Lifecycle carbon intensity of electricity in Zambia
Zambia: Lifecycle carbon intensity of electricity was 119.68 grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
119.68 grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour
Change on year
up 7.8%
World rank
185th
of 213 countries
All-time high
140.66 grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour
in 2018
All-time low
24.25 grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour
in 2012
Years of data
25
2000–2024
Lifecycle carbon intensity of electricity in Zambia, 2000–2024
Source: Ember (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour.
Analysis
The most recent figure for lifecycle carbon intensity of electricity in Zambia is 119.68 grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 7.8% on the previous year and up 180.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, lifecycle carbon intensity of electricity in Zambia peaked at 140.66 grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour in 2018 and was at its lowest, 24.25 grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour, in 2012.
Zambia ranks 185th of 213 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Lifecycle carbon intensity of electricity in Zambia, year by year
| Year | grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 27.24 grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour | — |
| 2001 | 28.97 grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour | +6.4% |
| 2002 | 29.41 grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour | +1.5% |
| 2003 | 30.05 grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour | +2.2% |
| 2004 | 28.2 grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour | -6.2% |
| 2005 | 29.08 grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour | +3.1% |
| 2006 | 24.79 grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour | -14.8% |
| 2007 | 24.9 grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 25.18 grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour | +1.1% |
| 2009 | 24.27 grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour | -3.6% |
| 2010 | 24.88 grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour | +2.5% |
| 2011 | 24.37 grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour | -2.0% |
| 2012 | 24.25 grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour | -0.5% |
| 2013 | 24.81 grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour | +2.3% |
| 2014 | 42.7 grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour | +72.1% |
| 2015 | 43.67 grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour | +2.3% |
| 2016 | 65.42 grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour | +49.8% |
| 2017 | 125 grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour | +91.1% |
| 2018 | 140.66 grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour | +12.5% |
| 2019 | 138.61 grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour | -1.5% |
| 2020 | 135.26 grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour | -2.4% |
| 2021 | 86.91 grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour | -35.7% |
| 2022 | 111.97 grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour | +28.8% |
| 2023 | 111 grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour | -0.9% |
| 2024 | 119.68 grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour | +7.8% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 119.68 grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 450 grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour, 27% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 119.68 grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 443.9 grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour, 27% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Lifecycle carbon intensity of electricity in Zambia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | +91.1% | 65.42 grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour | 125 grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour |
| 2014 | +72.1% | 24.81 grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour | 42.7 grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour |
| 2016 | +49.8% | 43.67 grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour | 65.42 grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour |
| 2021 | -35.7% | 135.26 grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour | 86.91 grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 27.21 grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour | 24.27 grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour | 30.05 grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour | 10 |
| 2010s | 65.44 grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour | 24.25 grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour | 140.66 grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour | 10 |
| 2020s | 112.96 grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour | 86.91 grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour | 135.26 grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 182 Mozambique 129.36 grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour compare
- 183 Portugal 127.91 grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour compare
- 184 Luxembourg 123.38 grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour compare
- 186 Austria 116.91 grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour compare
- 187 Denmark 114.41 grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour compare
- 188 Brazil 109.95 grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour 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 lifecycle carbon intensity of electricity in Zambia?
- Lifecycle carbon intensity of electricity in Zambia was 119.68 grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour in 2024, according to Ember (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest lifecycle carbon intensity of electricity recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 140.66 grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour in 2018.
- What is the lowest lifecycle carbon intensity of electricity recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 24.25 grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour in 2012.
- How does Zambia rank for lifecycle carbon intensity of electricity?
- Zambia ranks 185th out of 213 countries with data for 2024.
- Is lifecycle carbon intensity of electricity rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 180.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Ember (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Lifecycle carbon intensity of electricity. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Greenhouse gases emitted per unit of generated electricity, measured in grams of CO₂ equivalents per kilowatt-hour.