How much power is lost in East Africa’s electricity networks?
Reported transmission and distribution losses accounted for 25.76% of Kenya’s electricity output in 2024, compared with 20.70% in Ethiopia and 12.39% in Tanzania. The IEA series includes losses along the network and electricity taken without authorization.
The series measures electricity lost before or at distribution
It covers losses between sources of supply and points of distribution and losses along the way to customers. The definition also includes electricity taken without authorization. The aggregate does not split the share by cause. Source 2
Some long-run declines contrast with Kenya’s rise
Uganda moved from 39.26% in 2000 to 19.38% in 2024. Rwanda went from 31.14% to 14.91%. Kenya stood at 14.92% in 2010 and 25.76% in 2024. The trend control lets readers follow each reporting country’s series. Source 1
Tanzania’s latest result was below the previous year
Tanzania recorded 16.78% in 2023 and 12.39% in 2024. These are rates relative to total output. A smaller loss share alone does not show the amount of power lost or explain the change. Source 1Source 2
The lowest reported rate has its own denominator
South Sudan stood at 4.22% in 2024. That percentage uses national output and cannot show how many households have power or how often service is interrupted. Burundi and Somalia lack observations in the extract and are excluded from the chart. Source 1Source 2