Access to electricity has outstripped population growth since 2017, but still the number of people without electricity, as a percentage of the overall population, remains high. There was a net 15.5 GW of new installed energy capacity added in Africa in 2017 and this kept up with the population growth across all parts of the continent, except Central Africa, as well as with GDP growth in all regions, except East Africa (Africa Energy Atlas). Figures show improved access year on year as concerted e orts made at country and regional level to increase electricity supply through investment in energy infrastructure and policy reform. Still, 29 countries are currently below the 60 per cent access rate.