Malawi Electricity Access
Access to electricity as % of population EG.ELC.ACCS.ZS
Malawi's electricity access was 17.82% in 2025, ranked 210th globally. This represents a 14.2% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1992–2025.
Overview
Malawi's electricity access stood at 17.82% in 2025, a rise of +2.22pp from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 17.82% by 2025. Malawi ranked 210th globally.
Malawi's electricity access has shown moderate improvement over the past three decades, with the percentage of the population with access to electricity rising from 3.20% in 1992 to a peak of 18.00% in 2018, before slightly declining to 17.82% in 2025. This progress has not, however, kept pace with some of its regional peers, such as the Central African Republic, where 18.50% of the population has access to electricity. Malawi's electricity access remains among the lowest in the world, ranking 210 globally. The country's access rate has been steadily increasing since the early 1990s, with the exception of a brief decline in the early 1990s. To reverse the decline and accelerate progress, Malawi would need to increase investment in its energy infrastructure and expand its electricity grid to rural areas, where access rates remain particularly low.
Data & projection
| Year | Electricity Access | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 18.95% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 17.82% | - | - |
| 2025 | 17.82% | +2.22pp | #210 |
| 2023 | 15.60% | +1.60pp | #211 |
| 2022 | 14.00% | −0.20pp | #211 |
| 2021 | 14.20% | +2.70pp | #211 |
| 2020 | 11.50% | +0.30pp | #211 |
| 2019 | 11.20% | −6.80pp | #211 |
| 2018 | 18.00% | +5.30pp | #207 |
| 2017 | 12.70% | +1.70pp | #211 |
| 2016 | 11.00% | +0.20pp | #211 |
| 2015 | 10.80% | −1.10pp | #211 |
| 2014 | 11.90% | +2.90pp | #210 |
| 2013 | 9.00% | +1.60pp | #211 |
| 2012 | 7.40% | −0.20pp | #212 |
| 2011 | 7.60% | −1.10pp | #211 |
| 2010 | 8.70% | +0.40pp | #209 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Malawi matched the Currency Crisis Pattern pattern in 2016. Historically, 27% of countries showing this pattern (35 out of 128) saw electricity access improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Malawi's electricity access was 17.82% in 2025. Ranked 210th globally. This represents a 14.2% increase from the previous year.
Malawi's electricity access peaked at 18.00% in 2018.
The lowest electricity access in Malawi was 1.55% in 1993.
Malawi ranks 210th globally in electricity access as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is EG.ELC.ACCS.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Malawi's electricity access is projected to reach 17.82% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The electricity access of Malawi in 2025 was 17.82%. This ranks 210th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_malawi_electricity-access,
title = {Malawi Electricity Access},
url = {https://historysaid.com/malawi/electricity-access/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}