4 countries in the world that switch off their electricity every night

While not countries that intentionally switch off their electricity every night as a standard practice, several nations experience frequent and sometimes widespread power outages that can feel like nightly occurrences for many residents.

1. Yemen

Yemen has been ravaged by conflict for years, and its infrastructure, including the power grid, has suffered immensely. For the residents of Aden, the interim capital, the reality is stark: electricity often disappears for up to 20 hours a day. This isn't a planned shutdown, but a consequence of fuel shortages and the inoperability of power generation stations. The Public Electricity Corporation in Aden reported in late April 2025 that the Presidential Power Plant was offline, and diesel-powered stations were shut down due to a lack of fuel. The Al-Mansoura Power Plant also teetered on the brink of closure without an urgent supply of fuel oil, threatening a complete blackout.

The numbers paint a grim picture. The total power output in Aden hovers around a mere 53 megawatts, while the demand during the hotter months can soar to over 620 megawatts. This massive deficit leaves the city plunged into darkness for the vast majority of the day and night. The consequences are severe, impacting not only daily life but also critical services like healthcare. Residents have taken to the streets in protest, blocking roads with burning tires to voice their frustration over the prolonged outages. The lack of consistent power exacerbates the already dire humanitarian crisis in Yemen, where access to basic necessities is severely limited. The international community describes the situation as one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, and the ongoing power cuts only deepen the hardship faced by ordinary Yemenis. There are no immediate solutions in sight, leaving the population to endure these extended periods without electricity, making it feel like night has truly fallen for most of the day.

2. Venezuela

Venezuela has been grappling with a severe energy crisis for years, leading to frequent and widespread blackouts across the nation. These are not scheduled nightly shutdowns but rather the result of a combination of factors, including alleged sabotage, underinvestment, poor maintenance of infrastructure, and a lack of technical expertise due to a significant brain drain. In late August 2024, a major power outage hit Caracas and numerous other states, disrupting essential services like the Caracas metro and even affecting the operations of the state oil company PDVSA.

The government often attributes these blackouts to "electrical sabotage" by political opponents, a claim that critics and energy experts dispute. They argue that the persistent power issues are rooted in systemic failures within the country's hydroelectric infrastructure. Venezuela experienced particularly severe nationwide blackouts in 2019, some lasting for days and resulting in fatalities. Even as recently as March 2025, there were reports of ongoing power interruptions. For many Venezuelans, the unreliability of the power grid means that darkness can descend unexpectedly and last for extended periods, making it seem as though the lights are always threatening to go out. The frequent outages disrupt daily life, communications, and access to essential services like water, further compounding the country's economic and political challenges. While the government promises improvements and sometimes blames external factors, the reality for many citizens is a constant uncertainty about the availability of electricity.

3. Cuba

Cuba has been plagued by frequent and prolonged power outages, making it seem like darkness falls for extended periods regularly. These are not intentional nightly shutdowns but a consequence of fuel shortages, aging infrastructure, and a lack of spare parts. Throughout 2024 and into 2025, the island nation experienced numerous nationwide blackouts. In March 2024, widespread power outages, sometimes lasting up to 18 hours a day, triggered protests. The Antonio Guiteras Thermoelectric Power Plant, a major electricity provider, frequently broke down, and fuel shipments from allies were inconsistent.

More recently, in March 2025, the entire electrical grid shut down after a substation failure, leaving millions in the dark. While power was gradually restored to some areas, the incident highlighted the instability of the Cuban power grid. The U.S. Embassy in Havana issued security alerts, advising citizens to prepare for prolonged outages, including potential disruptions to cell phone and internet services. Scheduled power cuts are a daily occurrence in many parts of Cuba, and unscheduled outages persist. The government attributes these issues partly to the U.S. embargo, which they say hinders the import of necessary supplies. However, regardless of the cause, the reality for many Cubans is that they frequently experience life without electricity, making darkness a recurring and disruptive part of their daily lives.

4. Areas of Nigeria

While Nigeria doesn't have a national policy of switching off electricity nightly, many parts of the country experience frequent and sometimes lengthy power outages due to an unreliable national grid. Businesses in Nigeria reportedly face a very high number of power outages annually. These are not scheduled shutdowns but rather the result of infrastructure issues, insufficient generation capacity, and other technical problems.

For many Nigerians, the experience is one of intermittent power supply, where electricity may be available for only a few hours a day, or suffer from frequent interruptions. This unreliability affects daily life, businesses, and essential services. People often have to rely on generators, if they can afford them, to ensure a continuous supply of electricity. The inconsistency of the power supply can make it feel as though the lights are more often off than on. While efforts are underway to improve the power infrastructure, for a significant portion of the population, dealing with blackouts is a regular occurrence, shaping their routines and impacting productivity.

The extended outages have a profound impact on the daily lives of Yemenis. Simple tasks become challenging without electricity, and the lack of power affects everything from preserving food to studying at night. The healthcare system, already under immense strain, is further burdened by the unreliable power supply. While the world often focuses on the direct impacts of the conflict, the constant lack of electricity is a less visible but equally debilitating aspect of life in Yemen. For the people living through these prolonged blackouts, it can feel as though night has become the dominant state, with brief periods of electricity being the exception rather than the norm. The protests in response to these outages underscore the deep frustration and hardship they cause.

It's important to reiterate that these countries do not intentionally switch off their electricity every night as a policy. Instead, the frequent and prolonged power outages are a symptom of deeper issues such as conflict, economic instability, and infrastructure challenges. For the affected populations, however, the result is often a significant portion of their nights, and sometimes days, spent without power.