oil.
6. Gabon
Gabon’s power access rate stands at 91.6% while the percentage of people in rural areas with good electricity access is recorded as 27.8% and 98.6% in urban areas.
7. Ghana
The majority of Ghana’s electricity is sourced from gas, thermal energy, and hydropower. The nation's electricity access rate stands at 85%, with 74% in rural regions getting access and 94% in urban areas.
8. South Africa
South Africa’s main energy source is currently coal, with 84.4% of the country’s population having access to electricity — 75.3% in rural areas and 88.8% in urban areas.
9. Botswana
Botswana’s overall power access rate is 72%. 90.7% of urban areas and 26.4% of rural area dwellers have access to electricity.
10. Kenya
Kenya’s electricity access rate is recorded at 71% making it the highest national power access rate in East Africa. 62.7 % of the population living in rural regions and 94% in urban areas have access to electricity.