In the last 30 years, most people in Bangladesh gained access to basic electricity

In 1991, around 14% of people in Bangladesh had access to electricity. Thirty years later, access was almost universal.

Over 100 million Bangladeshis have gained access to electricity during this time. This enables them to light their homes, use household appliances, or stay connected through phones and the Internet.

The statistic measures the lowest “tier” of energy access: the capacity for basic lighting and charging a phone for at least four hours a day.

But more than half the people in Bangladesh now also have a higher tier of electricity access, which means capacity to power high-load appliances (such as fridges) and electricity for more than eight hours a day.

The UN has set a target to achieve universal access to electricity by 2030. Currently, about 9 in 10 people worldwide have basic access to electricity.