_____________________________________________________________________________________________________ *Corresponding author: E-mail: prospersem01@gmail.com; Journal of Energy Research and Reviews 12(2): 26-36, 2022; Article no.JENRR.91241 ISSN: 2581-8368 Linear Regression and ARIMA Models for Electricity Demand Forecasting in West Africa Kokou Prosper Semekonawo a* and Sié Kam a a Université Joseph Ki-Zerbo, 03 BP 7021 Ouagadougou 03, Laboratoire d’Energies Thermiques Renouvelables, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Authors’ contributions This work was carried out in collaboration between both authors. Both authors read and approved the final manuscript. Article Information DOI: 10.9734/JENRR/2022/v12i230296 Open Peer Review History: This journal follows the Advanced Open Peer Review policy. Identity of the Reviewers, Editor(s) and additional Reviewers, peer review comments, different versions of the manuscript, comments of the editors, etc are available here: https://www.sdiarticle5.com/review-history/91241 Received 21 June 2022 Accepted 26 August 2022 Published 31 August 2022 ABSTRACT This article focuses on the predictive study of electricity demand in West African countries based on the multivariate linear regression model and the ARIMA model. The objective of the study is first to establish for each country a linear regression model and ARIMA model, then to compare the two (2) models based on the MAD, RMSE and MAPE coefficients, and finally to deduce of this comparison the best valid model to establish the electricity demand prediction of the country. We have come to the conclusion that the ARIMA model is more adequate for predicting the electricity demand of most of West African countries with the exception of Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia and Nigeria where the multivariate linear regression model performs better. Keywords: ARIMA; demand; electricity; linear regression; model; prediction. 1. INTRODUCTION In West Africa, more than 58% of the population (175 million people) do not have access to electricity despite the enormous resources of fossil fuels and renewable energies available. This situation make that the region lost 2% of its annual economic growth [1]. In order to achieve energy self-sufficiency before 2030, as recommended by the seventh Sustainable Development Goal (i.e. Guarantee access for all to reliable, sustainable and modern Original Research Article