Democratic Republic of Congo
CODThe Democratic Republic of Congo has about as many people as Japan, and 57 times less electricity to share between them.
109 million people against 123 million, but 146 kWh per person a year against 8,366.
What this grid depends on
Three measures that say more about a country than how much power it makes. Open “what this means” on any of them if the term is new.
Among the cleanest electricity anywhere.
What this means
How much planet-warming gas is released to make one unit of electricity. Two countries can generate exactly the same amount and one of them be ten times dirtier doing it. Lower is better.
Democratic Republic of Congo buys in more electricity than it sends out.
What this means
The share of the electricity used here that was generated abroad and carried in over high-voltage lines. The higher it climbs, the more this country relies on a neighbour to keep its lights on.
Also true of Democratic Republic of Congo
The Democratic Republic of Congo generates no oil electricity at all, in a region built on it.
47% of grids in Africa draw more than a tenth of their power from oil.
The Democratic Republic of Congo runs one of the cleanest grids in Africa.
100% of its electricity is low-carbon, second of 53.
The Democratic Republic of Congo runs almost entirely on hydro.
84% of its electricity comes from one source.
Democratic Republic of Congo’s neighbours
AngolaAngola has about as many people as Canada, and 40 times less electricity to share between them.
ZambiaZambia's grid has been getting more carbon-heavy, not less.
TanzaniaTanzania's grid has been getting dirtier, not cleaner.
UgandaUganda has about as many people as South Korea, and 104 times less electricity to share between them.
Congothe Congo's grid has been getting dirtier, not cleaner.
Figures are for 2024, the most recent year reported for Democratic Republic of Congo. Generation shares are a percentage of electricity generated, not of energy used. How this is calculated.