The world bank has released figures demonstrating the lack of coverage in the electricity grids in for 2016. In every case the picture is improving and access is getting better. This alone is a really excellent testament to the economies of the world. See below data for information. The result of having insufficient grid coverage is that the population in areas affected are either left without power, or have to rely on means of power such as solar or diesel generators. Diesel generators are not always ideal, as they increase a countries importation of oil and reduce the amount of foreign exchange available to buy other capital goods.
| Country | Data Year | Percentage % access to electricity |
| Angola | 2016 | 40.5 |
| Benin | 2016 | 41.4 |
| Botswana | 2016 | 60.7 |
| Burkina Faso | 2016 | 19..2 |
| Burundi | 2016 | 7.6 |
| Cabo Verde | 2016 | 92.6 |
| Cameroon | 2016 | 60.1 |
| Central African Republic | 2016 | 14 |
| Chad | 2016 | 8.8 |
| Comoros | 2016 | 77.8 |
| Congo | 2016 | 56.6 |
| Cote D’ivoire | 2016 | 64.3 |
| Equatorial Guinea | 2016 | 67.9 |
| Eritrea | 2016 | 46.7 |
| Eswatini | 2016 | 65.8 |
| Ethiopia | 2016 | 42.9 |
| Gabon | 2016 | 91.4 |
| Gambia | 2016 | 47.8 |
| Ghana | 2016 | 79.3 |
| Guinea | 2016 | 33.5 |
| Guinea-Bissau | 2016 | 14.7 |
| Kenya | 2016 | 56.0 |
| Lesotho | 2016 | 29.7 |
| Liberia | 2016 | 19.8 |
| Madagascar | 2016 | 22.9 |
| Malawi | 2016 | 11.0 |
| Mali | 2016 | 35.1 |
| Mauritania | 2016 | 41.7 |
| Mauritius | 2016 | 98.8 |
| Mozambique | 2016 | 24.2 |
| Namibia | 2016 | 51.8 |
| Niger | 2016 | 16.2 |
| Nigeria | 2016 | 59.3 |
| Rwanda | 2016 | 29.4 |
| Sao Tome and Principe | 2016 | 64.4 |
| Senegal | 2016 | 65.5 |
| Seychelles | 2016 | 100 |
| Sierra Leone | 2016 | 20.3 |
| Somalia | 2016 | 29.9 |
| South Africa | 2016 | 84.2 |
| South Sudan | 2016 | 8.9 |
| Sudan | 2016 | 38.5 |
| Tanzania | 2016 | 32.8 |
| Togo | 2016 | 46.9 |
| Uganda | 2016 | 26.7 |
| Zambia | 2016 | 27.2 |
| Zimbabwe | 2016 | 38.1 |
