Liberia energy mix & electricity
Electricity generation in Liberia reached 570 GWh in 2024. More than half of it, 52.6%, came from hydropower; oil was a distant second with 45.6%.
The power system is very small (under 1 TWh a year), so it is not included in share-based world rankings. A single plant can change its mix dramatically from one year to the next.
Electricity generation by source in 2024
Share of electricity generation by source, with the change in percentage points over the last ten years.
| Source | TWh | Share | 10-yr Δ pp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hydro | 0.3 | 52.6% | +52.6 |
| Oil | 0.26 | 45.6% | −54.4 |
| Solar | 0.01 | 1.8% | +1.8 |
| Total | 0.57 | 100% |
Liberia: electricity in context
Electricity generation in Liberia reached 570 GWh in 2024. That is similar to South Sudan. More than half of it, 52.6%, came from hydropower; oil was a distant second with 45.6%.
Renewables supplied 54.4% of the electricity. This puts it 21 points above the world average of 33.8%. It is also above the average for Africa (24.7%). Each kilowatt-hour emitted on average 316 g CO₂e, against a world average of 458 g. That makes the grid somewhat cleaner than the world average.
Since 2014, the fastest-growing source has been hydropower: its output rose by 300 GWh, lifting its share by 52.6 percentage points. Meanwhile oil lost the most ground, down 40 GWh. Taken together, the renewable share rose by 54.4 percentage points over the decade. Total generation grew by 270 GWh over the same period. Carbon intensity dropped from 667 to 316 g/kWh, a 53% cut.
Coal has never been part of the power mix in Liberia in any meaningful way.
Wind and solar together provided 1.8% of electricity (solar 1.8%, wind 0%), compared with 17.3% worldwide.
Liberia generates 102 kWh of electricity per resident each year, 3% of the global average. Liberia does not trade electricity with other countries: the grid is not interconnected with any neighbour.
How the power mix has changed
Electricity generation by source since 2000. Switch to shares to see the structural shift independent of demand growth.
Renewables and carbon intensity
Liberia against the world and Africa averages.
Power plants in Liberia
The WRI Global Power Plant Database lists 2 utility-scale plants in Liberia with a combined capacity of 0.1 GW. Hydro plants account for the largest slice (82% of listed capacity). The biggest single plant is Mount Coffee (60 MW, Hydro). The database was last updated in 2021, so newer wind and solar farms and rooftop PV are under-represented.
Largest power plants
| # | Plant | Fuel | Capacity MW | Commissioned | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mount Coffee | Hydro | 60 | — | — |
| 2 | Luke Lec | Oil | 13 | — | — |
Source: WRI Global Power Plant Database v1.3 (CC BY 4.0). Explore all 2 plants on the interactive power plant map.
Solar & wind farms: Liberia
4 utility-scale facilities tracked by Global Energy Monitor (2026): 0 MW of solar and 0 MW of wind operating, plus 119 MW under construction or planned.
How does Liberia compare?
Liberia next to 6 neighbouring countries, plus regional and world averages. Click a column to sort; use “Compare” for full side-by-side charts.
| Country | Renewable % | Low-carbon % | Fossil % | gCO₂/kWh | kWh / person | Generation TWh | Mix | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberia | 54.4% | 54.4% | 45.6% | 316 | 102 | 0.6 | — | |
| Côte d'Ivoire | 28.9% | 28.9% | 71.1% | 405 | 338 | 10.8 | Compare | |
| Guinea | 75.2% | 75.2% | 24.8% | 181 | 273 | 4 | Compare | |
| Ghana | 36.2% | 36.2% | 63.8% | 469 | 705 | 24.3 | Compare | |
| Senegal | 19.8% | 19.8% | 80.2% | 540 | 412 | 7.6 | Compare | |
| Burkina Faso | 17.2% | 17.2% | 82.8% | 562 | 72 | 1.7 | Compare | |
| Gambia | 0% | 0% | 100% | 667 | 185 | 0.5 | Compare | |
| Africa average | 24.7% | 25.5% | 74.5% | 544 | 635 | 962 | Compare | |
| World average | 33.8% | 42.6% | 57.4% | 458 | 3,860 | 31,772 | Compare |
Calculators for Liberia
Liberia energy: frequently asked questions
What percentage of electricity in Liberia is renewable?
What is the main source of electricity in Liberia?
How clean is the electricity in Liberia?
How much electricity does Liberia use per person?
How much solar power does Liberia produce?
More countries in Africa
Sources & references
- Our World in Data: Energy dataset (CC BY 4.0) — compiled from the sources below
- Ember: Yearly Electricity Data — generation, shares, carbon intensity
- Energy Institute: Statistical Review of World Energy — primary energy, fossil production
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: International Energy Data — gap-filling for smaller countries
- World Resources Institute: Global Power Plant Database v1.3 (CC BY 4.0) — power plant locations and capacity
Electricity data: Ember and Energy Institute Statistical Review via Our World in Data (CC BY 4.0); latest year 2024. Power plants: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). Rankings exclude systems under 1 TWh and values older than 2020. Figures may be revised by the original publishers.