…Despite notable progress in electricity access since 2015, millions, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa, remain trapped without basic energy or clean cooking solutions. The newly released Energy Progress Report 2025 lays out stark disparities and urges urgent international action.
By Bunmi Yekini
Almost 92% of the world’s population now has access to electricity, up from 85% in 2015, but the pace is nowhere near fast enough to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7) by 2030. That’s one of the key findings in Tracking SDG 7: The Energy Progress Report 2025, released today.
According to the report, more than 666 million people remain without electricity, mostly in rural, fragile, and lower-income countries. Even more, about 2.1 billion, still depend on highly polluting fuels like firewood and charcoal for cooking. These numbers highlight a global energy divide that could have dire health and economic consequences.
“Despite progress in some parts of the world, the expansion of electricity and clean cooking access remains disappointingly slow, especially in Africa,” said Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency.
“This is contributing to millions of premature deaths each year linked to smoke inhalation, and is holding back development and education opportunities.”
Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for a staggering 85% of people without electricity. Even more alarming: four in five families in the region lack access to clean cooking solutions, and the number of people using polluting cooking fuels continues to grow, by 14 million people every year.
Yet the report shines light on the transformative potential of distributed renewable energy, such as solar mini-grids and biogas cooking systems, to reach those left furthest behind.
“Renewables have seen record growth in recent years,” noted Francesco La Camera, Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency.
“But we must accelerate progress at this crunch time… To close the access and infrastructure gaps, we need strengthened international cooperation to scale up affordable financing and impact-driven capital for the least developed and developing countries.”
The report also spotlights other encouraging advances. In developing countries, installed renewable capacity per capita more than doubled, from 155 watts in 2015 to 341 watts per capita today, and international public finance to support clean energy rose to US $21.6 billion in 2023.
Yet financing remains woefully insufficient for regions most in need. Debt-based instruments still dominate financial support, leaving grants and risk-sharing options too limited.
“As we approach the five-year mark to achieve the SDG 7 targets,” warned Guangzhe Chen, Vice President for Infrastructure at the World Bank, “it is imperative to accelerate the deployment of electricity connections, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, where half of those lacking access reside.”
The health risks of inaction, especially for women and children, cannot be overstated.
“The same pollutants that are poisoning our planet are also poisoning people,” stressed WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
“We urgently need scaled-up action and investment in clean cooking solutions to protect the health of both people and the planet, now and in the future.”
The report will be officially presented to decision-makers at the UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in New York on 16 July 2025 — a critical opportunity for global leaders to rally investments and political will.
“Now is the time to come together to build on existing achievements and scale up our efforts,” said Stefan Schweinfest, Director of the United Nations Statistics Division.
“The clock is ticking.”
With less than five years left until the SDG 7 deadline, the Energy Progress Report 2025 underscores a stark reality: without swift, bold action and scaled financing, especially for sub-Saharan Africa, sustainable energy for all will remain an elusive dream.