Electricity in the CFA franc zone: How much does a kWh cost in Central and West Africa?

Electricity prices across the CFA franc zone vary widely, from 6 to 153 CFA francs per kWh depending on the country and billing terms. Equatorial Guinea’s social plan charges 1,500 CFA francs for up to 250 kWh, but smaller consumers pay more per unit. In Congo, the 49-franc rate for small subscribers has remained unchanged since 1994 despite a price increase announced in 2023; in Cameroon, rates rise from 50 francs for the first 110 kWh to 79, 94 and then 99 francs. Gabon charges 145 francs per kWh and the Central African Republic reaches 153, while UEMOA rates range from 79 francs in Niger and Guinea-Bissau to over 135 in Benin.