World Bank income group · latest data 2024
Low-income countries energy mix & electricity
In 2024, low-income countries generated 158 TWh of electricity, 0% of the global total. Hydropower was the largest source (59.6%), followed by oil (19.2%) and natural gas (10.8%). Renewables supplied 63.7% versus 33.8% globally, and low-carbon sources including nuclear 63.7%.
Hydro 59.6%Oil 19.2%Gas 10.8%Coal 6.4%Solar 3%Bioenergy 0.6%
Renewable electricity
63.7%
+2.8 pp in 10 yrs
Low-carbon incl. nuclear
63.7%
Carbon intensity
282g/kWh
World 458 g
Electricity per person
209kWh
World 3,860 kWh
Generation
158TWh
+46.3 TWh vs 2014
Electricity by source in 2024
| Source | TWh | Share | 10-yr Δ pp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hydro | 94 | 59.6% | −0.2 |
| Oil | 30 | 19.2% | +3 |
| Gas | 17 | 10.8% | −4.6 |
| Coal | 10 | 6.4% | −1.2 |
| Solar | 5 | 3% | +2.8 |
| Bioenergy | 1 | 0.6% | +0.1 |
| Wind | 1 | 0.5% | 0 |
| Other renewables | 0 | 0% | 0 |
Low-income countries in context
Since 2014, hydropower has grown the most (+27.4 TWh), followed by oil (+12.3 TWh). Natural gas declined by 180 GWh over the same period. The renewable share rose by 2.8 percentage points over the decade. Average carbon intensity is 282 g CO₂e/kWh, down 30 g from 2014. Coal’s share peaked at 11.4% in 2000 and stands at 6.4% today.
Electricity generation since 2000
Renewables and carbon intensity
Income groups follow the World Bank classification as aggregated by Our World in Data. Browse individual countries in the full country table.
Low-income countries energy: frequently asked questions
What share of electricity in low-income countries is renewable?
63.7% in 2024: hydro 59.6% and solar 3%.
What is the largest source of electricity in low-income countries?
Hydropower, with 59.6% of generation in 2024.
What is the carbon intensity of electricity in low-income countries?
About 282 g CO₂-equivalent per kWh in 2024.
How much electricity is generated per person in low-income countries?
About 209 kWh per person per year (2024).
How much electricity in low-income countries comes from solar and wind?
Solar supplied 3% and wind 0.5% in 2024, 3.4% combined, up from 0.6% ten years earlier.
Other regions & groups
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