UN Report Says 655 Million People Worldwide Live Without Electricity Access

A total of 655 million people, or 8 percent of the global population, still live without access to electricity, with the majority located in Sub-Saharan Africa, according to a United Nations report released on Wednesday. The latest edition of “Tracking SDG 7: The Energy Progress Report” also found that 1.8 billion people currently use polluting fuels and technologies for cooking, endangering their health and well-being. Sub-Saharan Africa bears a disproportionate share of the gap, with over 560 million people lacking electricity and 970 million without access to clean cooking facilities. The report stated that the rate of electrification in the region must triple for universal access to be achieved by 2030. Despite these challenges, the report highlighted encouraging progress in some areas of sustainable energy, noting that renewable energy continues to expand robustly, accounting for more than 30 percent of global electricity consumption. However, it warned that without urgent and scaled-up action, the world will fail to meet the Sustainable Development Goal 7 targets of ensuring universal access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy by 2030. The report stressed that stronger political leadership, enhanced cross-sectoral coordination, and a strategic focus on the most vulnerable countries and communities remain priorities. It also emphasised that clear policy signals and sustained implementation are crucial to diversifying national energy mixes, expanding renewable energy use, reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels, and strengthening macroeconomic resilience against global supply chain disruptions. Li Junhua, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, said encouraging progress had been made in expanding access to affordable, reliable, and clean energy in recent years. However, he noted that the report shows millions still lack access, making it clear that progress is not on track with the ambition of Sustainable Development Goal 7 and that disparities between countries remain significant. He added that the current global energy crisis presents an opportunity to accelerate the transition to clean energy to support energy security, but seizing this opportunity will require significantly increased international support and investment.