In 2023, electricity consumption in Gambia was about 190 kWh per person, just 5% of the global average of 3,794 kWh per person—roughly one-twentieth as much. Reported domestic low-carbon electricity generation was zero per person. However, no breakdown of fossil-fuel generation or imported electricity is provided, so the fossil and low-carbon shares of consumption cannot be established. Such low electricity availability can constrain healthcare, education, refrigeration and business activity, while limiting opportunities to electrify transport and other services.

Is Electricity Growing in Gambia?

Gambia’s latest figures do not show sustained electricity growth: consumption in 2023 was 5 kWh per person below the record of 194 kWh reached in 2021, a decline of about 3%. This comparison does not establish whether consumption fell specifically between 2022 and 2023, but it shows that the earlier peak had not been regained. Low-carbon generation also remained at its reported record of zero kWh per person, unchanged from 2000. This stagnation is concerning because expanding clean electricity is essential for improving living standards and meeting future demand.

Suggestions

Gambia should prioritize expanding solar electricity through grid-connected projects, rooftop installations and local mini-grids, supported by storage and stronger electricity networks. Relevant examples include South Africa, with about 20 TWh of solar generation, and sunny Pakistan, with about 41 TWh; their experience offers lessons in developing solar markets, although their electricity systems are much larger. South Africa also demonstrates a diversified low-carbon approach, generating about 12 TWh each from wind and nuclear. Gambia could assess suitable wind locations and explore nuclear electricity through long-term planning and regional cooperation, drawing on South Africa’s operating experience. Together, solar and dependable nuclear generation could support growing electricity supplies while reducing reliance on fossil fuels and their climate and air-pollution impacts.

History

The supplied historical summary indicates that reported low-carbon generation per person remained at zero in both the record year of 2000 and in 2023, showing no measurable progress between those benchmarks. However, the promised year-by-year changes in generation were not included, so specific historical projects, periods of growth or declines cannot be described reliably. The available figures therefore point to a need to move beyond this prolonged absence of recorded low-carbon generation and establish a growing clean electricity supply.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade