Somalia’s electricity consumption in 2023 was just 23 kWh per person, compared with a global average of 3,853 kWh per person—less than 1% of that benchmark, or about one-sixth of one percent? No: roughly 0.6%, making the global average around 170 times higher. Low-carbon electricity generation amounted to about 4 kWh per person, equivalent to roughly a sixth of consumption, with fossil electricity accounting for the large majority of the supply. Such limited electricity availability can constrain healthcare, education, refrigeration, water pumping and business development. Expanding clean electricity would help improve living standards while reducing reliance on fossil fuels and their associated air pollution and climate impacts.

Is Electricity Growing in Somalia?

The latest figures do not show Somalia setting new records for electricity consumption per person. At 23 kWh per person in 2023, consumption was 22 kWh below the historic high of 45 kWh reached in 1993—almost half below that record. Low-carbon generation also showed no increase over its previous record: its 2023 level of 4 kWh per person matched 2022. These comparisons indicate a substantial shortfall relative to past total consumption and stagnation in clean electricity per person, although they do not establish whether total nationwide electricity generation increased or decreased.

Suggestions

Somalia should prioritize expanding its existing solar generation, building on an established clean electricity source through rooftop installations, solar mini-grids and larger projects supported by storage and stronger distribution networks. Sunny regions offer useful examples: the United Arab Emirates generates about 14 TWh of solar electricity, while Pakistan generates about 19 TWh. Their experience can inform project procurement, workforce training and grid development, rather than serving as immediate targets for Somalia’s much smaller electricity system. Wind could complement solar where local measurements identify suitable sites. Somalia should also consider nuclear electricity in its long-term development planning, learning from Pakistan’s approximately 25 TWh and the United Arab Emirates’ 32 TWh of nuclear generation, while developing the institutions, skills and electricity infrastructure needed for future deployment.

History

The supplied history shows little measurable movement in Somalia’s low-carbon electricity generation at the reported precision. Solar’s annual change was recorded as 0 TWh in 2016, and both solar and wind recorded changes of 0 TWh every year from 2017 through 2023. These rounded figures do not necessarily mean there were no installations or small increases; they mean that any changes were too small to appear in the supplied TWh figures. Overall, the record points to a prolonged period without substantial visible expansion, underscoring the need to accelerate solar and other clean electricity development.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade