In 2023, Ethiopia’s electricity supply was almost entirely low-carbon, with about 18.3 TWh of clean electricity, including 17.6 TWh from hydropower. Hydro therefore provided roughly 96% of low-carbon generation, while fossil electricity was close to none in the supplied figures. However, electricity consumption was only 142 kWh per person—less than 4% of the global average of 3,794 kWh per person, or roughly one twenty-seventh as much. Such limited electricity availability can constrain healthcare, education, industrial production and access to modern services, making substantially more clean generation and wider electricity access essential.

Is Electricity Growing in Ethiopia?

Electricity is growing in Ethiopia, but the latest improvement is modest. Consumption reached a new record of 142 kWh per person in 2023, up from 139 kWh in 2022—an increase of 3 kWh per person, or about 2%. Low-carbon electricity generation per person likewise rose from its previous record of 139 kWh to 142 kWh. This clean electricity growth is welcome, but the small increase leaves Ethiopia far below global electricity consumption levels. Faster expansion is needed to support development and future demand from electrification and digital infrastructure, including AI.

Suggestions

Ethiopia can build on its hydropower foundation by expanding solar and wind generation while considering nuclear power as a longer-term source of dependable, low-carbon electricity. South Africa offers a relevant African example, generating about 20 TWh from solar and 12 TWh each from wind and nuclear in the supplied comparison. India also demonstrates substantial deployment across all three technologies, with roughly 192 TWh of solar, 124 TWh of wind and 53 TWh of nuclear electricity. Ethiopia could learn from these regions’ approaches to project delivery, workforce development and grid expansion, adapting them to local conditions. Prioritizing solar deployment, developing suitable wind sites, and establishing the institutions and skills needed for nuclear power would help broaden its clean electricity supply.

History

Ethiopia’s recorded low-carbon electricity growth has been dominated by hydropower. In the early and mid-2000s, the listed annual hydro increases were modest, at around 0.3–0.4 TWh. Expansion accelerated in 2010–2013, with annual gains of about 1–1.4 TWh, followed by increases of 0.7 TWh in both 2014 and 2015. The largest listed hydro gain came in 2016, at 2.1 TWh, with further growth through 2020 and another strong increase of 1.9 TWh in 2022. Wind added about 0.3 TWh in both 2015 and 2019, although a decline of the same size in 2022 was a disappointing setback. Hydro growth of 0.9 TWh in 2023 continued the overall expansion of Ethiopia’s clean electricity generation.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade