Affordable and Clean Energy
Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.
Renewable share of total energy
19% (est)
IRENA estimate · 2025
Renewable capacity per capita
560 watts (est)
IRENA estimate · 2025
People without electricity
685 million (est)
IEA estimate · 2025
People without clean cooking
2.0 billion (est)
WHO estimate · 2025
Global Progress Score
Based on Sustainable Development Report 2025
Historical Trend (2015–2025)
Regional Comparison (2025)
Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy — Score per Country (2025)
Each country is scored 0–100 based on its progress toward this goal. Drag to rotate. Hover or tap a country to see its score.
Key Targets
SDR 2025 scores SDG 7 at 72.4/100 globally — one of the more improving goals, driven by the renewable energy revolution. The IEA World Energy Outlook 2024 projects that renewables will cover 35% of global electricity by 2025 and that the clean energy transition is now "irreversible" in the power sector. However, universal electricity access remains 10 years behind schedule. Clean cooking lags even further: 2.3 billion people will still use polluting fuels in 2025. Fossil fuel subsidies ($7T globally) remain the largest structural barrier to an equitable transition.
35%
of global electricity projected to come from renewable sources in 2025 — the fastest energy transition in history, though off-grid access and clean cooking lag far behind.
IEA: World Energy Outlook 2024; SDR 2025 (SDSN)
Key Insights
Africa's Energy Poverty
567 of the 685 million people without electricity live in Sub-Saharan Africa. Rural electrification rates there are 5× slower than urban. Energy poverty limits education, healthcare, economic activity, and security. A child cannot study after dark; a clinic cannot refrigerate vaccines.
The Cooking Fuel Crisis
2.3 billion people burn wood, charcoal, coal, or dung for cooking. Indoor air pollution from these fuels kills 3.2 million people annually — more than malaria and HIV combined, and disproportionately women and children who cook. Transitioning to clean cooking is one of the highest-impact health interventions available.
The Renewable Revolution
In 2023, the world added 295 GW of new renewable energy capacity — a record. Solar costs fell 90% in a decade, making it cheaper than coal and gas in most of the world. 30% of global electricity now comes from renewables. The energy transition is real — but reaching those without access requires deliberate policy.
Fossil Fuel Subsidy Paradox
Fossil fuel subsidies reached a record $7 trillion in 2022 — equal to 7% of global GDP. These subsidies undercut renewables, delay the transition, and primarily benefit wealthy consumers and corporations. Redirecting even a fraction to energy access and efficiency could be transformative.
Core Challenges
Last-Mile Connectivity Cost
Connecting the remaining 685 million people to grids costs $1,000-$2,000 per connection in rural Africa. Centralized grid extension is often uneconomical; mini-grids and off-grid solar are emerging as the fastest path — but require financing models that work for the poor.
Energy Efficiency Lag
Global energy efficiency improvements average 2%/year, far below the 4%/year needed to meet SDG 7 targets. Buildings, industry, and transport account for 70% of energy use and offer the greatest efficiency potential. Without efficiency gains, adding renewables simply adds to total energy use.
Critical Minerals Bottleneck
The clean energy transition depends on lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earths for batteries, solar panels, and wind turbines. Supply chains are concentrated in a handful of countries and mines. Environmental and social standards in extraction need urgent improvement.
2030 Outlook
Universal energy access by 2030 requires reaching 100 million people per year — the current pace is 40 million. The technology and finance exist; the political will and business model innovation must catch up. The energy transition is the greatest infrastructure investment opportunity in human history, and getting it right means leaving no one in the dark.