IEA’s 2025 SDG 7 Report: Why Universal Energy Access Remains Elusive
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A new global progress report on Sustainable Development Goal 7 — ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all — has sounded the alarm that the world remains off track to achieve universal energy access by 2030.
The Tracking SDG 7: Energy Progress Report 2025, jointly released by the International Energy Agency (IEA) and partner organisations, reveals that while there have been incremental gains, over 666 million people, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa, still live without electricity. The stark figures highlight a pressing need for greater investment and policy reform to close the persistent gap.
According to the report, global electricity access has inched closer to 92% in 2025, up slightly from 2022. However, experts stress that the current pace of progress remains far too slow to meet the SDG 7 deadline in five years’ time. The situation is particularly dire in sub-Saharan Africa, which accounts for a staggering 85% of those lacking basic power.
The report also underscores the importance of decentralised renewable solutions, such as mini-grids and off-grid solar technologies, as game changers for remote and underserved communities. These systems are seen as vital to delivering reliable electricity and clean cooking solutions, which could significantly reduce household air pollution — a major cause of premature deaths globally.
Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the IEA, warned that millions of people are still exposed to life-threatening air pollution from unsafe cooking practices. “Despite progress in some regions, the expansion of electricity and clean cooking access remains disappointingly slow, especially in Africa,” Birol said. “This is holding back not only health outcomes but also education and economic opportunities. We urgently need greater investment and support to lower the cost of capital for these projects.”
Encouragingly, international public finance for clean energy in developing economies rose for the third year in a row, reaching $21.6 billion in 2023. Yet the report notes that funding remains highly uneven. Just two sub-Saharan African countries were among the top five recipients, with most funding coming through debt rather than grants. Grants made up less than 10% of the total, raising concerns about the sustainability of financing models for the poorest nations.
Stefan Schweinfest, Director of the United Nations Statistics Division, called for collective global action. “This year’s report shows that now is the time to come together and build on what has been achieved so far,” he said. While nearly 30% of global electricity is now renewables-based, the share of renewables in other sectors has stagnated. Progress on energy efficiency has also slowed, threatening the world’s ability to meet the goals set at COP28.
The report calls for stronger international cooperation, with a particular focus on mobilising more concessional finance and reforming lending practices to ensure affordable capital reaches the countries that need it most. Improved national energy planning, clear regulations, and more robust risk mitigation tools are also deemed essential.
With the clock ticking towards 2030, the report serves as a stark reminder that without urgent action and equitable investment, the dream of clean, modern energy for all will remain out of reach for hundreds of millions around the globe.
