8 July 2026 - Despite notable progress over the past decade, millions of people still live without electricity. The remaining gap is concentrated in the world's most fragile and challenging settings, with 86 per cent of those without access in sub-Saharan Africa. With 2030 fast approaching, we spoke with Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ DESA¡¯s energy data experts Leonardo Souza and Jessica Ying Chan about closing the energy divide for good with insights from Tracking SDG 7: The Energy Progress Report 2026.
The Tracking SDG 7?report shows that 655 million people still lack access to electricity.?What will it take to turn this around before?2030?
¡°A lot of progress has been made, if we consider that the deficit was roughly one billion people a decade before. Still, the remaining deficit is increasingly concentrated in least developed countries and countries affected by fragility, conflict and violence. This calls for innovative solutions, such as mini-grids and stand-alone systems. Moreover, 86 per cent of the access deficit is in sub-Saharan Africa, where there is limited public funding available. Limited public funding makes it critical to attract private sector co-investment and to plan for least-cost electrification. To turn this around before 2030, we need to increase investment and replicate the success stories of low- and low-middle income countries with high access rates. In these countries, there are two common defining factors. First, there is strong government ownership of the electricity access agenda; and second, there is a commitment to creating an enabling environment for private sector delivery and co-investment.¡±
Affordability is a major barrier: even where electricity infrastructure exists, many cannot afford to connect. How can we make access equitable and not just expansive?
¡°Countries that have been successful in breaching the affordability barrier often make use of targeted and well-designed subsidy systems. But it¡¯s important that countries make sure that these subsidies reach the right people while remaining financially sustainable. Thus, when designing these subsidies, countries might turn to least-cost electrification planning. This kind of planning uses geospatial data and economic modeling to identify the most cost-efficient solutions to ensure no one is left behind. , Togo used household survey data, satellite imagery, and mobile phone data to map out the most impoverished villages, which were then prioritized for a monthly stipend.¡±
The gap between high-income and low-income countries in renewable energy capacity is stark. How can we make sure the clean energy transition does not leave the poorest countries further behind?
¡°You¡¯re right, the gap is stark¡ªlow-income countries have a capacity of 33.6 watts per person, compared to high-income countries with 1,224 watts per person. However, while renewable energy capacity may be much lower in low-income countries, it is proportionally higher as a share of total installed capacity. This is because the total installed capacity (renewable and non-renewable) in low-income countries is very low. The good news is that efforts to increase access to electricity also help increase renewable capacity, given that off-grid solar is the source of choice to reach those that remain without access to electricity. For an energy transition that does not leave the poorest countries behind, there is an urgent need to upgrade and develop infrastructure in these countries, and targeted support and investment remain key.¡±
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