List Of African Countries With Highest Electricity Connection

List Of African Countries With Highest Electricity Connection

  • Africa still has a low electrification rate of 45%, according to the International Energy Agency, whereas Asian nations have a higher rate of 94%
  • Cape Verde has the highest household electricity prices in Africa, followed by Rwanda, Mali, Burkina Faso and Gabon
  • Mauritius and North African countries have the highest electricity connection rates in Africa, with 100% power supply

Reliable power access is a key factor in the expansion and development of the economy.

Kenya Power engineers at work.
Kenya is one of the African countries with the highest electricity access. Photo: Kenya Power.
Source: UGC

Many African countries have improved their electrical infrastructure, giving their citizens access to stable power supply.

The International Energy Agency reported that Africa still has a low electrification rate of 45%, while Asian countries have a higher rate of 94%.

Which African countries have the most expensive power?

According to Statista, Cape Verde has the highest household electricity prices in Africa. As of June 2023, a kilowatt-hour costs roughly $0.31 (KSh 41.35).

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After Cape Verde, households in Rwanda and Mali paid $0.23 (KSh 30.68) and $0.22 (KSh 29.35) per kilowatt hour, respectively.

Burkina Faso, Gabon, and Kenya were also reported to have the highest electricity prices in the continent.

Which African countries have the highest electricity access?

1 Mauritius - 100%

Business Day noted Mauritius is one of Africa's best performers, with all its citizens having electricity access.

The nation has made significant investments in renewable energy sources, including wind and solar power, to reduce its dependency on fossil fuels and provide a more sustainable power supply.

2. Egypt - 100%

In Egypt, all urban and rural citizens have access to electricity on a national level.

Most of Egypt's electricity is produced by thermal and hydroelectric plants, making the country a pioneer in the renewable energy sector.

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The country plans to export power to Europe, the Middle East, and Sub-Saharan Africa.

3. Morocco - 100%

Having 100% of its rural and urban population connected to the electrical grid, Morocco is among the most electrified countries in Africa.

The North African country is making progress towards increasing the share of renewable energy sources in the energy mix to 52% by 2030, mainly from solar and wind power.

4. Tunisia - 100%

Tunisia meets all of its domestic power consumption needs with 100% national electricity availability for both rural and urban areas.

The majority of the country's electricity is obtained from natural gas, although long-term investments in renewable energy are planned, with a target share of 30% by 2023.

5. Algeria - 99.8%

Algeria is one of the most electrified countries in Africa, with a nationwide power availability rating of 99.8%, 99.6% in rural areas, and 99.9% in urban areas.

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Natural gas accounts for 96% of the country's installed capacity. The remaining 4% is provided by a combination of hydropower, wind, solar, and oil.

6. Gabon - 91.6%

Over 91% of Gabon's population has access to power. However, the rate in rural areas stands at 27.8%, while 98.6% of people in urban areas have access to electricity.

Under the Gabon Emergent Policy, the Central African country plans to use a sustainable energy mix of biomass, natural gas, and hydropower to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and improve rural residents' access to electricity.

7. Ghana - 85.9%

The main sources of energy in Ghana are hydropower, gas, and thermal energy.

Currently, 85.9% of the country's population has access to electricity, with 94% of access occurring in urban areas and 74% in rural areas.

8. South Africa - 84.4%

Coal provides the majority of the energy used in South Africa. Over 84 of the population has access to power, with 75.3% reported in rural regions and 88.8% in urban areas.

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South Africa has been facing frequent power blackouts.

In order to reduce its reliance on coal and improve access, the country is expanding research and development in renewable energy sources and trying to diversify its energy sources.

9. Botswana - 72%

With 90.7% of urban areas and 26.4% of rural areas having access to electricity, the country's overall power access rate is 72%.

The country is utilising its abundant wind and solar energy resources to accomplish its ambitious 2030 objective of having power available to all citizens.

10. Kenya - 71.4%

Kenya boasts the highest national electricity access rate in East Africa. Kenya's energy mix consists of geothermal, wind, solar, hydropower, and biomass energy.

At least 94% of urban residents have access to electricity, while rural connections are at 62.7%.

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Source: TUKO.co.ke

Authors:
Berlinda Entsie avatar

Berlinda Entsie (Copy Editor) Berlinda Entsie is a Copy Editor at YEN.com.gh. She has worked as a proofreader and editor since 2016. Berlinda has over 5 years' experience editing and writing for leading publications in Ghana. She previously worked with Graphic Communications Group LTD, Business Insider SSA and Pulse.com.gh. She obtained a B.A in English Studies from the Methodist University College in 2016 and a Diploma in Broadcast Journalism from the GH Media School in 2019. Reach out to her via berlinda.entsie@yen.com.gh

Peter Ansah avatar

Peter Ansah (Entertainment Editor) Ansah Peter is an entertainment editor who joined YEN.com.gh in September 2023. He studied Development Planning at KNUST, graduating in 2018. His professional career in entertainment journalism dates eight years back as a showbiz and arts blogger for the now-defunct motionhypegh.net, continuing to Muse Media Networks, acting as the editorial manager for the network's flagship multimedia platforms. He has also managed several PR roles with top clients, including Morgan Heritage. In 2024, Peter completed Google News Initiative courses in Advanced Digital Reporting and Fighting Misinformation