Annual change in GDP and CO₂ emissions in Zambia
Zambia: Annual change in GDP and CO₂ emissions was 3.8% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Annual change in GDP and CO₂ emissions in Zambia, 1961–2025
Source: National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in annual %.
Analysis
Zambia recorded 3.8% for annual change in gdp and co₂ emissions in 2025.
That represents a change of down 1.6% on the previous year and up 28.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual change in gdp and co₂ emissions in Zambia peaked at 16.6% in 1965 and was at its lowest, -8.6%, in 1994.
That places Zambia 87th out of 212 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual change in GDP and CO₂ emissions in Zambia, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 1.4% | — |
| 1962 | -2.5% | -283.0% |
| 1963 | 3.3% | -231.4% |
| 1964 | 12.2% | +273.2% |
| 1965 | 16.6% | +36.3% |
| 1966 | -5.6% | -133.5% |
| 1967 | 7.9% | -242.2% |
| 1968 | 1.2% | -84.2% |
| 1969 | -0.4% | -135.0% |
| 1970 | 4.8% | -1197.9% |
| 1971 | -0.1% | -101.8% |
| 1972 | 9.2% | -10803.1% |
| 1973 | -1.0% | -110.4% |
| 1974 | 6.4% | -768.2% |
| 1975 | -2.3% | -135.3% |
| 1976 | 6.2% | -374.1% |
| 1977 | -4.6% | -173.4% |
| 1978 | 0.6% | -112.1% |
| 1979 | -3.0% | -646.1% |
| 1980 | 3.0% | -200.4% |
| 1981 | 6.2% | +103.2% |
| 1982 | -2.8% | -145.6% |
| 1983 | -2.0% | -30.1% |
| 1984 | -0.3% | -82.9% |
| 1985 | 1.6% | -579.6% |
| 1986 | 0.7% | -55.2% |
| 1987 | 2.7% | +269.6% |
| 1988 | 6.3% | +134.7% |
| 1989 | -1.0% | -116.3% |
| 1990 | -0.5% | -53.0% |
| 1991 | -0.0% | -92.5% |
| 1992 | -1.7% | +4690.4% |
| 1993 | 6.8% | -492.7% |
| 1994 | -8.6% | -226.9% |
| 1995 | 2.9% | -133.6% |
| 1996 | 6.2% | +114.6% |
| 1997 | 3.8% | -38.7% |
| 1998 | -0.4% | -110.1% |
| 1999 | 4.7% | -1305.5% |
| 2000 | 3.9% | -16.2% |
| 2001 | 5.3% | +36.4% |
| 2002 | 4.5% | -15.3% |
| 2003 | 6.9% | +54.1% |
| 2004 | 7.0% | +1.3% |
| 2005 | 7.2% | +2.9% |
| 2006 | 7.9% | +9.2% |
| 2007 | 8.4% | +5.7% |
| 2008 | 7.8% | -6.9% |
| 2009 | 9.2% | +18.6% |
| 2010 | 10.3% | +11.7% |
| 2011 | 5.6% | -45.9% |
| 2012 | 7.6% | +36.4% |
| 2013 | 5.1% | -33.4% |
| 2014 | 4.7% | -7.2% |
| 2015 | 2.9% | -37.8% |
| 2016 | 3.8% | +28.6% |
| 2017 | 3.5% | -6.1% |
| 2018 | 4.0% | +14.4% |
| 2019 | 1.4% | -64.3% |
| 2020 | -2.8% | -293.2% |
| 2021 | 6.2% | -323.9% |
| 2022 | 5.2% | -16.4% |
| 2023 | 5.4% | +3.0% |
| 2024 | 3.8% | -28.8% |
| 2025 | 3.8% | -1.6% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 3.8% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 4.3%, 86% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 3.8% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.6%, 83% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual change in GDP and CO₂ emissions 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | +10803.1% | -0.1% | 9.2% |
| 1992 | -4690.4% | -0.0% | -1.7% |
| 1999 | +1305.5% | -0.4% | 4.7% |
| 1970 | +1197.9% | -0.4% | 4.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 3.8% | -5.6% | 16.6% | 9 |
| 1970s | 1.6% | -4.6% | 9.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.4% | -2.8% | 6.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.3% | -8.6% | 6.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.8% | 3.9% | 9.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.9% | 1.4% | 10.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.6% | -2.8% | 6.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
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 change in gdp and co₂ emissions in Zambia?
- Annual change in gdp and co₂ emissions in Zambia was 3.8% in 2025, according to National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual change in gdp and co₂ emissions recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 16.6% in 1965.
- What is the lowest annual change in gdp and co₂ emissions recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was -8.6% in 1994.
- How does Zambia rank for annual change in gdp and co₂ emissions?
- Zambia ranks 87th out of 212 countries with data for 2025.
- Is annual change in gdp and co₂ emissions rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 28.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual change in GDP and CO₂ emissions. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage change in gross domestic product (GDP) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions.