Africa buys 9 out of every 10 off-grid solar kits sold globally as Nigeria drives recovery

Africa strengthened its position as the world’s largest off-grid solar market in 2025, accounting for more than 90% of global sales as households and businesses increasingly turned to solar energy amid persistent electricity shortages.

• Sub-Saharan Africa sold 9.26 million off-grid solar kits in 2025, representing more than 90% of global sales.
• East Africa remained the industry’s largest market, recording a record 7.43 million units sold.
• Nigeria led West Africa’s recovery, with sales rising 33% amid the rollout of the World Bank-backed DARES programme.
• PAYGo financing surged across the continent, becoming a major driver of growth in the off-grid solar industry.

According to the 2025 Global Off-Grid Solar Market Report released by the Global Off-Grid Lighting Association (GOGLA), 9.26 million off-grid solar kits were sold across sub-Saharan Africa last year, representing about 90.7% of the 10.2 million units sold globally.

The figure was up 15% from 2024 and 29% higher than in 2023, highlighting the growing importance of decentralized renewable energy solutions across a continent where nearly 600 million people still lack access to electricity.

The report, published on 1 June, is based on sales data from companies affiliated with GOGLA and is regarded as one of the most comprehensive datasets tracking the global off-grid solar industry.

The latest figures reinforce Africa’s central role in the global energy transition and underscore the growing importance of off-grid technologies in addressing one of the world’s biggest energy-access challenges.

East Africa remains the industry’s powerhouse

East Africa continued to dominate the market, recording sales of approximately 7.43 million off-grid solar kits in 2025, a record volume and a 13% increase from the previous year.

The region remained the primary driver of growth both in Africa and globally, supported by strong demand for solar home systems and financing models that make solar products more affordable for low-income households.

Sales of solar home systems in East Africa jumped 51% year-on-year, while multiple-lighting systems rose 32%.

Solar lantern sales, however, declined 2%, suggesting a gradual shift toward larger and more capable energy solutions.

Pay-as-you-go financing powers growth

One of the most significant trends highlighted in the report was the rapid rise of pay-as-you-go (PAYGo) financing.

While cash sales in East Africa fell 10% from 2024 levels, PAYGo sales surged 45%.

Under the PAYGo model, customers make instalment payments over time rather than paying the full cost of a solar system upfront.

The trend was reflected globally. According to GOGLA, PAYGo sales rose 48% worldwide to 5.11 million units in 2025, matching cash sales for the first time and highlighting the growing role of innovative financing in expanding energy access.

The development also illustrates the increasing convergence between the renewable energy and fintech sectors, as digital payment systems become central to solar adoption across emerging markets.

Nigeria leads West Africa’s recovery

West Africa recorded one of the strongest rebounds in the industry, with sales increasing 26% to 1.45 million units in 2025 after a difficult year in which regional sales fell 33%.

Much of that recovery came from Nigeria, where off-grid solar kit sales climbed 33% year-on-year.

According to GOGLA, the improvement was largely driven by the rollout of the World Bank-funded Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up (DARES) programme.

The initiative aims to expand access to electricity through standalone solar systems and mini-grids, particularly in underserved communities.

The recovery came despite economic headwinds that included high inflation, naira depreciation and foreign exchange shortages, factors that had weighed heavily on household purchasing power and disrupted solar supply chains in previous years.

As in East Africa, financing played a crucial role.

Cash sales in West Africa declined 9%, while PAYGo sales surged 55%.

Multiple-lighting systems recorded the strongest growth, rising 66%, while solar home systems increased 37% and off-grid solar appliances climbed 49%.

Solar lantern sales fell 19%.

Central Africa posts modest gains

Central Africa recorded slower but steady growth.

The region sold around 310,000 off-grid solar kits in 2025, representing a 9% increase from the previous year.

Small solar lanterns with less than 1.5 watts of peak power remained the dominant product category, accounting for about 251,000 units sold.

The figures suggest that affordability remains a major factor shaping consumer demand in several Central African markets.

Growth still falls short of Africa’s energy challenge

Despite the record sales, industry stakeholders say deployment remains below the level needed to achieve universal electricity access across the continent.

Off-grid solar is expected to play a crucial role in Mission 300, a joint initiative by the World Bank and the African Development Bank that aims to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030.

GOGLA has repeatedly warned that additional investment will be needed to accelerate deployment and ensure the sector can meet growing demand.

The industry continues to face challenges including constrained access to capital, currency volatility in several African markets and broader macroeconomic pressures.

Why investors are paying attention

The latest figures provide further evidence that off-grid solar is evolving from a niche development solution into a major commercial market.

With Africa accounting for more than nine out of every ten off-grid solar kits sold worldwide, the continent has become the industry’s largest market.

For investors, development finance institutions and policymakers, the rise of PAYGo financing and the strong rebound in major markets such as Nigeria offer evidence that innovative funding models and targeted public-sector support can significantly accelerate energy access.

As governments seek to close Africa’s electricity gap while advancing climate goals, the off-grid solar industry is increasingly emerging as one of the continent’s most important clean-energy success stories.