Hydro share of electricity — all countries

Hydro share of electricity — Low-income countries

Hydro share of electricity in low-income countries in 2021 — 59.9%. Since 2000, the indicator has risen by 11.61 pp.

2021 59.9% +1.48 pp vs 2020
World rank
Period maximum 59.9%2021
Period minimum 43.16%2009

Trend over time

2000–2021 · % of generation

Hydro share of electricity — Low-income countries, 2000–20214045505560200020032006200920122015201820212000: 48.28%2001: 49.15%2002: 48.2%2003: 46.76%2004: 48.36%2005: 47.81%2006: 46.46%2007: 46.82%2008: 44.13%2009: 43.16%2010: 45.86%2011: 49.27%2012: 52.8%2013: 57.06%2014: 59.42%2015: 57.45%2016: 56.4%2017: 55.99%2018: 54.84%2019: 55.59%2020: 58.42%2021: 59.9%
Change over the period: +11.61 pp Annual average: 0.55 pp

Comparison, 2021

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Low-income countries

Low-income countries 59.9%
World 15.41%
Hydro share of electricity — Low-income countries, by year Low-income countries All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2021 59.9 +1.48 pp
2020 58.42 +2.83 pp
2019 55.59 +0.75 pp
2018 54.84 −1.15 pp
2017 55.99 −0.41 pp
2016 56.4 −1.05 pp
2015 57.45 −1.97 pp
2014 59.42 +2.36 pp
2013 57.06 +4.26 pp
2012 52.8 +3.53 pp
2011 49.27 +3.41 pp
2010 45.86 +2.7 pp
2009 43.16 −0.97 pp
2008 44.13 −2.69 pp
2007 46.82 +0.36 pp
2006 46.46 −1.34 pp
2005 47.81 −0.56 pp
2004 48.36 +1.6 pp
2003 46.76 −1.44 pp
2002 48.2 −0.95 pp
2001 49.15 +0.86 pp
2000 48.28

About the indicator

The share of electricity generated at hydroelectric plants. The oldest of the renewable sources and still the largest: hydro yields more electricity than solar and wind together. The share is set by terrain and water availability rather than by policy, so in a number of countries it exceeds ninety percent — and that makes them vulnerable to drought: in a dry year such a country has to burn fuel or buy electricity.

Important: Aggregates are weighted by generation in terawatt-hours and computed from 2000 onward. The series swings noticeably from year to year with water availability, and that is not a data error.

Source: World Development Indicators (World Bank), license CC BY 4.0.