Measuring access to reliable energy is a strong poverty indicator. Mapping who has access and who does not can allow for targeted development efforts as well as specific energy development strategies. 1.1 billion people around the globe do not have access to electricity. For one seventh of the world, that means no easy to way to study at night or power a phone. 

The Sustainable Energy for All Initiative has tracked progress on reaching sustainable development goals. Data on how many people have access to electricity is critical as it largely relates to better education outcomes and income levels.

"The answer is to end our reliance on carbon-based fuels...If we succeed, we create booming new industries, wealth, clean secure energy and maybe we prevent the greatest disaster so far in human history, saving millions of lives while improving billions more. If we fail, basically it's business as usual while things slowly get worse all around us."

Al Gore