Rural-Urban Divide Limits Clean Cooking Progress in Africa

In Numbers:

 • About 55% of urban households in Africa now have access to clean cooking fuels and technologies.
• Less than 15% of rural households have clean cooking access, showing minimal improvement.
• Approximately 70% of people without clean cooking access live in rural areas.

What Changed:
Urban areas in Africa have made modest progress in increasing access to clean cooking, reaching over half of households. However, rural access remains critically low, with little change from previous reports. The majority of those without clean cooking live in rural communities, where traditional biomass use and health risks remain high. Infrastructure and supply challenges continue to limit fuel and stove availability in these underserved areas.

Why It Matters:
The rural-urban access gap strongly influences global clean cooking progress, as most of the population without access resides in rural Africa. Overcoming this divide is crucial to scaling demand and reducing health and environmental harms worldwide.

Why Africa Should Care:
Without focused investment and policies to improve rural fuel supply and stove access, millions will continue using harmful traditional cooking methods. This prolongs health risks, environmental damage, and economic inequalities, especially among rural women and children who bear the greatest burden.