One billion people don’t have access to electricity and this map shows you who

Not all energy is consumed equally across the world. An estimated 16 percent of the world’s population — 1.2 billion people — have little or no access to electricity.

One shocking similarity in this large number is the urban-rural divide: Upwards of 80 percent of sufferers of energy-poverty live in rural areas.

Because of lack of access to electricity and modern energy sources, people around the world, especially in rural communities, struggle to break out of the cycle of poverty. Reliable energy access empowers considerable socio-economic benefits, enabling shops and businesses to stay open longer, giving communities access to better healthcare, and providing children with domestic lighting for after-school study time.

To achieve their full potential, every community needs access to energy that can power economic growth. Having a grasp of which countries have access to reliable energy sources - and which ones need the vital support – is a first step toward ensuring the millions living in un-electrified communities worldwide are not left behind the modern economy, and have the opportunity to thrive.