In 2023, Yemen’s electricity consumption was just 78 kWh per person, around 2% of the global average of 3,794 kWh per person—roughly one-fiftieth as much. Fossil fuels dominated the electricity mix, supplying 2.55 TWh, or approximately five-sixths of the total. Low-carbon electricity supplied the remaining roughly one-sixth, equivalent to 13 kWh per person. Such limited electricity availability can constrain healthcare, water pumping, refrigeration, education and business activity. Increasing clean electricity generation would help improve living standards and support economic development while reducing dependence on fossil fuels, which contribute to climate change and air pollution.

Is Electricity Growing in Yemen?

Electricity consumption in Yemen has fallen sharply rather than grown. The 2023 figure of 78 kWh per person was 212 kWh below the historic peak of 290 kWh in 2013—a decline of about 73%. Low-carbon electricity has also shown little recent progress: its latest level of 13 kWh per person remained close to, but below, the 2019 record of 14 kWh. The supplied change is reported as zero, although the rounded levels indicate a small difference of around 1 kWh per person. This prolonged stagnation in clean electricity, alongside the much larger decline in overall electricity consumption, is concerning given the need to expand reliable electricity access.

Suggestions

Yemen should build on its existing solar generation by expanding rooftop systems, community installations and larger solar projects, supported by storage and stronger electricity networks. Solar already provides a meaningful share of Yemen’s limited electricity supply, making it a practical foundation for growth. Relevant examples include the United Arab Emirates, with 14 TWh of solar electricity, and Pakistan, with 41 TWh; their experience offers lessons for deploying solar in sunny climates. Yemen could also assess wind resources to complement solar. For longer-term diversification, it should consider nuclear electricity as part of planning for a much larger electricity system, learning from the United Arab Emirates’ 32 TWh of nuclear generation and Pakistan’s 22 TWh. Developing the necessary institutions, skills and grid infrastructure would support that pathway.

History

Yemen’s recorded low-carbon electricity history is primarily a story of two solar expansion steps followed by stagnation. From 2008 through 2014, the data show no annual increase in solar generation. Output then rose by about 0.1 TWh in 2015, followed by no recorded change in 2016 or 2017. A larger increase of around 0.3 TWh came in 2018. From 2019 through 2023, the series again shows no annual increases at the reported precision. These gains established a useful clean electricity base, but the subsequent lack of growth underscores the importance of restarting solar expansion and building a broader low-carbon electricity supply.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade