Hydro share of electricity — all countries

Hydro share of electricity — Sub-Saharan Africa

Hydro share of electricity in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2024 — 28.28%. Since 1990, the indicator has risen by 8.77 pp.

2024 28.28% −1.2 pp vs 2023
World rank
Period maximum 29.47%2023
Period minimum 17.91%1997

Trend over time

1990–2024 · % of generation

Hydro share of electricity — Sub-Saharan Africa, 1990–20241520253019901994199820022006201020142018202220241990: 19.5%1991: 21.01%1992: 19.85%1993: 18.91%1994: 18.44%1995: 18.45%1996: 18.09%1997: 17.91%1998: 18.82%1999: 19.79%2000: 20.86%2001: 21.91%2002: 22.07%2003: 20.89%2004: 21.23%2005: 21.39%2006: 21.41%2007: 20.73%2008: 21.52%2009: 22.52%2010: 23.44%2011: 23.35%2012: 23.82%2013: 24.02%2014: 24.52%2015: 23.64%2016: 23.06%2017: 24.53%2018: 25.86%2019: 26.45%2020: 28.1%2021: 28.26%2022: 28.67%2023: 29.47%2024: 28.28%
Change over the period: +8.77 pp Annual average: 0.26 pp

Comparison, 2024

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa 28.28%
World 16.12%
Hydro share of electricity — Sub-Saharan Africa, by year Sub-Saharan Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 28.28 −1.2 pp
2023 29.47 +0.8 pp
2022 28.67 +0.41 pp
2021 28.26 +0.15 pp
2020 28.1 +1.65 pp
2019 26.45 +0.59 pp
2018 25.86 +1.33 pp
2017 24.53 +1.47 pp
2016 23.06 −0.59 pp
2015 23.64 −0.88 pp
2014 24.52 +0.51 pp
2013 24.02 +0.19 pp
2012 23.82 +0.48 pp
2011 23.35 −0.1 pp
2010 23.44 +0.92 pp
2009 22.52 +1 pp
2008 21.52 +0.8 pp
2007 20.73 −0.68 pp
2006 21.41 +0.01 pp
2005 21.39 +0.16 pp
2004 21.23 +0.34 pp
2003 20.89 −1.18 pp
2002 22.07 +0.16 pp
2001 21.91 +1.05 pp
2000 20.86 +1.07 pp
1999 19.79 +0.97 pp
1998 18.82 +0.92 pp
1997 17.91 −0.18 pp
1996 18.09 −0.36 pp
1995 18.45 +0.01 pp
1994 18.44 −0.47 pp
1993 18.91 −0.94 pp
1992 19.85 −1.16 pp
1991 21.01 +1.5 pp
1990 19.5

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.