Reports, Case Studies & Assessments

Tracking SDG7: Access to Clean Fuels and Technologies for Cooking

Published
2025
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  • Global trend. In 2023, an estimated 74 (70–77)7 percent of the global population relied primarily on clean cooking fuels and technologies. Although this represents notable progress since 2010, roughly a quarter of the world’s population—around 2.1 (1.9–2.5) billion people—remains dependent on polluting fuels and technologies for cooking.
  • Target for 2030. At current rates, only 78 (74–81) percent of the global population will have access to clean cooking by 2030. This shortfall would leave nearly 1.8 (1.6–2.2) billion people still without clean cooking solutions. Sub-Saharan Africa is projected to account for the largest portion of this gap, underscoring the urgent need for more targeted interventions in the region.
  • Regional highlights. Access deficits have continued to shrink in Eastern Asia and South-eastern Asia, as well as in Central Asia and Southern Asia—thanks largely to policy measures and rising incomes. However, in SubSaharan Africa, the number of people lacking access is still growing at a level of 14 million people yearly, with gains in access overshadowed by rapid population growth.
  • The urban-rural divide. Access rates in urban areas remain significantly higher than in rural areas. Urban access is around 89 (85–90) percent globally, while rural access is closer to 55 (50–60) percent. Sub-Saharan Africa continues to show a notably wider gap between urban and rural access, with 42 (37-46) percent of the urban population having access compared to just 7 (5-8) percent in rural areas, a difference of 35 percentage points. These lower access levels in Sub-Saharan Africa influence the global averages considerably. If excluded, the global access rate would increase to 95 (91-96) percent in urban areas and 67 (61-73) percent in rural areas.
  • The 20 countries with the largest access deficits. Collectively, the “top 20” account for more than 70 percent of people without clean cooking globally, including several countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia. Many have seen only marginal progress over the last decade and require urgent policy and financing support to meet global goals.
  • Global and regional fuel trends. In 2023, the dominant cooking fuels in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) were liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), natural gas, and electricity. Solid biomass, such as wood, dung, and agricultural residues, remains significant in rural and peri-urban areas. Meanwhile, coal and kerosene use has shrunk and now accounts for less than 1 percent globally.
  • Clean cooking and equity. The lack of access to clean cooking affects the poor and vulnerable disproportionately. Wealthier households consistently have greater access, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. The lack of access places a particularly heavy burden on women and girls, who spend hours collecting fuel and cooking on inefficient stoves, exposing them to household air pollution and limiting their educational and economic opportunities.
  • Policy insights. Urgent action is needed to achieve universal access to clean cooking by 2030. Governments and stakeholders across sectors must scale up investments, prioritize vulnerable populations, and integrate clean cooking into broader energy access efforts to ensure a just and inclusive energy transition that maximize health, equity, and climate benefits

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