Nearly 6 Million Sierra Leoneans Remain Without Electricity Access, Data Shows

Nearly six million people in Sierra Leone were living without electricity in 2025, according to new data from Infotrix. The figures highlight a severe energy gap that leaves most of the country—especially rural communities—in the dark. With World Bank data showing that only around thirty-six percent of the population has access to power, Sierra Leone trails behind neighboring West African nations like Liberia and Guinea in reaching its citizens.
The widespread lack of reliable power continues to hurt local businesses, schools, and healthcare facilities, posing a major obstacle to the nation’s economic growth. While twenty-one percent of homes connect through national grids, another fifteen percent rely entirely on off-grid solar kits and lanterns. Experts warn that without reliable power, efforts to lift communities out of poverty and boost industry will face an uphill battle.
In response, the government and international partners are stepping up efforts to expand green energy across the country. Supported by a major two hundred million dollar World Bank initiative and regional power projects, new solar mini-grids are being rolled out to remote towns and hundreds of health centers. Officials hope these decentralized solar projects will help Sierra Leone bridge the energy divide and achieve full electricity access by 2030.