Sierra Leone’s electricity consumption was just 25 kWh per person in 2023, compared with a global average of 3,794 kWh—less than 1% of the global level, or roughly 150 times lower. Low-carbon electricity generation was about 24 kWh per person, indicating that clean electricity plays a major role relative to this very small electricity supply. The figures provided do not separately quantify fossil-fuel electricity or electricity trade, so an exact consumption mix cannot be established. Such limited electricity availability can constrain healthcare, education, refrigeration, communications and business activity, while leaving little capacity for growing industrial and digital demand.

Is Electricity Growing in Sierra Leone?

The latest figures do not show Sierra Leone reaching new electricity highs. Consumption in 2023 was 11 kWh per person below the 2018 record of 36 kWh—roughly a 30% decline from that peak. Low-carbon generation was also slightly below its previous record: 24 kWh per person, compared with 25 kWh in 2019, a drop of about 4%. These comparisons do not establish whether electricity increased or decreased in the latest year alone, but they show a worrying failure to surpass earlier achievements. Sierra Leone needs sustained growth in clean electricity to improve access and support electrification and economic development.

Suggestions

Sierra Leone could prioritize solar installations alongside stronger grids, battery storage and local mini-grids to bring more clean electricity to households and businesses. Relevant examples include South Africa, with 20 TWh of solar generation, and India, with 205 TWh: their experience can inform procurement, workforce training and deployment at a scale appropriate to Sierra Leone. South Africa also generates 12 TWh each from wind and nuclear, demonstrating several complementary low-carbon options. Sierra Leone could assess wind resources and consider nuclear electricity as a longer-term option through regional cooperation, institutional development and international partnerships. France’s 376 TWh of nuclear generation offers another example of nuclear’s substantial contribution to clean electricity. These regional totals illustrate possibilities rather than directly comparable performance, given differences in population and electricity-system size.

History

The supplied history shows very limited recorded growth in Sierra Leone’s low-carbon electricity generation. During the listed years of the 2000s, hydropower recorded no change at the precision shown. The standout increase came in 2010, when hydro generation rose by 0.1 TWh, equivalent to about 100 million kWh. From 2011 through 2019, the listed annual hydro changes were again zero. Solar likewise recorded no change at the reported precision in 2017 and 2023; this does not necessarily mean there was no solar generation. Overall, the record points to one notable hydro expansion followed by prolonged stagnation—a clear reason to accelerate new solar and other clean electricity investment.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade