Access to electricity (% of population)

Definition

Access to electricity is the percentage of population with access to electricity. Electrification data are collected from industry, national surveys and international sources.

Methodology for Energy indicators

Energy indicators come from the IEA, national energy ministries, and utility-level reporting. Conventions vary between primary energy supply, final consumption, and electricity generation, so always check the unit and what stage of the energy chain is being measured. Renewable-energy shares can swing depending on whether traditional biomass (firewood, charcoal) is counted as renewable.

How to interpret

• Always check the unit and reporting year before comparing values across countries.
• NULL or "Not available" means the World Bank did not publish a value — we never estimate.
• Year-over-year changes can be driven by methodology updates, not just real economic shifts.