Electricity at Home in South Sudan: 1800 to Today (and Tomorrow)

The flick of a switch is more than a convenience; it is a measure of the infrastructure defining a life. In South Sudan, the presence of electricity at home translates to extended hours for study, improved refrigeration for medicine, and the illumination of the night. For millions, this change reflects a shift in how a day is structured and how a community functions after the sun sets. When we track these percentages, we are not just counting wires and bulbs, but the expansion of human potential through energy.

The historical arc of this development is a long, gradual climb. In the 1800s estimate 0, electricity was absent, growing to 1810s estimate 0.01, 1820s estimate 0.02, 1830s estimate 0.03, 1840s estimate 0.04, 1850s estimate 0.05, 1860s estimate 0.06, 1870s estimate 0.07, and 1880s estimate 0.08, 1890s estimate 0.09. By 1900 it was 0.1 %. Progress accelerated through the decades, reaching 1950s 3, 1980s 12, and 2010s 35.5. Today, in the 2020s, electricity at home in South Sudan stands at 48 % — ranking #151 of 157 countries.

For a person born in the future, the projected path shows continued growth, with 2050s projection 60 and 2100s projection 80. Each decade reveals a society building toward broader connectivity. While the current rank reflects significant challenges, the consistent upward trajectory offers a measurable glimpse into the future of domestic life. As you look across these three centuries, consider how these shifts in access define the lived experience of millions of people. Use our tools to compute where your own life stands among everyone ever born.