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
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.
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
- 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
- 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 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.
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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.