Somalia’s electricity consumption in 2023 was just 23 kWh per person, compared with a global average of 3,794 kWh—less than 1% of the global level, or roughly 165 times lower. Low-carbon electricity generation amounted to about 4 kWh per person. The supplied figures do not give a complete generation mix, so they cannot establish exactly how much electricity came from fossil fuels rather than clean sources. Such extremely limited electricity availability can constrain healthcare, education, refrigeration, water pumping and business activity, while holding back electrification and economic development.

Is Electricity Growing in Somalia?

Somalia’s electricity consumption is far below its historical peak, although the supplied figures do not establish the latest year-on-year trend. Consumption of 23 kWh per person in 2023 was about half the record of 45 kWh reached in 1993—a decline of 22 kWh per person. Meanwhile, low-carbon generation remained at its 2022 record of about 4 kWh per person, with no increase in the reported figures. This long-term shortfall in electricity consumption and stagnation in clean generation are concerning: Somalia needs substantial growth in electricity supply to improve living standards and support future demand.

Suggestions

Somalia should prioritize expanding its existing solar generation through household systems, solar-powered public services and larger projects connected to stronger grids and mini-grids. Storage and grid investment would help make that clean electricity available when needed. Among relevant examples, sunny Pakistan generated 41 TWh from solar, while the United Arab Emirates generated 14 TWh; their experience offers useful lessons for deploying solar in hot climates. Somalia could also assess wind development, drawing on examples such as South Africa, with 12 TWh of wind generation. For longer-term diversification, Somalia should consider nuclear electricity through international cooperation, workforce training and institutional development. The United Arab Emirates, generating 32 TWh from nuclear, illustrates how solar and nuclear can contribute together to a growing low-carbon electricity supply. These examples demonstrate possibilities, not directly transferable targets for Somalia.

History

The reported history of Somalia’s low-carbon electricity shows no measurable annual increases at the precision provided. Solar recorded a change of 0 TWh in 2016, and both solar and wind recorded changes of 0 TWh each year from 2017 through 2023. These rounded figures do not mean that generation itself was zero, nor do they rule out small additions, but they provide no evidence of substantial expansion during that period. The priority now should be to turn Somalia’s existing clean-electricity base into sustained growth, particularly through faster solar deployment.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade