COUNTRIES · SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
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Sudan

Heat is 66% of the energy Sudan uses.

Sudan is a low-income country in Sub-Saharan Africa with 51.7 million people, most of them living in rural areas. Heat makes up 66% of the energy it uses, well above the world average of about 47%.

Most of the heat comes from wood and other biomass (96%). Only 47% of people have access to clean cooking, so much of the wood and charcoal is burned for cooking. Just 4% of the heat comes from coal, oil and gas. Electricity makes up 8% of energy use and is generated mainly from hydropower (75%).

The country

Population51.7 million2025
GDP per capitaUS$ 1,1602025
Area1,878,000 km²2024
Urban population35%2025
Access to electricity66%2024
Access to clean cooking47%2024
Final energy use143 TWh2023

Where the energy goes

Final energy use in Sudan, 2023: 143 TWh.
Heat: 66%66%Electricity: 8%8%Transport: 26%26%
  • Heat66%
  • Electricity8%
  • Transport26%

Heat in five numbers

Heatshare of all final energy use66%
Fossil heatshare of heat that comes from coal, oil and gas4%
Biomass and wastethe largest single source of heat96%
Electricityshare of final energy use, excluding transport8%
Fossil electricityshare of electricity generated from coal, oil and gas24%

Heat is all fuel and district heating used in industry, buildings and agriculture. Electricity that becomes heat, for example in electric cookers and water heaters, is counted as electricity because no data is available, so the true heat share is somewhat higher.

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