Considering　the　complexity　of　energy　systems　and　the　uncertainties　surrounding　the　transition　path,　governments　must　take　into　account　not　only　environmental　concerns　but　also　energy　security　and　affordability　in　economic　progress　pathways.　Therefore,　using　population　growth　and　energy　usage　as　control　variables,　the　influence　of　the　energy　trilemma　index　on　economic　progress　in　the　North　African　region　is　explored　from　1990　to　2020.　Advanced　econometric　approaches,　particularly　cross-sectional　dependence,　and　second-generation　tests,　are　used　for　empirical　investigation.　In　addition,　for　short-run　estimates,　the　generalized　method　of　moments　(GMM)　estimation　with　fixed　and　random　effects　is　utilized,　while　for　estimation　in　the　long-run,　generalized　least　squares　(GLS)　estimations　for　a　fixed　and　random　effect,　while,　fully　modified　ordinary　least　squares　(FMOLS)　and　dynamic　ordinary　least　squares　(DOLS)　are　used　for　robustness　check.　Our　results　refer　to　the　positive　significant　influence　of　energy　trilemma　and　energy　usage　on　economic　progress　and　the　negative　significant　influence　of　population　growth　on　economic　progress.　In　addition,　a　two-way　causal　linkage　exists　between　energy　trilemma　and　economic　progress,　while　population　growth　and　energy　usage　cause　economic　progress.　This　may　stress　policymakers　to　accelerate　the　energy　transition　to　low-carbon　energies,　appropriately　use　the　nation＇s　human　resources,　and　promote　energy　efficiency.　©　2023　The　Authors