South Sudan
SSDSouth Sudan runs almost entirely on oil.
98% of its electricity comes from one source.
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.
Cleaner than 2 in 10 grids worldwide.
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.
South Sudan 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 South Sudan
South Sudan 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.
South Sudan's electricity is dirtier than the world average.
643 grams of CO2e a kilowatt-hour against a world figure of 458 — 40% above.
South Sudan’s neighbours
Central African RepublicCentral African Republic is second in the world for hydro.
UgandaUganda has about as many people as South Korea, and 104 times less electricity to share between them.
KenyaKenya is first in the world for geothermal.
SudanSudan has about as many people as South Korea, and 41 times less electricity to share between them.
Democratic Republic of CongoThe Democratic Republic of Congo has about as many people as Japan, and 57 times less electricity to share between them.
Figures are for 2024, the most recent year reported for South Sudan. Generation shares are a percentage of electricity generated, not of energy used. How this is calculated.