How wide was the urban and rural electricity gap in West Africa?

Two rates sit behind each gap

The 16-point gap in Ghana came from 98.6% urban access and 82.6% rural access. Benin’s gap was 26.6 points, close to Senegal’s 28.6, even though its rural access estimate was 45.0%, more than 22 points below Senegal’s. A gap measures inequality between the settlement categories, while the two access rates describe the level in each. Source 1 Source 2

Senegal’s urban and rural rates moved at different speeds

Senegal’s rural estimate rose from 38.6% in 2020 to 67.1% in 2024. Its urban estimate went from 92.0% to 95.7% over the same period. The resulting gap fell from 53.4 points to 28.6. Most of that change came from the higher rural estimate. Source 1 Source 2

Nigeria had the widest measured gap

In 2024 the urban estimate was 85.5%, compared with 23.5% for rural residents. The rural series shows 32.9% in 2023 and 23.5% a year later. A year-to-year change in an access estimate can reflect the data behind it. Connection records would be needed to count actual gains or losses. Source 1 Source 2

The gap is separate from reliability

Access is measured as a share of people. Local service records are needed to compare outage duration, hours of supply or whether a connection supports refrigeration and other uses. An urban rate close to 100% can therefore coexist with service interruptions. Source 1 Source 2

Read each country within the same period

The table pairs urban and rural figures for matching years. It covers five selected countries, and a population-weighted West African estimate would require more countries plus the urban and rural population in each. Averaging the five gaps would give Nigeria and Benin the same weight. Source 1 Source 2