In 2022, fossil fuels supplied more than 60% of electricity consumed in Sub-Saharan Africa, while low-carbon sources provided about 38%. Coal dominated at roughly 41%, followed by gas at 14%. Hydropower was the largest clean electricity source, supplying almost 29% of electricity. Solar contributed about 3%, wind another 3%, nuclear about 2%, and geothermal about 1%. This mix leaves considerable scope to expand clean electricity and reduce reliance on fossil fuels, which contribute to climate change and air pollution.

Is Electricity Growing in Sub-Saharan Africa?

The picture of electricity growth is mixed. Electricity consumption reached 418 kWh per person in 2022, about 7% below the historic peak of 450 kWh in 2012—a worrying shortfall of 32 kWh per person. These figures do not establish whether total regional consumption declined, but they show that electricity available per person remained below its previous high. Encouragingly, low-carbon electricity generation reached a new record of 158 kWh per person, exceeding the 2021 record by 6 kWh, or about 4%. Faster clean electricity growth is needed to raise consumption per person and support electrification, economic development, and emerging demand, including AI.

Suggestions

Sub-Saharan Africa can accelerate progress by expanding solar and nuclear electricity alongside wind and its existing hydropower base. Nearby examples offer useful lessons: Somalia obtains about 17% of its electricity from solar, while Cape Verde gets roughly 14% each from solar and wind, and Morocco generates about 20% from wind. These examples support investment in solar deployment, suitable wind sites, stronger grids, and regional electricity trading. Pakistan, with about 24% solar and 13% nuclear electricity, illustrates the contribution both technologies can make. France, where nuclear supplies roughly two-thirds of electricity, offers lessons in building a substantial nuclear fleet. Countries across Sub-Saharan Africa should consider building or expanding solar and nuclear capacity, supported by long-term planning, workforce development, and financing.

History

From 2013 to 2022, hydropower drove much of the recorded growth in low-carbon electricity. Annual gains ranged from about 4 to 8 TWh in most listed years, interrupted by a roughly 2 TWh decline in 2015; the largest increase was just over 8 TWh in 2022. Other clean sources broadened this progress: geothermal added about 2 TWh in 2014, while wind added almost 2 TWh in 2015 and more than 3 TWh in 2021. Solar growth strengthened from almost 3 TWh in 2021 to almost 5 TWh in 2022. Nuclear recorded gains of roughly 2–3 TWh in 2013, 2016, and 2021, but disappointing reversals in 2018, 2020, and 2022 interrupted that progress. Sustaining nuclear output while accelerating new solar and other clean generation would help turn these uneven gains into stronger, lasting electricity growth.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade