Annual PM2.5 emissions from wildfires in Zambia
Zambia: Annual PM2.5 emissions from wildfires was 198,256 tonnes in 2026. ▼ Falling
Annual PM2.5 emissions from wildfires in Zambia, 2003–2026
Source: Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
The most recent figure for annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires in Zambia is 198,256 tonnes, measured in 2026. That is the lowest value across all 24 years on record.
The figure is down 52.7% on the previous year and down 73.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires in Zambia peaked at 780,590 tonnes in 2008 and was at its lowest, 198,256 tonnes, in 2026.
Zambia ranks 16th of 248 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 708,395 tonnes | 645,760 tonnes | 780,590 tonnes | 7 |
| 2010s | 688,632 tonnes | 568,178 tonnes | 765,200 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 448,798 tonnes | 198,256 tonnes | 582,713 tonnes | 7 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More climate change data for Zambia
- Share of global CO₂ emissions and population 0.6% (2100)
- Population growth 2.8% (2025)
- Population, total 21.91 million (2025)
- Urban population growth 3.7% (2025)
- Urban population 10.06 million (2025)
- Urban population 45.9% (2025)
- CO₂ emissions per capita vs. GDP per capita 0.565 tonnes per person (2024)
- Cumulative CO₂ emissions 300.84 million tonnes (2024)
- CO₂ emissions per capita 0.565 tonnes per person (2024)
- CO₂ emissions per capita vs. share of electricity generation from renewables 0.565 tonnes per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires in Zambia?
- Annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires in Zambia was 198,256 tonnes in 2026, according to Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 780,590 tonnes in 2008.
- What is the lowest annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 198,256 tonnes in 2026.
- How does Zambia rank for annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires?
- Zambia ranks 16th out of 248 countries with data for 2026.
- Is annual pm2.5 emissions from wildfires rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 73.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Global Wildfire Information System (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual PM2.5 emissions from wildfires. 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).
About this data
PM2.5 emissions represent the quantity of fine particulate matter (diameter less than 2.5 micrometers) released by wildfires, in tonnes. The 2026 data is incomplete and was last updated 07 August 2026.