Access to Electricity - SDG7 Data and Projections

Despite the ongoing impact of the energy crisis and Covid-19 pandemic, progress on access to electricity started again in 2023.

The number of people worldwide lacking access to electricity in 2023 declined to 750 million people, about 10 million less than in 2022, which was the first year in decades showing a global reversal in progress. The 2023 progress was mainly driven by renewed grid expansions and the adoption of SHS in sub-Saharan Africa, where 80% of people without access to electricity live today. Additionally, countries in developing Asia also saw significant progress, for instance Bangladesh, which achieved universal access last year. Recent IEA data and analysis suggest that this progress will continue in 2024, even if still slower than pre-pandemic levels.