Gambia
GMBThe Gambia is second in the world for oil.
Oil supplies 100% of its electricity.
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 most carbon-heavy 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.
Gambia generates almost exactly what it uses, with next to nothing crossing its borders.
What this means
Electricity can be sold across a border like anything else, through high-voltage lines connecting one country's grid to the next. Buying it in means leaning on a neighbour to keep the lights on. Selling it means generating more than the country needs.
Also true of Gambia
The Gambia generates no hydro electricity at all, in a region built on it.
60% of grids in Africa draw more than a tenth of their power from hydro.
the Gambia's electricity is dirtier than the world average.
667 grams of CO2e a kilowatt-hour against a world figure of 458 — 45% above.
The Gambia runs one of the most fossil-dependent grids in Africa.
0% of its electricity is low-carbon, 53th of 53.
Gambia’s neighbours
SenegalSenegal has cleaned up its grid faster than most people realise.
GuineaGuinea has taken the carbon out of its electricity fast.
Sierra LeoneSierra Leone has about as many people as Israel, and 355 times less electricity to share between them.
MauritaniaMauritania has about as many people as Norway, and 71 times less electricity to share between them.
LiberiaHydro overtook oil on Liberia's grid in 2023.
Figures are for 2024, the most recent year reported for Gambia. Generation shares are a percentage of electricity generated, not of energy used. How this is calculated.