Countries without Electricity 2025

Most people in the world take access to electricity for granted. But in many countries, only a small fraction of residents has access to electricity. The greatest need for electricity access is in sub-Saharan Africa, which is home to nine of the top 10 countries with the most scarce access to electricity.

Top 10 Countries with the Least Access to Electricity

1. South Sudan: 8.4% of population

With the world’s smallest percentage of population having access to electricity, South Sudan’s overall infrastructure has suffered from decades of war and neglect. The government hopes to attract foreign investors to improve infrastructure.

2. Burundi: 10.3% of population

Nearly all Burundi citizens live in rural areas without electricity. Those with access to the hydroelectrically generated power supply suffer daily power outages during the dry season. Biomass consumption meets most of the country’s energy needs, with alternative power from solar and wind energy.

3. Chad: 11.7% of population

Most of Chad’s population lives in rural areas without the needed infrastructure to supply power, primarily from geothermal plants.

4. Malawi: 14% of population

Malawi’s lack of electricity is related to a shortage of infrastructure for rural areas. The government received an $85 million loan from the World Bank to add additional hydropower stations, along with stations powered by wind, solar and biogas.

5. Central African Republic: 15.7% of population

The main cause for electricity shortage here has been a string of frequent rebellions and military coups, which have caused numerous economic crises. About half of the country relies on humanitarian assistance.

6. Papua New Guinea: 19% of population

In Papua New Guinea, access to electricity remains a daily challenge for much of the population, especially in remote rural areas where fewer than one in five households are connected to the grid. The country’s rugged terrain and limited infrastructure have slowed progress, leaving many communities reliant on expensive diesel power or living entirely without reliable energy.

7. Niger: 19.5% of population

Niger has difficulty supplying electricity to residents, many who live in rural areas. As in many other parts of Africa, biomass is the most widely used energy source.

8. Burkina Faso: 19.5% of population

Burkina Faso has used a $50 million line of credit from the World Bank to assist in electricity supply development, including improving power supplies with new transmission lines. The goal is to establish a more reliable power grid.

9. Democratic Republic of Congo: 21.5% of population

With petroleum, natural gas, coal, and the potential for hydroelectric power, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has resources for electricity. But developing the necessary infrastructure is limited by ongoing political uncertainties that discourage investment.

10. Sierra Leone: 29.4% of population

Sierra Leone received a $40 million line of credit to expand electricity available to its rural areas. The project will develop a viable management structure to improve electricity distribution in the country.