Zambia — Electricity access
Access to Electricity (% of Population) for Zambia, 1990–2024.
Electricity access for Zambia was 53.60% in 2024, according to the latest World Bank data. The series covers 35 years, from 1990 to 2024. The latest year is also the highest value on record for this series. The lowest was 12.75% in 1991 (about 4.2× the low point). Across that span the compound annual growth rate works out to 4.05% per year.
Zambia ranks 197 of 215 economies on this measure (1 = highest), putting it in the top 92%. The median for Sub-Saharan Africa is 59.00%, so Zambia sits below it. Over the last decade (2014–2024) the figure moved up 92%. Within Sub-Saharan Africa it ranks 31 of 48 economies; Congo, Rep. (53.00%) is just below it. Its sharpest one-year move was up 51% in 1992. That is 28% above this series' own ten-year average.
Data highlights
From its 1990 level: doubled by 2011. Doubling roughly every 17 years at that pace.
World ranking. Slipped: 97th of 97 in 1990 → 188th of 211 in 2000 → 196th of 215 in 2010 → 198th of 215 in 2020 → 197th of 215 in 2024.
Key figures
Full history — 1990 to 2024
| Year | % of population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 53.6% | +2.5 pp |
| 2023 | 51.1% | +3.3 pp |
| 2022 | 47.8% | +1.1 pp |
| 2021 | 46.7% | +2.1 pp |
| 2020 | 44.6% | +1.6 pp |
| 2019 | 43% | +2.8 pp |
| 2018 | 40.2% | -0.1 pp |
| 2017 | 40.3% | +4.9 pp |
| 2016 | 35.4% | +4.3 pp |
| 2015 | 31.1% | +3.2 pp |
| 2014 | 27.9% | -2.2 pp |
| 2013 | 30.1% | +0.9 pp |
| 2012 | 29.2% | +0.9 pp |
| 2011 | 28.3% | +6.3 pp |
| 2010 | 22% | -4.6 pp |
| 2009 | 26.6% | +0.9 pp |
| 2008 | 25.7% | +7.2 pp |
| 2007 | 18.5% | -5.6 pp |
| 2006 | 24.1% | +0.8 pp |
| 2005 | 23.3% | +3.0 pp |
| 2004 | 20.3% | +1.8 pp |
| 2003 | 18.5% | +1.1 pp |
| 2002 | 17.4% | -2.8 pp |
| 2001 | 20.2% | +3.5 pp |
| 2000 | 16.7% | -1.8 pp |
| 1999 | 18.54% | -0.5 pp |
| 1998 | 19% | +1.9 pp |
| 1997 | 17.11% | -0.2 pp |
| 1996 | 17.3% | +1.6 pp |
| 1995 | 15.67% | +0.7 pp |
| 1994 | 14.94% | +0.7 pp |
| 1993 | 14.21% | -5.0 pp |
| 1992 | 19.2% | +6.4 pp |
| 1991 | 12.75% | -1.1 pp |
| 1990 | 13.9% | — |
Frequently asked questions
What was Zambia’s Electricity access in 1991?
12.75% (1991). The full year-by-year table above lists every published year, most recent first.
Are changes in this series measured in percentage points?
Yes. The series is a share expressed in % of population, so year-over-year movements in the Change column are percentage points (pp), not percent.
Is Zambia’s Electricity access growing or shrinking?
Between 1990 and 2024 the series was growing overall: +285.6% in total — about 4.0% a year compounded.
Where does this data come from?
World Bank Open Data (CC BY-4.0), indicator EG.ELC.ACCS.ZS. Values are reproduced as published; this page only computes summary statistics such as change, CAGR and extremes.
What are the most recent published figures?
The last five published years: 2024: 53.6%; 2023: 51.1%; 2022: 47.8%; 2021: 46.7%; 2020: 44.6%. Earlier years are in the full-history table below.
Related data
EG.ELC.ACCS.ZS — Access to Electricity (% of Population). Data licensed under CC BY 4.0. Values are reproduced as published; this page computes the summary statistics (change, CAGR, extremes) from the underlying annual series. View the original dataset on data.worldbank.org.