According to the World Bank’s 2025 Energy Progress Report, Nigeria has the largest number of people without electricity access globally, with an estimated 86.8 million people lacking power in 2023. This is the third consecutive year Nigeria has held this position. The report highlights a regional crisis, as Sub-Saharan Africa now hosts 85% of the global population living without electricity.
- 86.8 million Nigerians lacked electricity access in 2023.
- Only 61% of Nigerians had access to electricity, with 26% having access to clean cooking energy.
- Nigeria, the DRC, and Ethiopia collectively account for a third of global electricity poverty.
- Sub-Saharan Africa’s access deficit fell by just 5 million people despite regional growth.
When Power Fails, Progress Pauses
Electricity is more than energy; it’s opportunity, education, health, and dignity. What does it mean when the light never comes? As 2030 approaches, the SDG7 target of universal energy access fades for millions.
