Global Energy Access Improves, But Gaps Persist

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

A new report finds that nearly 92 percent of the world now has basic electricity access, yet significant disparities persist.

Tracking SDG 7: The Energy Progress Report 2025, released June 25, tracks progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 7 and highlights the need for targeted international financial support.

The report estimates that 666 million people remain without electricity in 2023 despite improvements since 2022, when access increased for the first time in a decade.

Clean cooking access has also improved—from 64 percent in 2015 to 74 percent in 2023—yet about 2.1 billion people remain reliant on polluting fuels, and few gains were made between 2022 and 2023.

The report emphasizes distributed renewable energy—off-grid and mini-grid systems—as essential for reaching rural, low-income, and fragile communities.

Nearly 1.5 billion rural dwellers lack access to clean cooking, and decentralized technologies such as household biogas and electric cooking mini-grids are highlighted as health-protecting alternatives.

International public financial flows for clean energy in developing countries reached US$21.6 billion in 2023, marking a third consecutive year of growth—yet remain below the 2016 peak of US$28.4 billion.

Installed renewable capacity per capita in developing nations jumped to 341 watts in 2023—up from 155 watts in 2015—while global final energy consumption from renewables stood at 17.9 percent in 2022.

However, stark regional disparities remain: sub-Saharan Africa averages just 40 watts per capita, compared to 341 watts for all developing countries and over 1,100 watts in developed nations.

Sub-Saharan Africa is home to 85 percent of those without electricity and four in five households without clean cooking—while the number lacking clean cooking rose by 14 million annually.

Fatih Birol, executive director of the International Energy Agency, said: “Despite progress in some parts of the world, the expansion of electricity and clean cooking access remains disappointingly slow, especially in Africa.”

He added, “This is contributing to millions of premature deaths each year linked to smoke inhalation, and is holding back development and education opportunities.”

He concluded, “Greater investment in clean cooking and electricity supply is urgently required, including support to reduce the cost of capital for projects.”

Francesco La Camera, director-general of the International Renewable Energy Agency, said: “Renewables have seen record growth in recent years, reminding the world of its affordability, scalability, and its role in further reducing energy poverty.”

He warned, “But we must accelerate progress at this crunch time,” citing infrastructure gaps and limited financing as obstacles.

He noted, “Although international financial flows … grew to US$21.6 billion in 2023, only two regions in the world have seen real progress in the financial flows.”

He called for “strengthened international cooperation to scale up affordable financing and impact–driven capital for the least developed and developing countries.”

Stefan Schweinfest, director of the United Nations Statistics Division, said: “Now is the time to come together to build on existing achievements and scale up our efforts.”

He warned, “Overall progress remains weak, threatening economic growth and the energy efficiency goals agreed upon at COP28.”

He urged, “The clock is ticking,” calling the report “a rallying point, to rapidly mobilize efforts and investments, so that together, we ensure sustainable energy for all by 2030.”

World Bank vice president Guangzhe Chen said: “As we approach the five-year mark to achieve the SDG7 targets, it is imperative to accelerate the deployment of electricity connections, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa.”

He highlighted the Mission 300 movement, involving 12 African nations, committing to reforms to lower generation costs and scale distributed renewables.

He described it as “governments, the private sector, and development partners in a collaborative effort.”

World Health Organization Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, “The same pollutants that are poisoning our planet are also poisoning people, contributing to millions of deaths each year from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.”

He added, “We urgently need scaled-up action and investment in clean cooking solutions to protect the health of both people and planet—now and in the future.”

The report identifies insufficient and costly financing as a key driver of regional inequalities.

It urges public-private international collaboration to scale financing—through concessional loans, grants, risk-mitigation tools, and donor risk-tolerance improvements.

National reforms are also recommended, including energy planning and regulations to attract investment.

The Energy Progress Report 2025, compiled by the International Energy Agency, International Renewable Energy Agency, United Nations Statistics Division, World Bank, and World Health Organization, tracks global progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 7 and aims to guide accountability and financing strategies.

The report highlights COP28 commitments to triple renewable power capacity and double energy efficiency gains by 2030, along with the 2025 Dar es Salaam Declaration, endorsed by 48 African nations.

Africa’s solar capacity has surged—rising from 1.6 gigawatts in 2014 to over 17 gigawatts in 2023, with wind capacity increasing from 2.4 gigawatts to more than 10 gigawatts.

The continent holds 60 percent of the world’s solar resources, yet taps only 1 percent of installed capacity.

The Accelerated Partnership for Renewables in Africa was launched at COP28 to boost capacity from 56 gigawatts in 2022 to 300 gigawatts by 2030.

Experts stress that Africa needs finance innovation: capital costs for solar run three to seven times higher than in developed nations amid limited 3 percent inflows of global energy investment.

Studies also underline Africa’s green hydrogen potential—but only if energy access is prioritized alongside export ambitions.

The ministerial launch of the SDG7 report is scheduled for July 16, 2025, at the United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in New York.