Zimbabwe: Electric power consumption (kWh per capita)

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2024, Zimbabwe's electric power consumption (kWh per capita) rose 40.37 on 2023 (from 512.34 to 552.71).

Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1994 to 2023), the average change was −8.02 and a typical year strayed about 54.03 from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.9 standard deviations above that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 99.26 in 2018 and the biggest yearly fall was 127.85 in 2008. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2015 to 2024 there is no clear straight-line trend: a straight line explains 4% of the movement over 10 observed years, so the value is moving around more than it is heading anywhere.

Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.

How it compares

In 2024, Zimbabwe had the 82nd highest value of the 109 economies reporting that year. Higher is not always better: for some indicators the lowest value is the one to aim for. See the full ranking.

Closest to Zimbabwe in the 2024 ranking

• Nicaragua — 78th of 109: 646.75
• Bangladesh — 79th of 109: 632.1
• Ghana — 80th of 109: 597.9
• Zambia — 82nd of 109: 513.82
• Pakistan — 83rd of 109: 493.48
• Senegal — 84th of 109: 419.31

What this measures

Electric power consumption measures the production of power plants and combined heat and power plants less transmission, distribution, and transformation losses and own use by heat and power plants.

Limitations: Data on electric power production and consumption are collected from national energy agencies by the International Energy Agency (IEA) and adjusted by the IEA to meet international definitions. Data are reported as net consumption as opposed to gross consumption. Net consumption excludes the energy consumed by the generating units. For all countries except the United States, total electric power consumption is equal to total net electricity generation plus electricity imports minus electricity exports minus electricity distribution losses. The IEA makes these estimates in consultation with national statistical offices, oil companies, electric utilities, and national energy experts.

Regional and income-group figures are computed by the World Bank as a weighted average.

All 35 values

Electric power consumption (kWh per capita) in nearby economies

• Angola — 353.46 (2024)
• Benin — 122.66 (2024)
• Botswana — 1,660 (2024)
• Burkina Faso — 145.44 (2024)
• Cameroon — 202.31 (2024)
• Chad — 12.71 (2024)
• Congo, Dem. Rep. — 126.98 (2024)
• Congo, Rep. — 270.96 (2024)
• Côte d'Ivoire — 365.94 (2024)
• Equatorial Guinea — 854.95 (2024)

More environment data for Zimbabwe

• Population in largest city — 1.63 million (2025)
• Population in the largest city (% of urban population) — 23.79% (2025)
• Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million — 1.63 million (2025)
• Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million (% of total population) — 9.63% (2025)
• Rural population — 10.09 million (2025)
• Rural population (% of total population) — 59.5% (2025)
• Urban population — 6.86 million (2025)
• Urban population (% of total population) — 40.5% (2025)
• Aquaculture production (metric tons) — 8,224 (2024)
• Capture fisheries production (metric tons)

Reading data like this

• Where to find free public data, and how to check it before you trust it — 2 min read
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• Real change or random noise? A plain guide to reading your numbers — 2 min read

Questions people ask

What is Zimbabwe's electric power consumption (kWh per capita)?

552.71 in 2024, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1990?

It is down 37.94% from 890.57 in 1990 (1.39% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 929.95 in 1999 and the lowest 463.69 in 2021.

How does Zimbabwe rank?

82nd highest of 109 economies with data for 2024.

Is the latest change in electric power consumption (kWh per capita) unusual for Zimbabwe?

In 2024, Zimbabwe's electric power consumption (kWh per capita) rose 40.37 on 2023 (from 512.34 to 552.71). Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1994 to 2023), the average change was −8.02 and a typical year strayed about 54.03 from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.9 standard deviations above that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator EG.USE.ELEC.KH.PC, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, International Energy Agency (IEA), uri: https://www.iea.org/data-and-statistics/data-tools/energy-statistics-data-browser, publisher: International Energy Agency (IEA), date accessed: 2025-03-25 Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.

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