Annual carbon dioxide emissions in Zambia
Zambia: Annual carbon dioxide emissions was 177.40 million in 2026. ▼ Falling
Latest (2026)
177.40 million
Change on year
up 29.0%
World rank
8th
of 248 countries
All-time high
256.04 million
in 2008
All-time low
137.50 million
in 2025
Years of data
24
2003–2026
Annual carbon dioxide emissions in Zambia, 2003–2026
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Zambia recorded 177.40 million for annual carbon dioxide emissions in 2026.
The figure is up 29.0% on the previous year and down 26.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual carbon dioxide emissions in Zambia peaked at 256.04 million in 2008 and was at its lowest, 137.50 million, in 2025.
That places Zambia 8th out of 248 countries with data for 2026, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Annual carbon dioxide emissions in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 238.80 million | — |
| 2004 | 222.11 million | -7.0% |
| 2005 | 241.80 million | +8.9% |
| 2006 | 218.21 million | -9.8% |
| 2007 | 241.17 million | +10.5% |
| 2008 | 256.04 million | +6.2% |
| 2009 | 212.47 million | -17.0% |
| 2010 | 246.42 million | +16.0% |
| 2011 | 242.73 million | -1.5% |
| 2012 | 244.73 million | +0.8% |
| 2013 | 236.47 million | -3.4% |
| 2014 | 235.02 million | -0.6% |
| 2015 | 251.76 million | +7.1% |
| 2016 | 242.51 million | -3.7% |
| 2017 | 188.15 million | -22.4% |
| 2018 | 191.18 million | +1.6% |
| 2019 | 186.92 million | -2.2% |
| 2020 | 147.41 million | -21.1% |
| 2021 | 172.48 million | +17.0% |
| 2022 | 191.39 million | +11.0% |
| 2023 | 158.47 million | -17.2% |
| 2024 | 159.41 million | +0.6% |
| 2025 | 137.50 million | -13.7% |
| 2026 | 177.40 million | +29.0% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 177.40 million is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 4.02 million, 44.2× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 177.40 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 9.64 million, 18.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 232.94 million | 212.47 million | 256.04 million | 7 |
| 2010s | 226.59 million | 186.92 million | 251.76 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 163.44 million | 137.50 million | 191.39 million | 7 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 5 Brazil 287.46 million compare
- 6 Canada 204.17 million compare
- 7 Australia 181.03 million compare
- 9 United States 137.44 million compare
- 10 South Sudan 133.18 million compare
- 11 Mozambique 127.34 million compare
More climate change data for Zambia
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 303.19 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 7,547 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 2,795 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 4,752 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 10.55 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 169.71 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 2,153 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 2,033 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 120.21 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 7.67 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual carbon dioxide emissions in Zambia?
- Annual carbon dioxide emissions in Zambia was 177.40 million in 2026, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual carbon dioxide emissions recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 256.04 million in 2008.
- What is the lowest annual carbon dioxide emissions recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 137.50 million in 2025.
- How does Zambia rank for annual carbon dioxide emissions?
- Zambia ranks 8th out of 248 countries with data for 2026.
- Is annual carbon dioxide emissions rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 26.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Annual carbon dioxide emissions. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).