The 655 million people who still live without electricity underscore the urgent need to achieve the goal of universal access to energy

At a time when energy security and affordability have risen to the top of the development agenda, 655 million people in the world still do not have access to electricity, and two billion use polluting fuels and cooking technologies, endangering their health and well-being. Sub-Saharan Africa bears a disproportionate share of these gaps, with more than 560 million living without electricity and 970 million lacking access to clean cooking.

Latest edition Monitoring SDG 7: Energy Progress Reportwith new data for 2023 and 2024, shows that most regions are moving closer to universal access, but that progress in sub-Saharan Africa has slowed considerably, and the pace of electrification must triple to achieve universal access by 2030. Despite these challenges, the report highlights encouraging progress in several areas of sustainable energy. Renewable energy continued its strong expansion, accounting for more than 30 percent of global electricity consumption; while the renewable energy production capacity reached a global record of 544 watts (enough to power a refrigerator) per person. International public financial flows supporting clean energy in developing countries rose slightly to $24.6 billion; and improvements in global energy efficiency continued to reach 3.76 megajoules per US dollar, although this remains an insufficient pace to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 7.

However, the report warns that without urgent and increased action, the world will fail to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 7 to ensure universal access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy by 2030. Moreover, while the current global energy crisis is still unfolding, its impact on energy markets and the wider economy is expected to be significant.

In this context, the acceleration of the domestic application of renewable energy is increasingly considered crucial both for strengthening energy security and affordability and for advancing long-term climate and development goals. Distributed renewable energy solutions, including off-grid solar and mini-grids, are a cost-effective solution to access electricity, already serving hundreds of millions of people. Electric cooking, bioethanol and biogas are also gaining traction as scalable renewable energy cooking solutions, helping to further diversify clean cooking methods.

Affordability remains a major barrier to expanding access to electricity. Even where infrastructure is available, many households cannot afford connection fees, wiring costs or basic energy services. As countries work to reach the remaining unelectrified population, targeted subsidies, innovative financing mechanisms and cheapest electrification solutions will be key to ensure that no one is left behind.

Financial constraints are holding back progress, and levels are either insufficient to meet SDG 7 targets or are in complete decline in the poorest countries. International financial flows of clean energy support to least developed countries decreased significantly, recording $3.7 billion in 2024, an 11 percent decrease from 2023.

Stronger political leadership, improved cross-sectoral coordination and a strategic focus on countries and communities most at risk of being left behind remain cross-sectoral priorities until 2030. Clear policy signals and sustainable implementation are fundamental to diversifying the national energy mix, increasing renewable energy, reducing dependence on fossil fuel imports and strengthening macroeconomic resilience to global supply chain disruptions.

Key findings in primary indicators:

• Access to electricity. Despite the gains, progress is still too slow. In 2024, the global access rate stagnated at 92 percent, and annual growth was halved compared to the previous decade. Sub-Saharan Africa and rural populations are falling further behind, with the rural deficit in sub-Saharan Africa rising from 376 million in 2010 to 447 million in 2024. Achieving universal access by 2030 will now require the pace of progress to triple to 1.3 percent per year.
• Access to clean fuels and cooking technologies. This remains the largest energy gap, affecting approximately two billion people—roughly one-quarter of the world’s population. Progress is uneven, with a stark divide between urban and rural areas: 89 percent of urban residents have access to clean cooking compared to just 56 percent of people living in rural areas. Without stronger action, 1.8 billion people could still rely on polluting fuels such as charcoal, wood, kerosene and coal by 2030. Sub-Saharan Africa again accounts for a disproportionate share, with the number of people without access expected to reach one billion by 2027. This has serious health consequences, with household air pollution responsible for around 3 million deaths a year.
• Renewable energy. Renewable sources now provide more than 30 percent of electricity, but their share in heat and transport remains limited. Despite the record growth, there are still differences in the capacities for the production of renewable energy; renewable energy production capacity in low-income countries was only 33.6 watts per person, compared to 1,224 watts per person in high-income countries.
• Energy efficiency. Progress is lagging behind the pace needed to achieve the global goals, with the rate of progress falling from 2.4 percent in 2022 to 1.5 percent in 2023. Recent improvements in energy intensity remain well below the level needed to align with SDG 7, highlighting the widening gap between ambition and implementation. Strengthening efficiency measures in all sectors is essential not only to reduce energy demand, but also to reduce costs and emissions.
• International public financial flows to developing countries in support of clean energy. The latest data reveal limited growth, falling short of needs, with flows increasing slightly from USD 24.4 billion in 2023 to USD 24.6 billion in 2024. Despite high debt costs creating economic pressure in developing countries, debt-based financing remains the main form of international public clean energy financing, accounting for about 80 percent of total flows in 2024. Grants account for 13 percent, while equity financing capital and risk guarantees remained relatively marginal at 2 percent and 5 percent, respectively.

The report will be presented to decision-makers at a special launch event on 8 July 2026, following an in-depth review of SDG 7 at high-level political forum on sustainable development in New York, which monitors progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

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